diff --git a/benchmark/benchmark-bootstrap.coffee b/benchmark/benchmark-bootstrap.coffee
index 04d450407..8d9a0ba4e 100644
--- a/benchmark/benchmark-bootstrap.coffee
+++ b/benchmark/benchmark-bootstrap.coffee
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 require '../src/window'
 Atom = require '../src/atom'
-window.atom = new Atom()
+atom = new Atom()
+atom.show() unless atom.getLoadSettings().exitWhenDone
+window.atom = atom
 
 {runSpecSuite} = require '../spec/jasmine-helper'