diff --git a/lib/core/src/client/preview/start.js b/lib/core/src/client/preview/start.js
index deaa08b67749..ffb269892bdb 100644
--- a/lib/core/src/client/preview/start.js
+++ b/lib/core/src/client/preview/start.js
@@ -77,9 +77,16 @@ export const getContext = (() => {
         addons.setChannel(channel);
       }
     }
-
-    const storyStore = new StoryStore({ channel });
-    const clientApi = new ClientApi({ storyStore, decorateStory });
+    let storyStore;
+    let clientApi;
+    if (typeof window !== 'undefined' && window.__STORYBOOK_CLIENT_API__) {
+      clientApi = window.__STORYBOOK_CLIENT_API__;
+      // eslint-disable-next-line no-underscore-dangle
+      storyStore = clientApi._storyStore;
+    } else {
+      storyStore = new StoryStore({ channel });
+      clientApi = new ClientApi({ storyStore, decorateStory });
+    }
     const { clearDecorators } = clientApi;
     const configApi = new ConfigApi({ clearDecorators, storyStore, channel, clientApi });
 
diff --git a/lib/core/src/client/preview/start.test.js b/lib/core/src/client/preview/start.test.js
index 4b9270593e16..e2444a0313b9 100644
--- a/lib/core/src/client/preview/start.test.js
+++ b/lib/core/src/client/preview/start.test.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { document } from 'global';
+import { document, window } from 'global';
 
 import start from './start';
 
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ jest.mock('@storybook/client-logger');
 jest.mock('global', () => ({
   navigator: { userAgent: 'browser', platform: '' },
   window: {
+    __STORYBOOK_CLIENT_API__: undefined,
     addEventListener: jest.fn(),
     location: { search: '' },
     history: { replaceState: jest.fn() },
@@ -19,6 +20,10 @@ jest.mock('global', () => ({
   },
 }));
 
+afterEach(() => {
+  window.__STORYBOOK_CLIENT_API__ = undefined;
+});
+
 it('returns apis', () => {
   const render = jest.fn();
 
@@ -34,6 +39,21 @@ it('returns apis', () => {
   );
 });
 
+it('reuses the current client api when the lib is reloaded', () => {
+  jest.useFakeTimers();
+  const render = jest.fn();
+
+  const { clientApi } = start(render);
+
+  const valueOfClientApi = window.__STORYBOOK_CLIENT_API__;
+
+  const { clientApi: newClientApi } = start(render);
+  jest.runAllTimers();
+
+  expect(clientApi).toEqual(newClientApi);
+  expect(clientApi).toEqual(valueOfClientApi);
+});
+
 it('calls render when you add a story', () => {
   jest.useFakeTimers();
   const render = jest.fn();