diff --git a/browser/api/atom_api_protocol.cc b/browser/api/atom_api_protocol.cc
index 5b1919fa6759..6f0af3dfeb75 100644
--- a/browser/api/atom_api_protocol.cc
+++ b/browser/api/atom_api_protocol.cc
@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@ v8::Persistent<v8::Object> g_protocol_object;
 typedef std::map<std::string, v8::Persistent<v8::Function>> HandlersMap;
 static HandlersMap g_handlers;
 
+static const char* kEarlyUseProtocolError = "This method can only be used"
+    "after the application has finished launching.";
+
 // Emit an event for the protocol module.
 void EmitEventInUI(const std::string& event, const std::string& parameter) {
   v8::HandleScope scope;
@@ -185,6 +188,9 @@ v8::Handle<v8::Value> Protocol::RegisterProtocol(const v8::Arguments& args) {
       net::URLRequest::IsHandledProtocol(scheme))
     return node::ThrowError("The scheme is already registered");
 
+  if (AtomBrowserContext::Get()->url_request_context_getter() == NULL)
+    return node::ThrowError(kEarlyUseProtocolError);
+
   // Store the handler in a map.
   if (!args[1]->IsFunction())
     return node::ThrowError("Handler must be a function");
@@ -202,6 +208,9 @@ v8::Handle<v8::Value> Protocol::RegisterProtocol(const v8::Arguments& args) {
 v8::Handle<v8::Value> Protocol::UnregisterProtocol(const v8::Arguments& args) {
   std::string scheme(*v8::String::Utf8Value(args[0]));
 
+  if (AtomBrowserContext::Get()->url_request_context_getter() == NULL)
+    return node::ThrowError(kEarlyUseProtocolError);
+
   // Erase the handler from map.
   HandlersMap::iterator it(g_handlers.find(scheme));
   if (it == g_handlers.end())
@@ -230,6 +239,9 @@ v8::Handle<v8::Value> Protocol::InterceptProtocol(const v8::Arguments& args) {
   if (ContainsKey(g_handlers, scheme))
     return node::ThrowError("Cannot intercept custom procotols");
 
+  if (AtomBrowserContext::Get()->url_request_context_getter() == NULL)
+    return node::ThrowError(kEarlyUseProtocolError);
+
   // Store the handler in a map.
   if (!args[1]->IsFunction())
     return node::ThrowError("Handler must be a function");
@@ -246,6 +258,9 @@ v8::Handle<v8::Value> Protocol::InterceptProtocol(const v8::Arguments& args) {
 v8::Handle<v8::Value> Protocol::UninterceptProtocol(const v8::Arguments& args) {
   std::string scheme(*v8::String::Utf8Value(args[0]));
 
+  if (AtomBrowserContext::Get()->url_request_context_getter() == NULL)
+    return node::ThrowError(kEarlyUseProtocolError);
+
   // Erase the handler from map.
   HandlersMap::iterator it(g_handlers.find(scheme));
   if (it == g_handlers.end())
diff --git a/browser/atom_browser_main_parts.cc b/browser/atom_browser_main_parts.cc
index 2ee9c08e4e62..aaec24bea750 100644
--- a/browser/atom_browser_main_parts.cc
+++ b/browser/atom_browser_main_parts.cc
@@ -75,6 +75,11 @@ void AtomBrowserMainParts::PreMainMessageLoopRun() {
 
   node_bindings_->RunMessageLoop();
 
+  // Make sure the url request job factory is created before the
+  // will-finish-launching event.
+  static_cast<content::BrowserContext*>(AtomBrowserContext::Get())->
+      GetRequestContext();
+
 #if !defined(OS_MACOSX)
   // The corresponding call in OS X is in AtomApplicationDelegate.
   Browser::Get()->WillFinishLaunching();
diff --git a/docs/api/browser/protocol.md b/docs/api/browser/protocol.md
index ec6c1f2f0556..7e566ba0ecbb 100644
--- a/docs/api/browser/protocol.md
+++ b/docs/api/browser/protocol.md
@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@ protocol.registerProtocol('atom', function(request) {
 });
 ```
 
+**Note:** This module can only be used after the `will-finish-launching` event
+was emitted.
+
 ## protocol.registerProtocol(scheme, handler)
 
 * `scheme` String
diff --git a/spec/main.js b/spec/main.js
index 0d021157151e..f2e52627946a 100644
--- a/spec/main.js
+++ b/spec/main.js
@@ -35,6 +35,9 @@ app.on('window-all-closed', function() {
 });
 
 app.on('finish-launching', function() {
+  // Test if using protocol module would crash.
+  require('protocol').registerProtocol('test-if-crashes', function() {});
+
   window = new BrowserWindow({
     title: 'atom-shell tests',
     show: false,