diff --git a/spec/workspace-spec.coffee b/spec/workspace-spec.coffee
index 009f95a1c..f198fbe94 100644
--- a/spec/workspace-spec.coffee
+++ b/spec/workspace-spec.coffee
@@ -16,6 +16,19 @@ describe "Workspace", ->
     atom.project.setPaths([atom.project.getDirectories()[0]?.resolve('dir')])
     atom.workspace = workspace = new Workspace
 
+  describe "serialization", ->
+    it "does not deserialize text editors for files that can't be read", ->
+      pathToOpen = path.join(temp.mkdirSync(), 'file.txt')
+
+      waitsForPromise ->
+        workspace.open(pathToOpen)
+
+      runs ->
+        expect(workspace.getPaneItems().length).toBe 1
+        fs.mkdirSync(pathToOpen)
+        deserializedWorkspace = atom.workspace.testSerialization()
+        expect(deserializedWorkspace.getPaneItems().length).toBe 0
+
   describe "::open(uri, options)", ->
     openEvents = null
 
diff --git a/src/text-editor.coffee b/src/text-editor.coffee
index 6d979fdf7..1eedc884d 100644
--- a/src/text-editor.coffee
+++ b/src/text-editor.coffee
@@ -128,7 +128,15 @@ class TextEditor extends Model
     displayBuffer: @displayBuffer.serialize()
 
   deserializeParams: (params) ->
-    params.displayBuffer = DisplayBuffer.deserialize(params.displayBuffer)
+    try
+      displayBuffer = DisplayBuffer.deserialize(params.displayBuffer)
+    catch error
+      if error.syscall is 'read'
+        return # Error reading the file, don't deserialize an editor for it
+      else
+        throw error
+
+    params.displayBuffer = displayBuffer
     params.registerEditor = true
     params