diff --git a/packages/stream/stream_client.js b/packages/stream/stream_client.js
index 55e0cae2a3..3d7b16064d 100644
--- a/packages/stream/stream_client.js
+++ b/packages/stream/stream_client.js
@@ -239,7 +239,12 @@ _.extend(Meteor._Stream.prototype, {
     var self = this;
     self._cleanup_socket(); // cleanup the old socket, if there was one.
 
-    self.socket = new SockJS(self.url, undefined, {debug: false});
+    self.socket = new SockJS(self.url, undefined, {
+      debug: false, protocols_whitelist: [
+        // only allow polling protocols. no websockets or streaming.
+        // streaming makes safari spin, and websockets hurt chrome.
+        'xdr-polling', 'xhr-polling', 'iframe-xhr-polling', 'jsonp-polling'
+      ]});
     self.socket.onmessage = function (data) {
       // first message we get when we're connecting goes to _connected,
       // which connects us. All subsequent messages (while connected) go to