diff --git a/app/index.js b/app/index.js
index f4a4386a8a4..6e54e7087a0 100644
--- a/app/index.js
+++ b/app/index.js
@@ -444,9 +444,14 @@ app.on('ready', () => {
     }
     process.emit(messages.APP_INITIALIZED)
 
-    // Default browser checking
-    let isDefaultBrowser = defaultProtocols.every(p => app.isDefaultProtocolClient(p))
-    appActions.changeSetting(settings.IS_DEFAULT_BROWSER, isDefaultBrowser)
+    if (!process.env.BRAVE_FORCE_CHECK_DEFAULT_ON_STARTUP &&
+      ['development', 'test'].includes(process.env.NODE_ENV)) {
+      appActions.changeSetting(settings.IS_DEFAULT_BROWSER, true)
+    } else {
+      // Default browser checking
+      let isDefaultBrowser = defaultProtocols.every(p => app.isDefaultProtocolClient(p))
+      appActions.changeSetting(settings.IS_DEFAULT_BROWSER, isDefaultBrowser)
+    }
 
     if (CmdLine.newWindowURL) {
       appActions.newWindow(Immutable.fromJS({