diff --git a/atom/browser/api/lib/web-contents.js b/atom/browser/api/lib/web-contents.js
index 709694bcf723..08252923fc27 100644
--- a/atom/browser/api/lib/web-contents.js
+++ b/atom/browser/api/lib/web-contents.js
@@ -76,8 +76,8 @@ let wrapWebContents = function(webContents) {
 
   // WebContents::send(channel, args..)
   webContents.send = function() {
-    var args, channel;
-    channel = arguments[0], args = 2 <= arguments.length ? slice.call(arguments, 1) : [];
+    var args = 2 <= arguments.length ? slice.call(arguments, 1) : [];
+    var channel = arguments[0];
     return this._send(channel, slice.call(args));
   };