diff --git a/spec/app/atom-spec.coffee b/spec/app/atom-spec.coffee
index 675443a19..e614a2ff7 100644
--- a/spec/app/atom-spec.coffee
+++ b/spec/app/atom-spec.coffee
@@ -150,11 +150,13 @@ describe "the `atom` global", ->
         callbacks = @argsForCall[0][2]
         @reset()
         callbacks[labels.indexOf(buttonText)]()
+        advanceClock 50
 
       atom.sendMessageToBrowserProcess.simulatePathSelection = (path) ->
         callback = @argsForCall[0][2]
         @reset()
         callback(path)
+        advanceClock 50
 
     it "only presents one native dialog at a time", ->
       confirmHandler = jasmine.createSpy("confirmHandler")
diff --git a/src/app/atom.coffee b/src/app/atom.coffee
index 597fb60cb..2e4635c18 100644
--- a/src/app/atom.coffee
+++ b/src/app/atom.coffee
@@ -131,7 +131,8 @@ _.extend atom,
     @pendingModals.push([]) # prioritize any modals presented during dismiss callback
     fn?(args...)
     @presentingModal = false
-    @presentModal(fn) if fn = @shiftPendingModal()
+    if fn = @shiftPendingModal()
+      _.delay (=> @presentModal(fn)), 50 # let view update before next dialog
 
   pushPendingModal: (fn) ->
     # pendingModals is a stack of queues. enqueue to top of stack.