diff --git a/src/browser/setupWorker/start/createStartHandler.ts b/src/browser/setupWorker/start/createStartHandler.ts
index dd9c35eb..6629590f 100644
--- a/src/browser/setupWorker/start/createStartHandler.ts
+++ b/src/browser/setupWorker/start/createStartHandler.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { devUtils } from '~/core/utils/internal/devUtils'
+import { MSW_WEBSOCKET_CLIENTS_KEY } from '~/core/ws/WebSocketClientManager'
 import { getWorkerInstance } from './utils/getWorkerInstance'
 import { enableMocking } from './utils/enableMocking'
 import { SetupWorkerInternalContext, StartHandler } from '../glossary'
@@ -71,6 +72,11 @@ Please consider using a custom "serviceWorker.url" option to point to the actual
         // Make sure we're always clearing the interval - there are reports that not doing this can
         // cause memory leaks in headless browser environments.
         window.clearInterval(context.keepAliveInterval)
+
+        // Purge persisted clients on page reload.
+        // WebSocket clients will get new IDs on reload so persisting them
+        // makes little sense.
+        localStorage.removeItem(MSW_WEBSOCKET_CLIENTS_KEY)
       })
 
       // Check if the active Service Worker has been generated
diff --git a/src/core/ws/WebSocketClientManager.ts b/src/core/ws/WebSocketClientManager.ts
index e9d11d46..0a768073 100644
--- a/src/core/ws/WebSocketClientManager.ts
+++ b/src/core/ws/WebSocketClientManager.ts
@@ -43,9 +43,8 @@ export class WebSocketClientManager {
   ) {
     this.inMemoryClients = new Set()
 
+    // Purge in-memory clients when the worker stops.
     if (typeof localStorage !== 'undefined') {
-      // When the worker clears the local storage key in "worker.stop()",
-      // also clear the in-memory clients map.
       localStorage.removeItem = new Proxy(localStorage.removeItem, {
         apply: (target, thisArg, args) => {
           const [key] = args
diff --git a/test/browser/ws-api/ws.clients.browser.test.ts b/test/browser/ws-api/ws.clients.browser.test.ts
index 4d0a4a77..f811a383 100644
--- a/test/browser/ws-api/ws.clients.browser.test.ts
+++ b/test/browser/ws-api/ws.clients.browser.test.ts
@@ -183,23 +183,62 @@ test('clears the list of clients when the worker is stopped', async ({
     await worker.start()
   })
 
+  expect(await page.evaluate(() => window.link.clients.size)).toBe(0)
+
   await page.evaluate(async () => {
     const ws = new WebSocket('wss://example.com')
     await new Promise((done) => (ws.onopen = done))
   })
 
-  // Must return 1 after a single client joined.
-  expect(
-    await page.evaluate(() => {
-      return window.link.clients.size
-    }),
-  ).toBe(1)
+  // Must return the number of joined clients.
+  expect(await page.evaluate(() => window.link.clients.size)).toBe(1)
 
   await page.evaluate(() => {
     window.worker.stop()
   })
 
-  // Must return 0.
-  // The localStorage has been purged, and the in-memory manager clients too.
+  // Must purge the local storage on reload.
+  // The worker has been started as a part of the test, not runtime,
+  // so it will start with empty clients.
+  expect(await page.evaluate(() => window.link.clients.size)).toBe(0)
+})
+
+test('clears the list of clients when the page is reloaded', async ({
+  loadExample,
+  page,
+}) => {
+  await loadExample(require.resolve('./ws.runtime.js'), {
+    skipActivation: true,
+  })
+
+  const enableMocking = async () => {
+    await page.evaluate(async () => {
+      const { setupWorker, ws } = window.msw
+      const api = ws.link('wss://example.com')
+      const worker = setupWorker(api.on('connection', () => {}))
+      window.link = api
+      window.worker = worker
+      await worker.start()
+    })
+  }
+
+  await enableMocking(page)
+
+  expect(await page.evaluate(() => window.link.clients.size)).toBe(0)
+
+  await page.evaluate(async () => {
+    const ws = new WebSocket('wss://example.com')
+    await new Promise((done) => (ws.onopen = done))
+  })
+
+  // Must return the number of joined clients.
+  expect(await page.evaluate(() => window.link.clients.size)).toBe(1)
+
+  await page.reload()
+  await enableMocking()
+
+  // Must purge the local storage on reload.
+  // The worker has been started as a part of the test, not runtime,
+  // so it will start with empty clients.
   expect(await page.evaluate(() => window.link.clients.size)).toBe(0)
 })