diff --git a/src/app/atom.coffee b/src/app/atom.coffee
index ec42c3f6d..7a87061ff 100644
--- a/src/app/atom.coffee
+++ b/src/app/atom.coffee
@@ -78,13 +78,19 @@ _.extend atom,
       _.detect @activePackages, (pack) -> pack.path is path
 
   activatePackages: ->
-    for pack in @loadedPackages
+    @activatePackage(pack.path) for pack in @getLoadedPackages()
+
+  activatePackage: (id) ->
+    if pack = @loadPackage(id)
       @activePackages.push(pack)
       pack.activate()
 
   getLoadedPackages: ->
     _.clone(@loadedPackages)
 
+  getActivePackages: ->
+    _.clone(@activePackages)
+
   getPackagePaths: ->
     packagePaths = []
     for packageDirPath in config.packageDirPaths