diff --git a/src/atom-environment.coffee b/src/atom-environment.coffee
index 3cc8debbf..13f8ae3c9 100644
--- a/src/atom-environment.coffee
+++ b/src/atom-environment.coffee
@@ -240,6 +240,7 @@ class AtomEnvironment extends Model
 
     @config.load()
 
+    @themes.loadBaseStylesheets()
     @initialStyleElements = @styles.getSnapshot()
     @themes.initialLoadComplete = true if onlyLoadBaseStyleSheets
     @setBodyPlatformClass()