diff --git a/atom/common/api/lib/shell.js b/atom/common/api/lib/shell.js
index e032a7370762..7caf8518395d 100644
--- a/atom/common/api/lib/shell.js
+++ b/atom/common/api/lib/shell.js
@@ -13,5 +13,5 @@ exports.openExternal = (url, options) => {
     activate = !!options.activate;
   }
 
-  bindings._openExternal(url, activate);
+  return bindings._openExternal(url, activate);
 }