diff --git a/src/browser/atom-application.coffee b/src/browser/atom-application.coffee
index 7e1f71390..ceac4f2f3 100644
--- a/src/browser/atom-application.coffee
+++ b/src/browser/atom-application.coffee
@@ -373,6 +373,8 @@ class AtomApplication
   #   :windowDimensions - Object with height and width keys.
   #   :window - {AtomWindow} to open file paths in.
   openPaths: ({pathsToOpen, executedFrom, pidToKillWhenClosed, newWindow, devMode, safeMode, windowDimensions, profileStartup, window}={}) ->
+    devMode = Boolean(devMode)
+    safeMode = Boolean(safeMode)
     locationsToOpen = (@locationForPathToOpen(pathToOpen, executedFrom) for pathToOpen in pathsToOpen)
     pathsToOpen = (locationToOpen.pathToOpen for locationToOpen in locationsToOpen)