diff --git a/packages/gatsby-plugin-google-analytics/README.md b/packages/gatsby-plugin-google-analytics/README.md
index 29a09d24d54ab..04d59f98c01ac 100644
--- a/packages/gatsby-plugin-google-analytics/README.md
+++ b/packages/gatsby-plugin-google-analytics/README.md
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ module.exports = {
     {
       resolve: `gatsby-plugin-google-analytics`,
       options: {
+        // The property ID; the tracking code won't be generated without it
         trackingId: "YOUR_GOOGLE_ANALYTICS_TRACKING_ID",
         // Defines where to place the tracking script - `true` in the head and `false` in the body
         head: false,
diff --git a/packages/gatsby-plugin-google-analytics/src/__tests__/gatsby-ssr.js b/packages/gatsby-plugin-google-analytics/src/__tests__/gatsby-ssr.js
index 7ebc21e137ab2..2f772b897f532 100644
--- a/packages/gatsby-plugin-google-analytics/src/__tests__/gatsby-ssr.js
+++ b/packages/gatsby-plugin-google-analytics/src/__tests__/gatsby-ssr.js
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ describe(`gatsby-plugin-google-analytics`, () => {
           const setHeadComponents = jest.fn()
           const setPostBodyComponents = jest.fn()
 
-          options = Object.assign({}, options)
+          options = Object.assign({ trackingId: `TEST_TRACKING_ID` }, options)
 
           onRenderBody({ setHeadComponents, setPostBodyComponents }, options)
 
@@ -39,6 +39,15 @@ describe(`gatsby-plugin-google-analytics`, () => {
           }
         }
 
+        it(`does not set tracking script when trackingId not given`, () => {
+          const { setHeadComponents, setPostBodyComponents } = setup({
+            trackingId: ``,
+          })
+
+          expect(setHeadComponents).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+          expect(setPostBodyComponents).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+        })
+
         it(`sets tracking script`, () => {
           const { setHeadComponents, setPostBodyComponents } = setup()
 
@@ -56,9 +65,7 @@ describe(`gatsby-plugin-google-analytics`, () => {
         })
 
         it(`sets trackingId`, () => {
-          const { setPostBodyComponents } = setup({
-            trackingId: `TEST_TRACKING_ID`,
-          })
+          const { setPostBodyComponents } = setup()
 
           const result = JSON.stringify(setPostBodyComponents.mock.calls[0][0])
 
diff --git a/packages/gatsby-plugin-google-analytics/src/gatsby-node.js b/packages/gatsby-plugin-google-analytics/src/gatsby-node.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..4bd3461dea050
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/gatsby-plugin-google-analytics/src/gatsby-node.js
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+exports.onPreInit = ({ reporter }, options) => {
+  if (!options.trackingId) {
+    reporter.warn(
+      `The Google Analytics plugin requires a tracking ID. Did you mean to add it?`
+    )
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/gatsby-plugin-google-analytics/src/gatsby-ssr.js b/packages/gatsby-plugin-google-analytics/src/gatsby-ssr.js
index 857061c351be4..2ef6737009e88 100644
--- a/packages/gatsby-plugin-google-analytics/src/gatsby-ssr.js
+++ b/packages/gatsby-plugin-google-analytics/src/gatsby-ssr.js
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ export const onRenderBody = (
   { setHeadComponents, setPostBodyComponents },
   pluginOptions
 ) => {
-  if (process.env.NODE_ENV !== `production`) {
+  if (process.env.NODE_ENV !== `production` || !pluginOptions.trackingId) {
     return null
   }