diff --git a/atom/browser/api/atom_api_app.cc b/atom/browser/api/atom_api_app.cc
index 195cf84a6541..3599e3195fc5 100644
--- a/atom/browser/api/atom_api_app.cc
+++ b/atom/browser/api/atom_api_app.cc
@@ -401,6 +401,13 @@ bool App::MakeSingleInstance(
   }
 }
 
+void App::ReleaseSingleInstance() {
+  if (process_singleton_.get()) {
+    process_singleton_->Cleanup();
+    process_singleton_.reset();
+  }
+}
+
 #if defined(USE_NSS_CERTS)
 void App::ImportCertificate(
     const base::DictionaryValue& options,
@@ -480,7 +487,8 @@ void App::BuildPrototype(
 #if defined(USE_NSS_CERTS)
       .SetMethod("importCertificate", &App::ImportCertificate)
 #endif
-      .SetMethod("makeSingleInstance", &App::MakeSingleInstance);
+      .SetMethod("makeSingleInstance", &App::MakeSingleInstance)
+      .SetMethod("releaseSingleInstance", &App::ReleaseSingleInstance);
 }
 
 }  // namespace api
diff --git a/atom/browser/api/atom_api_app.h b/atom/browser/api/atom_api_app.h
index 41aef0ac39e7..979f61f0d219 100644
--- a/atom/browser/api/atom_api_app.h
+++ b/atom/browser/api/atom_api_app.h
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@ class App : public AtomBrowserClient::Delegate,
   void SetDesktopName(const std::string& desktop_name);
   bool MakeSingleInstance(
       const ProcessSingleton::NotificationCallback& callback);
+  void ReleaseSingleInstance();
   std::string GetLocale();
 
 #if defined(USE_NSS_CERTS)
diff --git a/docs/api/app.md b/docs/api/app.md
index ba0accf19825..265f328eb9de 100644
--- a/docs/api/app.md
+++ b/docs/api/app.md
@@ -496,6 +496,11 @@ app.on('ready', () => {
 });
 ```
 
+### `app.releaseSingleInstance()`
+
+Releases all locks that were created by `makeSingleInstance`. This will allow
+multiple instances of the application to once again run side by side.
+
 ### `app.setUserActivity(type, userInfo[, webpageURL])` _OS X_
 
 * `type` String - Uniquely identifies the activity. Maps to