diff --git a/frontend/src/ts/config.ts b/frontend/src/ts/config.ts
index 1c87e7656..384930950 100644
--- a/frontend/src/ts/config.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/ts/config.ts
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ import {
   canSetConfigWithCurrentFunboxes,
   canSetFunboxWithConfig,
 } from "./test/funbox/funbox-validation";
-import { reloadAfter } from "./utils/misc";
+import { isDevEnvironment, reloadAfter } from "./utils/misc";
 import * as ConfigTypes from "@monkeytype/shared-types/config";
 
 export let localStorageConfig: ConfigTypes.Config;
@@ -661,9 +661,14 @@ export function setAds(val: ConfigTypes.Ads, nosave?: boolean): boolean {
     return false;
   }
 
+  if (isDevEnvironment()) {
+    val = "off";
+    console.debug("Ads are disabled in dev environment");
+  }
+
   config.ads = val;
   saveToLocalStorage("ads", nosave);
-  if (!nosave) {
+  if (!nosave && !isDevEnvironment()) {
     reloadAfter(3);
     Notifications.add("Ad settings changed. Refreshing...", 0);
   }