diff --git a/spec/panel-container-element-spec.coffee b/spec/panel-container-element-spec.coffee
index bd4ed6bd9..65577221a 100644
--- a/spec/panel-container-element-spec.coffee
+++ b/spec/panel-container-element-spec.coffee
@@ -20,10 +20,6 @@ describe "PanelContainerElement", ->
   beforeEach ->
     jasmineContent = document.body.querySelector('#jasmine-content')
 
-    atom.views.addViewProvider Panel, (model) ->
-      new PanelElement().initialize(model)
-    atom.views.addViewProvider PanelContainer, (model) ->
-      new PaneContainerElement().initialize(model)
     atom.views.addViewProvider TestPanelContainerItem, (model) ->
       new TestPanelContainerItemElement().initialize(model)
 
diff --git a/src/atom-environment.coffee b/src/atom-environment.coffee
index 162187bbe..855e8c931 100644
--- a/src/atom-environment.coffee
+++ b/src/atom-environment.coffee
@@ -197,8 +197,8 @@ class AtomEnvironment extends Model
   registerDefaultViewProviders: ->
     @views.addViewProvider Workspace, (model, env) ->
       new WorkspaceElement().initialize(model, env)
-    @views.addViewProvider PanelContainer, (model) ->
-      new PanelContainerElement().initialize(model)
+    @views.addViewProvider PanelContainer, (model, env) ->
+      new PanelContainerElement().initialize(model, env)
     @views.addViewProvider Panel, (model, env) ->
       new PanelElement().initialize(model, env)
     @views.addViewProvider PaneContainer, (model) ->
diff --git a/src/panel-container-element.coffee b/src/panel-container-element.coffee
index e1459e6d6..26a1d2d8c 100644
--- a/src/panel-container-element.coffee
+++ b/src/panel-container-element.coffee
@@ -4,7 +4,9 @@ class PanelContainerElement extends HTMLElement
   createdCallback: ->
     @subscriptions = new CompositeDisposable
 
-  initialize: (@model) ->
+  initialize: (@model, {@views}) ->
+    throw new Error("Must pass a views parameter when initializing PanelContainerElements") unless @views?
+
     @subscriptions.add @model.onDidAddPanel(@panelAdded.bind(this))
     @subscriptions.add @model.onDidRemovePanel(@panelRemoved.bind(this))
     @subscriptions.add @model.onDidDestroy(@destroyed.bind(this))