diff --git a/static/index.js b/static/index.js
index 5ad84de0e..86a6d4e69 100644
--- a/static/index.js
+++ b/static/index.js
@@ -18,7 +18,9 @@
       // Ensure ATOM_HOME is always set before anything else is required
       // This is because of a difference in Linux not inherited between browser and render processes
       // issue #5142
-      setupAtomHome(loadSettings.atomHome)
+      if (loadSettings && loadSettings.atomHome) {
+        process.env.ATOM_HOME = loadSettings.atomHome
+      }
 
       blobStore = FileSystemBlobStore.load(
         path.join(process.env.ATOM_HOME, 'blob-store/')