diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/webkitsettings.py b/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/webkitsettings.py
index b2012c162..7d29453cf 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/webkitsettings.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/webkitsettings.py
@@ -80,8 +80,7 @@ def update_settings(section, option):
             QWebSettings.setIconDatabasePath('')
         else:
             QWebSettings.setIconDatabasePath(cache_path)
-    else:
-        websettings.update_mappings(MAPPINGS, section, option)
+    websettings.update_mappings(MAPPINGS, section, option)
 
 
 def init():
diff --git a/tests/end2end/data/javascript/localstorage.html b/tests/end2end/data/javascript/localstorage.html
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9f8170610
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/end2end/data/javascript/localstorage.html
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+<!DOCTYPE html>
+<html>
+  <head>
+      <script type="text/javascript">
+          function check_storage() {
+              try {
+                  localStorage.qute_test = "foo";
+                  console.log("localstorage works!");
+              } catch (e) {
+                  console.log("localstorage does not work!");
+              }
+          }
+      </script>
+  </head>
+  <body onload="check_storage()">
+    <p>This page checks local storage on load and logs via console.log</p>
+  </body>
+</html>
diff --git a/tests/end2end/features/misc.feature b/tests/end2end/features/misc.feature
index fb0c22f1a..2f87721a6 100644
--- a/tests/end2end/features/misc.feature
+++ b/tests/end2end/features/misc.feature
@@ -471,6 +471,13 @@ Feature: Various utility commands.
         And I open cookies in a new tab
         Then the cookie qute-test should be set to 42
 
+    ## https://github.com/The-Compiler/qutebrowser/issues/1742
+
+    Scenario: Private browsing is activated in QtWebKit without restart
+        When I set general -> private-browsing to true
+        And I open data/javascript/localstorage.html
+        Then "localstorage does not work!" should be logged via javascript
+
     Scenario: :repeat-command
         Given I open data/scroll.html
         And I run :tab-only
