diff --git a/src/Filtering/ThreadHiding.coffee b/src/Filtering/ThreadHiding.coffee
index 24cbab960..843148de9 100755
--- a/src/Filtering/ThreadHiding.coffee
+++ b/src/Filtering/ThreadHiding.coffee
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ ThreadHiding =
       cb:   @node
 
   catalogSet: (board) ->
+    return unless $.hasStorage
     hiddenThreads = ThreadHiding.db.get
       boardID: board.ID
       defaultValue: {}
@@ -16,6 +17,7 @@ ThreadHiding =
     localStorage.setItem "4chan-hide-t-#{board}", JSON.stringify hiddenThreads
 
   catalogWatch: ->
+    return unless $.hasStorage
     @hiddenThreads = JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem "4chan-hide-t-#{g.BOARD}") or {}
     Main.ready ->
       # 4chan's catalog sets the style to "display: none;" when hiding or unhiding a thread.
diff --git a/src/General/Main.coffee b/src/General/Main.coffee
index d86533d8b..d019e2afe 100755
--- a/src/General/Main.coffee
+++ b/src/General/Main.coffee
@@ -43,8 +43,12 @@ Main =
     $.get items, (items) ->
       $.asap (-> doc = d.documentElement), ->
 
+        # Don't hide the local storage warning behind a settings panel.
+        if $.cantSet
+          # pass
+
         # Fresh install
-        if !items.previousversion?
+        else if !items.previousversion?
           Main.ready ->
             $.set 'previousversion', g.VERSION
             Settings.open()
@@ -205,10 +209,16 @@ Main =
       $.event '4chanXInitFinished'
 
     if Conf['Show Support Message']
-      try
-        localStorage.getItem '4chan-settings'
-      catch err
-        new Notice 'warning', 'Cookies need to be enabled on 4chan for <%= meta.name %> to operate properly.', 30
+      if $.cantSync
+        why = if $.cantSet
+          'save your settings'
+        else
+          'synchronize data between tabs'
+        new Notice 'warning', """
+          <%= meta.name %> needs local storage to #{why}.
+          Enable it on boards.4chan.org in your browser's privacy settings
+          (may be listed as part of "local data" or "cookies").
+        """
 
   initThread: ->
     if board = $ '.board'
diff --git a/src/General/Settings.coffee b/src/General/Settings.coffee
index 2029a3e73..1e7396361 100755
--- a/src/General/Settings.coffee
+++ b/src/General/Settings.coffee
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ Settings =
     $.on d, 'AddSettingsSection',   Settings.addSection
     $.on d, 'OpenSettings', (e) -> Settings.open e.detail
 
-    if Conf['Disable Native Extension']
+    if Conf['Disable Native Extension'] and $.hasStorage
       settings = JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem '4chan-settings') or {}
       return if settings.disableAll
       settings.disableAll = true
@@ -140,8 +140,9 @@ Settings =
     $.on button, 'click', ->
       @textContent = 'Hidden: 0'
       $.get 'hiddenThreads', {}, ({hiddenThreads}) ->
-        for boardID of hiddenThreads.boards
-          localStorage.removeItem "4chan-hide-t-#{boardID}"
+        if $.hasStorage
+          for boardID of hiddenThreads.boards
+            localStorage.removeItem "4chan-hide-t-#{boardID}"
         $.delete ['hiddenThreads', 'hiddenPosts']
     $.after $('input[name="Stubs"]', section).parentNode.parentNode, div
 
diff --git a/src/General/css/style.css b/src/General/css/style.css
index e009d4c61..faa237ae6 100755
--- a/src/General/css/style.css
+++ b/src/General/css/style.css
@@ -430,6 +430,7 @@ audio.controls-added {
   max-height: 200px;
   width: 100%;
   overflow: auto;
+  white-space: pre-line;
 }
 
 /* Settings */
diff --git a/src/General/lib/$.coffee b/src/General/lib/$.coffee
index 5cb9205a0..071b6e07a 100755
--- a/src/General/lib/$.coffee
+++ b/src/General/lib/$.coffee
@@ -338,6 +338,12 @@ $.engine = do ->
   return 'webkit' if /WebKit\//.test navigator.userAgent
   return 'gecko'  if /Gecko\/|Goanna/.test navigator.userAgent # Goanna = Pale Moon 26+
 
+try
+  localStorage.getItem 'x'
+  $.hasStorage = true
+catch err
+  $.hasStorage = false
+
 $.item = (key, val) ->
   item = {}
   item[key] = val
@@ -456,10 +462,13 @@ do ->
 if GM_deleteValue?
   $.getValue   = GM_getValue
   $.listValues = -> GM_listValues() # error when called if missing
-else
+else if $.hasStorage
   $.getValue = (key) -> localStorage[key]
   $.listValues = ->
     key for key of localStorage when key[...g.NAMESPACE.length] is g.NAMESPACE
+else
+  $.getValue   = ->
+  $.listValues = -> []
 
 if GM_addValueChangeListener?
   $.setValue    = GM_setValue
@@ -470,13 +479,14 @@ else if GM_deleteValue?
     GM_setValue key, val
     if key of $.syncing
       $.oldValue[key]   = val
-      localStorage[key] = val # for `storage` events
+      localStorage[key] = val if $.hasStorage # for `storage` events
   $.deleteValue = (key) ->
     GM_deleteValue key
     if key of $.syncing
       delete $.oldValue[key]
-      delete localStorage[key] # for `storage` events
-else
+      delete localStorage[key] if $.hasStorage # for `storage` events
+  $.cantSync = true if !$.hasStorage
+else if $.hasStorage
   $.oldValue = {}
   $.setValue = (key, val) ->
     $.oldValue[key]   = val if key of $.syncing
@@ -484,6 +494,10 @@ else
   $.deleteValue = (key) ->
     delete $.oldValue[key] if key of $.syncing
     delete localStorage[key]
+else
+  $.setValue = ->
+  $.deleteValue = ->
+  $.cantSync = $.cantSet = true
 
 if GM_addValueChangeListener?
   $.sync = (key, cb) ->
@@ -492,7 +506,7 @@ if GM_addValueChangeListener?
         newValue = JSON.parse newValue unless newValue is undefined
         cb newValue, key
   $.forceSync = ->
-else
+else if $.hasStorage
   $.sync = (key, cb) ->
     key = g.NAMESPACE + key
     $.syncing[key] = cb
@@ -516,6 +530,9 @@ else
       # e.g. http://boards.4chan.org and https://boards.4chan.org
       # so force a check for changes to avoid lost data.
       onChange g.NAMESPACE + key
+else
+  $.sync = ->
+  $.forceSync = ->
 
 $.delete = (keys) ->
   unless keys instanceof Array
diff --git a/src/Miscellaneous/Flash.coffee b/src/Miscellaneous/Flash.coffee
index dc52ce8f1..7f9084832 100644
--- a/src/Miscellaneous/Flash.coffee
+++ b/src/Miscellaneous/Flash.coffee
@@ -4,4 +4,7 @@ Flash =
       $.ready Flash.initReady
 
   initReady: ->
-    $.globalEval 'if (JSON.parse(localStorage["4chan-settings"] || "{}").disableAll) SWFEmbed.init();'
+    if $.hasStorage
+      $.global -> window.SWFEmbed.init() if JSON.parse(localStorage['4chan-settings'] or '{}').disableAll
+    else
+      $.global -> window.SWFEmbed.init()