diff --git a/src/browser/main.coffee b/src/browser/main.coffee
index 680c25e8a..40456d51c 100644
--- a/src/browser/main.coffee
+++ b/src/browser/main.coffee
@@ -81,7 +81,10 @@ setupAtomHome = ->
     home = process.env.USERPROFILE
   else
     home = process.env.HOME
-  process.env.ATOM_HOME = path.join(home, '.atom')
+  atomHome = path.join(home, '.atom')
+  try
+    atomHome = fs.realpathSync(atomHome)
+  process.env.ATOM_HOME = atomHome
 
 parseCommandLine = ->
   version = app.getVersion()