diff --git a/spec/workspace-spec.coffee b/spec/workspace-spec.coffee
index 721310d35..a6cd08993 100644
--- a/spec/workspace-spec.coffee
+++ b/spec/workspace-spec.coffee
@@ -225,6 +225,26 @@ describe "Workspace", ->
               expect(workspace.paneContainer.root.children[0]).toBe pane1
               expect(workspace.paneContainer.root.children[1]).toBe pane4
 
+    describe "when an initialLine and initialColumn are specified", ->
+      it "moves the cursor to the indicated location", ->
+        waitsForPromise ->
+          workspace.open('a', initialLine: 1, initialColumn: 5)
+
+        runs ->
+          expect(workspace.getActiveTextEditor().getCursorBufferPosition()).toEqual [1, 5]
+
+        waitsForPromise ->
+          workspace.open('a', initialLine: 2, initialColumn: 4)
+
+        runs ->
+          expect(workspace.getActiveTextEditor().getCursorBufferPosition()).toEqual [2, 4]
+
+        waitsForPromise ->
+          workspace.open('a', initialLine: 0, initialColumn: 0)
+
+        runs ->
+          expect(workspace.getActiveTextEditor().getCursorBufferPosition()).toEqual [0, 0]
+
     describe "when the file is over 2MB", ->
       it "opens the editor with largeFileMode: true", ->
         spyOn(fs, 'getSizeSync').andReturn 2 * 1048577 # 2MB
diff --git a/src/workspace.coffee b/src/workspace.coffee
index 6c3a0d6f9..ee0df255f 100644
--- a/src/workspace.coffee
+++ b/src/workspace.coffee
@@ -472,7 +472,7 @@ class Workspace extends Model
           initialLine = options.initialLine
         if Number.isFinite(options.initialColumn)
           initialColumn = options.initialColumn
-        if initialLine > 0 or initialColumn > 0 or options.initialLine? or options.initialColumn?
+        if initialLine >= 0 or initialColumn >= 0
           item.setCursorBufferPosition?([initialLine, initialColumn])
 
         index = pane.getActiveItemIndex()