diff --git a/spec/app/atom-spec.coffee b/spec/app/atom-spec.coffee
index 7400ac049..9d2ae98c3 100644
--- a/spec/app/atom-spec.coffee
+++ b/spec/app/atom-spec.coffee
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ describe "the `atom` global", ->
     describe ".activateAtomPackage(package)", ->
       it "calls activate on the package", ->
         atom.activateAtomPackage(pack)
-        expect(packageModule.activate).toHaveBeenCalledWith(undefined)
+        expect(packageModule.activate).toHaveBeenCalledWith({})
 
       it "calls activate on the package module with its previous state", ->
         atom.activateAtomPackage(pack)
diff --git a/src/app/atom.coffee b/src/app/atom.coffee
index ec9246539..c0417fb06 100644
--- a/src/app/atom.coffee
+++ b/src/app/atom.coffee
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ _.extend atom,
 
   activateAtomPackage: (pack) ->
     @activatedAtomPackages.push(pack)
-    pack.packageMain.activate(@atomPackageStates[pack.name])
+    pack.packageMain.activate(@atomPackageStates[pack.name] ? {})
 
   deactivateAtomPackages: ->
     pack.packageMain.deactivate?() for pack in @activatedAtomPackages