diff --git a/spec/atom-environment-spec.js b/spec/atom-environment-spec.js
index 661af1e96..9a34bb009 100644
--- a/spec/atom-environment-spec.js
+++ b/spec/atom-environment-spec.js
@@ -375,7 +375,7 @@ describe('AtomEnvironment', () => {
       it('opens an empty buffer', () => {
         spyOn(atom.workspace, 'open')
         atom.openInitialEmptyEditorIfNecessary()
-        expect(atom.workspace.open).toHaveBeenCalledWith(null)
+        expect(atom.workspace.open).toHaveBeenCalledWith(null, {pending: true})
       })
 
       it('does not open an empty buffer when a buffer is already open', async () => {
diff --git a/src/atom-environment.js b/src/atom-environment.js
index 5add94a28..82cc6abc6 100644
--- a/src/atom-environment.js
+++ b/src/atom-environment.js
@@ -927,7 +927,7 @@ class AtomEnvironment {
     if (!this.config.get('core.openEmptyEditorOnStart')) return
     const {hasOpenFiles} = this.getLoadSettings()
     if (!hasOpenFiles && this.workspace.getPaneItems().length === 0) {
-      return this.workspace.open(null)
+      return this.workspace.open(null, {pending: true})
     }
   }