diff --git a/html/watch.ejs b/html/watch.ejs
index 009ffa65..f21a8107 100644
--- a/html/watch.ejs
+++ b/html/watch.ejs
@@ -2431,10 +2431,25 @@ if (/[?&]autoplay=/.test(location.search)) {
 function sendStats(videoId) {
   if (!videoId) return
 
-  let userId = localStorage.getItem("poke_uid")
-  if (!userId) {
-    userId = "u_" + Math.random().toString(36).slice(2) + Date.now()
-    localStorage.setItem("poke_uid", userId)
+  // respect per-browser opt-out
+  try {
+    if (localStorage.getItem("poke_stats_optout") === "1") return
+  } catch (e) {
+    // if localStorage is blocked, just don't send anything
+    return
+  }
+
+  let userId
+
+  try {
+    userId = localStorage.getItem("poke_uid")
+    if (!userId) {
+      userId = "u_" + Math.random().toString(36).slice(2) + Date.now()
+      localStorage.setItem("poke_uid", userId)
+    }
+  } catch (e) {
+    // if we can't read/write localStorage, don't send stats
+    return
   }
 
   const payload = { videoId, userId }
@@ -2447,7 +2462,6 @@ function sendStats(videoId) {
   }).catch(() => {})
 }
 
-
 sendStats(new URLSearchParams(location.search).get("v"))
 
      function toggleTheaterMode() {