diff --git a/lib/adapters/xhr.js b/lib/adapters/xhr.js
index e3de30e..1a3ac77 100644
--- a/lib/adapters/xhr.js
+++ b/lib/adapters/xhr.js
@@ -5,10 +5,8 @@
 var defaults = require('./../defaults');
 var utils = require('./../utils');
 var buildUrl = require('./../helpers/buildUrl');
-var cookies = require('./../helpers/cookies');
 var parseHeaders = require('./../helpers/parseHeaders');
 var transformData = require('./../helpers/transformData');
-var urlIsSameOrigin = require('./../helpers/urlIsSameOrigin');
 
 module.exports = function xhrAdapter(resolve, reject, config) {
   // Transform request data
@@ -65,11 +63,20 @@ module.exports = function xhrAdapter(resolve, reject, config) {
   };
 
   // Add xsrf header
-  var xsrfValue = urlIsSameOrigin(config.url) ?
-      cookies.read(config.xsrfCookieName || defaults.xsrfCookieName) :
-      undefined;
-  if (xsrfValue) {
-    requestHeaders[config.xsrfHeaderName || defaults.xsrfHeaderName] = xsrfValue;
+  // This is only done if running in a standard browser environment.
+  // Specifically not if we're in a web worker, or react-native.
+  if (utils.isStandardBrowserEnv()) {
+    var cookies = require('./../helpers/cookies');
+    var urlIsSameOrigin = require('./../helpers/urlIsSameOrigin');
+
+    // Add xsrf header
+    var xsrfValue = urlIsSameOrigin(config.url) ?
+        cookies.read(config.xsrfCookieName || defaults.xsrfCookieName) :
+        undefined;
+
+    if (xsrfValue) {
+      requestHeaders[config.xsrfHeaderName || defaults.xsrfHeaderName] = xsrfValue;
+    }
   }
 
   // Add headers to the request
diff --git a/lib/helpers/cookies.js b/lib/helpers/cookies.js
index c42b177..fc06e0d 100644
--- a/lib/helpers/cookies.js
+++ b/lib/helpers/cookies.js
@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 'use strict';
 
+/**
+ * WARNING:
+ *  This file makes references to objects that aren't safe in all environments.
+ *  Please see lib/utils.isStandardBrowserEnv before including this file.
+ */
+
 var utils = require('./../utils');
 
 module.exports = {
diff --git a/lib/helpers/urlIsSameOrigin.js b/lib/helpers/urlIsSameOrigin.js
index 9628022..a10a26c 100644
--- a/lib/helpers/urlIsSameOrigin.js
+++ b/lib/helpers/urlIsSameOrigin.js
@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 'use strict';
 
+/**
+ * WARNING:
+ *  This file makes references to objects that aren't safe in all environments.
+ *  Please see lib/utils.isStandardBrowserEnv before including this file.
+ */
+
 var utils = require('./../utils');
 var msie = /(msie|trident)/i.test(navigator.userAgent);
 var urlParsingNode = document.createElement('a');
diff --git a/lib/utils.js b/lib/utils.js
index 3123b41..9dd7287 100644
--- a/lib/utils.js
+++ b/lib/utils.js
@@ -140,6 +140,27 @@ function isArguments(val) {
   return toString.call(val) === '[object Arguments]';
 }
 
+/**
+ * Determine if we're running in a standard browser environment
+ *
+ * This allows axios to run in a web worker, and react-native.
+ * Both environments support XMLHttpRequest, but not fully standard globals.
+ *
+ * web workers:
+ *  typeof window -> undefined
+ *  typeof document -> undefined
+ *
+ * react-native:
+ *  typeof document.createelement -> undefined
+ */
+function isStandardBrowserEnv() {
+  return (
+    typeof window !== 'undefined' &&
+    typeof document !== 'undefined' &&
+    typeof document.createElement === 'function'
+  );
+}
+
 /**
  * Iterate over an Array or an Object invoking a function for each item.
  *
@@ -221,6 +242,7 @@ module.exports = {
   isDate: isDate,
   isFile: isFile,
   isBlob: isBlob,
+  isStandardBrowserEnv: isStandardBrowserEnv,
   forEach: forEach,
   merge: merge,
   trim: trim