diff --git a/src/librustdoc/html/static/main.js b/src/librustdoc/html/static/main.js
index 9d84d4ea3c1..5b0b19b95af 100644
--- a/src/librustdoc/html/static/main.js
+++ b/src/librustdoc/html/static/main.js
@@ -54,7 +54,8 @@
     }
 
     function browserSupportsHistoryApi() {
-        return window.history && typeof window.history.pushState === "function";
+        return document.location.protocol != "file:" &&
+          window.history && typeof window.history.pushState === "function";
     }
 
     function highlightSourceLines(ev) {