diff --git a/CHANGELOG.asciidoc b/CHANGELOG.asciidoc
index 01f626ead..66c6768d5 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.asciidoc
+++ b/CHANGELOG.asciidoc
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ Fixed
 ~~~~~
 
 - Fixed completion for various config values when using `:set`.
+- Prevented an error being logged when a website with HTTP authentication was
+  opened on Windows.
 
 v0.5.0
 ------
diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/network/networkmanager.py b/qutebrowser/browser/network/networkmanager.py
index 4670cb186..a222f2713 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/network/networkmanager.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/network/networkmanager.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 
 """Our own QNetworkAccessManager."""
 
+import os
 import collections
 import netrc
 
@@ -256,7 +257,10 @@ class NetworkManager(QNetworkAccessManager):
     def on_authentication_required(self, reply, authenticator):
         """Called when a website needs authentication."""
         user, password = None, None
-        if not hasattr(reply, "netrc_used"):
+        if not hasattr(reply, "netrc_used") and 'HOME' in os.environ:
+            # We'll get an OSError by netrc if 'HOME' isn't available in
+            # os.environ. We don't want to log that, so we prevent it
+            # altogether.
             reply.netrc_used = True
             try:
                 net = netrc.netrc()