diff --git a/src/atom.coffee b/src/atom.coffee
index f3818649e..b3c1fc17a 100644
--- a/src/atom.coffee
+++ b/src/atom.coffee
@@ -158,6 +158,12 @@ class Atom extends Model
   #
   # Call after this instance has been assigned to the `atom` global.
   initialize: ->
+    # Disable deprecations unless in dev mode or spec mode so that regular
+    # editor performance isn't impacted by generating stack traces for
+    # deprecated calls.
+    unless @inDevMode() or @inSpecMode()
+      require('grim').deprecate = ->
+
     window.onerror = =>
       @openDevTools()
       @executeJavaScriptInDevTools('InspectorFrontendAPI.showConsole()')