diff --git a/atom/browser/api/atom_api_app.cc b/atom/browser/api/atom_api_app.cc
index 265ed8f36b7d..ce6a7d33c6a4 100644
--- a/atom/browser/api/atom_api_app.cc
+++ b/atom/browser/api/atom_api_app.cc
@@ -614,6 +614,16 @@ void Initialize(v8::Local<v8::Object> exports, v8::Local<v8::Value> unused,
   dict.SetMethod("dockSetMenu", &DockSetMenu);
   dict.SetMethod("dockSetIcon", base::Bind(&Browser::DockSetIcon, browser));
 #endif
+
+#if defined(OS_LINUX)
+  auto browser = base::Unretained(Browser::Get());
+  dict.SetMethod("unityLauncherAvailable",
+                  base::Bind(&Browser::UnityLauncherAvailable, browser));
+  dict.SetMethod("unityLauncherSetBadgeCount",
+                  base::Bind(&Browser::UnityLauncherSetBadgeCount, browser));
+  dict.SetMethod("unityLauncherGetBadgeCount",
+                  base::Bind(&Browser::UnityLauncherGetBadgeCount, browser));
+#endif
 }
 
 }  // namespace
diff --git a/atom/browser/browser.h b/atom/browser/browser.h
index 2c1678083034..c9155d94b4e3 100644
--- a/atom/browser/browser.h
+++ b/atom/browser/browser.h
@@ -149,7 +149,14 @@ class Browser : public WindowListObserver {
   // one from app's name.
   // The returned string managed by Browser, and should not be modified.
   PCWSTR GetAppUserModelID();
-#endif
+#endif  // defined(OS_WIN)
+
+#if defined(OS_LINUX)
+  // Set/Get unity dock's badge counter.
+  bool UnityLauncherAvailable();
+  void UnityLauncherSetBadgeCount(int count);
+  int UnityLauncherGetBadgeCount();
+#endif  // defined(OS_LINUX)
 
   // Tell the application to open a file.
   bool OpenFile(const std::string& file_path);
@@ -216,6 +223,10 @@ class Browser : public WindowListObserver {
   std::string version_override_;
   std::string name_override_;
 
+#if defined(OS_LINUX)
+  int current_badge_count_ = 0;
+#endif
+
 #if defined(OS_WIN)
   base::string16 app_user_model_id_;
 #endif
diff --git a/atom/browser/browser_linux.cc b/atom/browser/browser_linux.cc
index d994bb4109bb..8e41ec8c1997 100644
--- a/atom/browser/browser_linux.cc
+++ b/atom/browser/browser_linux.cc
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include "atom/browser/window_list.h"
 #include "atom/common/atom_version.h"
 #include "brightray/common/application_info.h"
+#include "chrome/browser/ui/libgtk2ui/unity_service.h"
 
 namespace atom {
 
@@ -54,4 +55,19 @@ std::string Browser::GetExecutableFileProductName() const {
   return brightray::GetApplicationName();
 }
 
+bool Browser::UnityLauncherAvailable() {
+  return unity::IsRunning();
+}
+
+void Browser::UnityLauncherSetBadgeCount(int count) {
+  if (UnityLauncherAvailable()) {
+    current_badge_count_ = count;
+    unity::SetDownloadCount(count);
+  }
+}
+
+int Browser::UnityLauncherGetBadgeCount() {
+  return current_badge_count_;
+}
+
 }  // namespace atom
diff --git a/docs/api/app.md b/docs/api/app.md
index c014395eb10c..260e64533b15 100644
--- a/docs/api/app.md
+++ b/docs/api/app.md
@@ -647,6 +647,31 @@ Sets the application's [dock menu][dock-menu].
 
 Sets the `image` associated with this dock icon.
 
+### `app.launcher.setBadgeCount(count)` _Linux_
+* `count` Integer
+
+Sets the number to be displayed next to the app icon in the Unity launcher.
+Setting the count to `0` will hide the badge.
+
+**Note:** This feature is currently only supported on Ubuntu Unity. Calling this function has no effect when the application is running in a different environment.
+
+**Note:** You need to specify the .desktop file name to the `desktopName` field in package.json. By default, it will assume `app.getName().desktop` in packaged apps.
+
+### `app.launcher.getBadgeCount()` _Linux_
+
+Returns the current value displayed in the counter badge next to the launcher icon.
+
+**Note:** As `setBadgeCount` only supports Ubuntu Unity, the value will be 0 when the application is running in a different environment.
+
+### `app.launcher.isUnityRunning()` _Linux_
+
+This method checks if the current desktop environment is Unity and returns `true` in this case.
+
+### `app.launcher.isCounterBadgeAvailable()` _Linux_
+
+This method checks if the current desktop environment supports an app icon counter badge and returns `true` in this case.
+
+
 [dock-menu]:https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/documentation/Carbon/Conceptual/customizing_docktile/concepts/dockconcepts.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP30000986-CH2-TPXREF103
 [tasks]:http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/dd378460(v=vs.85).aspx#tasks
 [app-user-model-id]: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/dd378459(v=vs.85).aspx
diff --git a/lib/browser/api/app.js b/lib/browser/api/app.js
index 34210f42090f..0ea788b94a71 100644
--- a/lib/browser/api/app.js
+++ b/lib/browser/api/app.js
@@ -45,6 +45,15 @@ if (process.platform === 'darwin') {
   }
 }
 
+if (process.platform === 'linux') {
+  app.launcher = {
+    setBadgeCount: bindings.unityLauncherSetBadgeCount,
+    getBadgeCount: bindings.unityLauncherGetBadgeCount,
+    isCounterBadgeAvailable: bindings.unityLauncherAvailable,
+    isUnityRunning: bindings.unityLauncherAvailable
+  }
+}
+
 app.allowNTLMCredentialsForAllDomains = function (allow) {
   if (!process.noDeprecations) {
     deprecate.warn('app.allowNTLMCredentialsForAllDomains', 'session.allowNTLMCredentialsForDomains')
diff --git a/spec/api-app-spec.js b/spec/api-app-spec.js
index 6cda0e11bc06..214a084f2ec7 100644
--- a/spec/api-app-spec.js
+++ b/spec/api-app-spec.js
@@ -284,4 +284,37 @@ describe('app module', function () {
       })
     })
   })
+
+  describe('app.launcher API', function () {
+    it('should be available on linux', function () {
+      if (process.platform !== 'linux') {
+        assert.equal(app.launcher, undefined)
+      } else {
+        assert.notEqual(app.launcher, undefined)
+      }
+    })
+
+    it('should be possible to set a badge count on supported environments', function () {
+      if (process.platform === 'linux' &&
+          app.launcher.isCounterBadgeAvailable()) {
+        app.launcher.setBadgeCount(42)
+        assert.equal(app.launcher.getBadgeCount(), 42)
+      }
+    })
+
+    it('should be possible to set a badge count on unity', function () {
+      if (process.platform === 'linux' &&
+          app.launcher.isUnityRunning()) {
+        assert.equal(app.launcher.isCounterBadgeAvailable(), true)
+      }
+    })
+
+    it('should not be possible to set a badge counter on unsupported environments', function () {
+      if (process.platform === 'linux' &&
+          !app.launcher.isCounterBadgeAvailable()) {
+        app.launcher.setBadgeCount(42)
+        assert.equal(app.launcher.getBadgeCount(), 0)
+      }
+    })
+  })
 })