diff --git a/spec/squirrel-update-spec.coffee b/spec/squirrel-update-spec.coffee
index 564760935..b71a9b0c4 100644
--- a/spec/squirrel-update-spec.coffee
+++ b/spec/squirrel-update-spec.coffee
@@ -25,6 +25,16 @@ describe "Windows squirrel updates", ->
       else
         originalSpawn('ls')
 
+  it "ignores errors spawning Squirrel", ->
+    jasmine.unspy(ChildProcess, 'spawn')
+    spyOn(ChildProcess, 'spawn').andCallFake -> throw new Error("EBUSY")
+
+    app = quit: jasmine.createSpy('quit')
+    expect(SquirrelUpdate.handleStartupEvent(app, '--squirrel-install')).toBe true
+
+    waitsFor ->
+      app.quit.callCount is 1
+
   it "quits the app on all squirrel events", ->
     app = quit: jasmine.createSpy('quit')
 
diff --git a/src/browser/squirrel-update.coffee b/src/browser/squirrel-update.coffee
index 70fc75bd9..2e5fec4d8 100644
--- a/src/browser/squirrel-update.coffee
+++ b/src/browser/squirrel-update.coffee
@@ -25,9 +25,15 @@ environmentKeyPath = 'HKCU\\Environment'
 # Spawn a command and invoke the callback when it completes with an error
 # and the output from standard out.
 spawn = (command, args, callback) ->
-  spawnedProcess = ChildProcess.spawn(command, args)
-
   stdout = ''
+
+  try
+    spawnedProcess = ChildProcess.spawn(command, args)
+  catch error
+    # Spawn can throw an error
+    process.nextTick -> callback?(error, stdout)
+    return
+
   spawnedProcess.stdout.on 'data', (data) -> stdout += data
 
   error = null