diff --git a/src/useLocalStorage.ts b/src/useLocalStorage.ts
index def6ad804a..4ca3e3cc12 100644
--- a/src/useLocalStorage.ts
+++ b/src/useLocalStorage.ts
@@ -15,9 +15,14 @@ const useLocalStorage = <T>(
   key: string,
   initialValue?: T,
   options?: parserOptions<T>
-): [T | undefined, Dispatch<SetStateAction<T | undefined>>, () => void] => {
+): [
+  T | undefined,
+  Dispatch<SetStateAction<T | undefined>>,
+  () => void,
+  Dispatch<SetStateAction<T | undefined>>
+] => {
   if (!isBrowser) {
-    return [initialValue as T, noop, noop];
+    return [initialValue as T, noop, noop, noop];
   }
   if (!key) {
     throw new Error('useLocalStorage key may not be falsy');
@@ -82,6 +87,20 @@ const useLocalStorage = <T>(
     [key, setState]
   );
 
+  // eslint-disable-next-line react-hooks/rules-of-hooks
+  const safeSet: Dispatch<SetStateAction<T | undefined>> = useCallback(
+    (valOrFunc) => {
+      if (localStorage.getItem(key)) {
+        console.warn(
+          `You are attempting to set a key that is already in use, the action has been prevented. To remove this warning, use set`
+        );
+        return;
+      }
+      set(valOrFunc);
+    },
+    [key, setState]
+  );
+
   // eslint-disable-next-line react-hooks/rules-of-hooks
   const remove = useCallback(() => {
     try {
@@ -93,7 +112,7 @@ const useLocalStorage = <T>(
     }
   }, [key, setState]);
 
-  return [state, set, remove];
+  return [state, set, remove, safeSet];
 };
 
 export default useLocalStorage;
diff --git a/stories/useLocalStorage.story.tsx b/stories/useLocalStorage.story.tsx
index e5c446708e..19e7268197 100644
--- a/stories/useLocalStorage.story.tsx
+++ b/stories/useLocalStorage.story.tsx
@@ -5,15 +5,21 @@ import ShowDocs from './util/ShowDocs';
 
 const Demo = () => {
   const [value, setValue] = useLocalStorage('hello-key', 'foo');
-  const [removableValue, setRemovableValue, remove] = useLocalStorage('removeable-key');
+  const [removableValue, setRemovableValue, remove, setSafeValue] =
+    useLocalStorage('removeable-key');
 
   return (
     <div>
-      <div>Value: {value}</div>
+      <div>Set Value: {value}</div>
       <button onClick={() => setValue('bar')}>bar</button>
       <button onClick={() => setValue('baz')}>baz</button>
       <br />
       <br />
+      <div>Safe Value: {value}</div>
+      <button onClick={() => setSafeValue('bar')}>bar</button>
+      <button onClick={() => setSafeValue('baz')}>baz</button>
+      <br />
+      <br />
       <div>Removable Value: {removableValue}</div>
       <button onClick={() => setRemovableValue('foo')}>foo</button>
       <button onClick={() => setRemovableValue('bar')}>bar</button>
diff --git a/tests/useLocalStorage.test.ts b/tests/useLocalStorage.test.ts
index 1ec54dd637..055984f070 100644
--- a/tests/useLocalStorage.test.ts
+++ b/tests/useLocalStorage.test.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ import 'jest-localstorage-mock';
 import { renderHook, act } from '@testing-library/react-hooks';
 
 describe(useLocalStorage, () => {
+  let consoleWarningSpy = jest.spyOn(global.console, 'warn').mockImplementation(() => {});
+
   afterEach(() => {
     localStorage.clear();
     jest.clearAllMocks();
@@ -46,6 +48,34 @@ describe(useLocalStorage, () => {
     expect(localStorage.__STORE__.foo).toEqual('"baz"');
   });
 
+  it('safeSet will not update a value if it already exists localStorage', () => {
+    const { result, rerender } = renderHook(() => useLocalStorage('some_unused_key'));
+
+    const [, , , safeSet] = result.current;
+    act(() => safeSet('foo'));
+    rerender();
+
+    expect(localStorage.__STORE__.some_unused_key).toEqual('"foo"');
+
+    act(() => safeSet('bar'));
+    rerender();
+
+    expect(localStorage.__STORE__.some_unused_key).toEqual('"foo"');
+  });
+
+  it('safeSet will warn if you are trying to update a value that already exists localStorage', () => {
+    const { result, rerender } = renderHook(() => useLocalStorage('some_unused_key'));
+
+    const [, , , safeSet] = result.current;
+    act(() => safeSet('foo'));
+    rerender();
+
+    act(() => safeSet('bar'));
+    rerender();
+
+    expect(consoleWarningSpy).toBeCalled();
+  });
+
   it('should return undefined if no initialValue provided and localStorage empty', () => {
     const { result } = renderHook(() => useLocalStorage('some_key'));