diff --git a/spec/module-cache-spec.coffee b/spec/module-cache-spec.coffee
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2f0b85eac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/module-cache-spec.coffee
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+path = require 'path'
+Module = require 'module'
+
+describe 'ModuleCache', ->
+  beforeEach ->
+    spyOn(Module, '_findPath').andCallThrough()
+
+  it 'resolves atom shell module paths without hitting the filesystem', ->
+    require.resolve('shell')
+    expect(Module._findPath.callCount).toBe 0