diff --git a/packages/gatsby/cache-dir/app.js b/packages/gatsby/cache-dir/app.js
index d9d8b1a33a60f..c1daf37e9e116 100644
--- a/packages/gatsby/cache-dir/app.js
+++ b/packages/gatsby/cache-dir/app.js
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ apiRunnerAsync(`onClientEntry`).then(() => {
    *
    * Let's unregister the service workers in development, and tidy up a few errors.
    */
-  if (`serviceWorker` in navigator) {
+  if (supportsServiceWorkers(location, navigator)) {
     navigator.serviceWorker.getRegistrations().then(registrations => {
       for (let registration of registrations) {
         registration.unregister()
@@ -69,3 +69,10 @@ apiRunnerAsync(`onClientEntry`).then(() => {
     })
   }
 })
+
+function supportsServiceWorkers(location, navigator){
+  if (location.hostname === `localhost` || location.protocol === `https:`){
+    return `serviceWorker` in navigator
+  }
+  return false
+}