diff --git a/atom/common/lib/init.coffee b/atom/common/lib/init.coffee
index 35ad5e512d9..5da02744275 100644
--- a/atom/common/lib/init.coffee
+++ b/atom/common/lib/init.coffee
@@ -2,7 +2,11 @@ path   = require 'path'
 timers = require 'timers'
 Module = require 'module'
 
-process.atomBinding = (name) -> process.binding "atom_#{process.type}_#{name}"
+process.atomBinding = (name) ->
+  try
+    process.binding "atom_#{process.type}_#{name}"
+  catch e
+    process.binding "atom_common_#{name}" if e.message is 'No such module'
 
 # Add common/api/lib to module search paths.
 globalPaths = Module.globalPaths