diff --git a/shell/common/api/electron_api_shell.cc b/shell/common/api/electron_api_shell.cc
index fc9d014a14..39c78a2f47 100644
--- a/shell/common/api/electron_api_shell.cc
+++ b/shell/common/api/electron_api_shell.cc
@@ -112,11 +112,20 @@ bool WriteShortcutLink(const base::FilePath& shortcut_path,
                        gin::Arguments* const args) {
   base::win::ShortcutOperation operation =
       base::win::ShortcutOperation::kCreateAlways;
-  args->GetNext(&operation);
-  auto options = gin::Dictionary::CreateEmpty(args->isolate());
-  if (!args->GetNext(&options)) {
-    args->ThrowError();
-    return false;
+  gin::Dictionary options = gin::Dictionary::CreateEmpty(args->isolate());
+
+  v8::Local<v8::Value> peek = args->PeekNext();
+  if (peek->IsObject()) {
+    if (!args->GetNext(&options)) {
+      args->ThrowError();
+      return false;
+    }
+  } else {
+    args->GetNext(&operation);
+    if (!args->GetNext(&options)) {
+      args->ThrowError();
+      return false;
+    }
   }
 
   base::win::ShortcutProperties properties;
diff --git a/spec/api-shell-spec.ts b/spec/api-shell-spec.ts
index eef14040b0..ada7518cd6 100644
--- a/spec/api-shell-spec.ts
+++ b/spec/api-shell-spec.ts
@@ -172,6 +172,16 @@ describe('shell module', () => {
       expect(fs.existsSync(tmpShortcut)).to.be.true();
     });
 
+    it('writes the shortcut with omitted operation (defaults to create)', () => {
+      expect(shell.writeShortcutLink(tmpShortcut, shortcutOptions)).to.be.true();
+      expect(fs.existsSync(tmpShortcut)).to.be.true();
+      expect(shell.readShortcutLink(tmpShortcut)).to.deep.equal(shortcutOptions);
+
+      const newOptions = { ...shortcutOptions, description: 'new description' };
+      expect(shell.writeShortcutLink(tmpShortcut, newOptions)).to.be.true();
+      expect(shell.readShortcutLink(tmpShortcut)).to.deep.equal(newOptions);
+    });
+
     it('correctly sets the fields', () => {
       expect(shell.writeShortcutLink(tmpShortcut, shortcutOptions)).to.be.true();
       expect(shell.readShortcutLink(tmpShortcut)).to.deep.equal(shortcutOptions);