diff --git a/python/ray/tests/test_basic.py b/python/ray/tests/test_basic.py
index a1e7f6d77..a4c765566 100644
--- a/python/ray/tests/test_basic.py
+++ b/python/ray/tests/test_basic.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import collections
 import io
 import json
 import logging
+import os
 import re
 import string
 import sys
@@ -24,6 +25,19 @@ import ray.test_utils
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
+# https://github.com/ray-project/ray/issues/6662
+def test_ignore_http_proxy(shutdown_only):
+    ray.init(num_cpus=1)
+    os.environ["http_proxy"] = "http://example.com"
+    os.environ["https_proxy"] = "http://example.com"
+
+    @ray.remote
+    def f():
+        return 1
+
+    assert ray.get(f.remote()) == 1
+
+
 def test_simple_serialization(ray_start_regular):
     primitive_objects = [
         # Various primitive types.
diff --git a/src/ray/rpc/grpc_client.h b/src/ray/rpc/grpc_client.h
index 2e1687b66..1999ef7e3 100644
--- a/src/ray/rpc/grpc_client.h
+++ b/src/ray/rpc/grpc_client.h
@@ -38,8 +38,13 @@ class GrpcClient {
  public:
   GrpcClient(const std::string &address, const int port, ClientCallManager &call_manager)
       : client_call_manager_(call_manager) {
-    std::shared_ptr<grpc::Channel> channel = grpc::CreateChannel(
-        address + ":" + std::to_string(port), grpc::InsecureChannelCredentials());
+    grpc::ChannelArguments argument;
+    // Disable http proxy since it disrupts local connections. TODO(ekl) we should make
+    // this configurable, or selectively set it for known local connections only.
+    argument.SetInt(GRPC_ARG_ENABLE_HTTP_PROXY, 0);
+    std::shared_ptr<grpc::Channel> channel =
+        grpc::CreateCustomChannel(address + ":" + std::to_string(port),
+                                  grpc::InsecureChannelCredentials(), argument);
     stub_ = GrpcService::NewStub(channel);
   }
 
@@ -50,6 +55,7 @@ class GrpcClient {
     quota.SetMaxThreads(num_threads);
     grpc::ChannelArguments argument;
     argument.SetResourceQuota(quota);
+    argument.SetInt(GRPC_ARG_ENABLE_HTTP_PROXY, 0);
     std::shared_ptr<grpc::Channel> channel =
         grpc::CreateCustomChannel(address + ":" + std::to_string(port),
                                   grpc::InsecureChannelCredentials(), argument);
@@ -85,4 +91,4 @@ class GrpcClient {
 }  // namespace rpc
 }  // namespace ray
 
-#endif
\ No newline at end of file
+#endif