diff --git a/docs/useBeforeUnload.md b/docs/useBeforeUnload.md
index 9c4df021..438f0580 100644
--- a/docs/useBeforeUnload.md
+++ b/docs/useBeforeUnload.md
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ React side-effect hook that shows browser alert when user try to reload or close
 import {useBeforeUnload} from 'react-use';
 
 const Demo = () => {
-  useBeforeUnload('Are you sure?');
+  useBeforeUnload();
 
   return null;
 };
diff --git a/src/__stories__/useBeforeUnload.story.tsx b/src/__stories__/useBeforeUnload.story.tsx
index 4b0dc31f..989ee946 100644
--- a/src/__stories__/useBeforeUnload.story.tsx
+++ b/src/__stories__/useBeforeUnload.story.tsx
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import {useBeforeUnload} from '..';
 import ShowDocs from './util/ShowDocs';
 
 const Demo = () => {
-    useBeforeUnload('Are you sure?');
+  useBeforeUnload();
 
   return (
     <div>
diff --git a/src/useBeforeUnload.ts b/src/useBeforeUnload.ts
index a244a450..26918055 100644
--- a/src/useBeforeUnload.ts
+++ b/src/useBeforeUnload.ts
@@ -2,15 +2,14 @@ import {useEffect} from "react";
 
 const useBeforeUnload = (message?: string) => {
   useEffect(() => {
-    window.onbeforeunload = e => {
-      e.returnValue = message;
-      return message;
+    const beforeUnload = (e) => {
+      e.preventDefault();
+      e.returnValue = message || "";
     };
 
-    return () => {
-      window.onbeforeunload = null;
-      return;
-    }
+    window.addEventListener("beforeunload", beforeUnload);
+
+    return () => window.removeEventListener("beforeunload", beforeUnload);
   }, [message]);
 };