diff --git a/atom/browser/api/atom_api_system_preferences.cc b/atom/browser/api/atom_api_system_preferences.cc
index 74d6d03ce7cb..82c3b2e1017f 100644
--- a/atom/browser/api/atom_api_system_preferences.cc
+++ b/atom/browser/api/atom_api_system_preferences.cc
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ void SystemPreferences::BuildPrototype(
                  &SystemPreferences::SubscribeLocalNotification)
       .SetMethod("unsubscribeLocalNotification",
                  &SystemPreferences::UnsubscribeLocalNotification)
+      .SetMethod("registerDefaults", &SystemPreferences::RegisterDefaults)
       .SetMethod("getUserDefault", &SystemPreferences::GetUserDefault)
       .SetMethod("setUserDefault", &SystemPreferences::SetUserDefault)
       .SetMethod("removeUserDefault", &SystemPreferences::RemoveUserDefault)
diff --git a/atom/browser/api/atom_api_system_preferences.h b/atom/browser/api/atom_api_system_preferences.h
index ea5daed94a5f..4e432d7e51e1 100644
--- a/atom/browser/api/atom_api_system_preferences.h
+++ b/atom/browser/api/atom_api_system_preferences.h
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ class SystemPreferences : public mate::EventEmitter<SystemPreferences>
   void UnsubscribeLocalNotification(int request_id);
   v8::Local<v8::Value> GetUserDefault(const std::string& name,
                                       const std::string& type);
+  void RegisterDefaults(mate::Arguments* args);
   void SetUserDefault(const std::string& name,
                       const std::string& type,
                       mate::Arguments* args);
diff --git a/atom/browser/api/atom_api_system_preferences_mac.mm b/atom/browser/api/atom_api_system_preferences_mac.mm
index 58e9b848e25c..8f7ce7f144c5 100644
--- a/atom/browser/api/atom_api_system_preferences_mac.mm
+++ b/atom/browser/api/atom_api_system_preferences_mac.mm
@@ -144,6 +144,28 @@ v8::Local<v8::Value> SystemPreferences::GetUserDefault(
   }
 }
 
+void SystemPreferences::RegisterDefaults(mate::Arguments* args) {
+  base::DictionaryValue value;
+
+  if(!args->GetNext(&value)) {
+    args->ThrowError("Invalid userDefault data provided");
+  } else {
+    @try {
+      NSDictionary* dict = DictionaryValueToNSDictionary(value);
+      for (id key in dict) {
+        id value = [dict objectForKey:key];
+        if ([value isKindOfClass:[NSNull class]] || value == nil) {
+          args->ThrowError("Invalid userDefault data provided");
+          return;
+        }
+      }
+      [[NSUserDefaults standardUserDefaults] registerDefaults:dict];
+    } @catch (NSException* exception) {
+      args->ThrowError("Invalid userDefault data provided");
+    }
+  }
+}
+
 void SystemPreferences::SetUserDefault(const std::string& name,
                                        const std::string& type,
                                        mate::Arguments* args) {
diff --git a/docs/api/system-preferences.md b/docs/api/system-preferences.md
index 1fe53eed360b..5f6f004a3c1e 100644
--- a/docs/api/system-preferences.md
+++ b/docs/api/system-preferences.md
@@ -106,6 +106,12 @@ This is necessary for events such as `NSUserDefaultsDidChangeNotification`.
 
 Same as `unsubscribeNotification`, but removes the subscriber from `NSNotificationCenter`.
 
+### `systemPreferences.registerDefaults(defaults)` _macOS_		
+
+* `defaults` Object - a dictionary of (`key: value`) user defaults			
+
+Add the specified defaults to your application's `NSUserDefaults`.
+
 ### `systemPreferences.getUserDefault(key, type)` _macOS_
 
 * `key` String
diff --git a/spec/api-system-preferences-spec.js b/spec/api-system-preferences-spec.js
index d6513b364b33..96e52979fdd5 100644
--- a/spec/api-system-preferences-spec.js
+++ b/spec/api-system-preferences-spec.js
@@ -35,6 +35,48 @@ describe('systemPreferences module', () => {
     })
   })
 
+  describe('systemPreferences.registerDefaults(defaults)', () => {
+    before(function () {
+      if (process.platform !== 'darwin') {
+        this.skip()
+      }
+    })
+
+    it('registers defaults', () => {
+      const defaultsMap = [
+        { key: 'one', type: 'string', value: 'ONE' },
+        { key: 'two', value: 2, type: 'integer' },
+        { key: 'three', value: [1, 2, 3], type: 'array' }
+      ]
+
+      const defaultsDict = {}
+      defaultsMap.forEach(row => { defaultsDict[row.key] = row.value })
+
+      systemPreferences.registerDefaults(defaultsDict)
+
+      for (const userDefault of defaultsMap) {
+        const { key, value: expectedValue, type } = userDefault
+        const actualValue = systemPreferences.getUserDefault(key, type)
+        assert.deepEqual(actualValue, expectedValue)
+      }
+    })
+
+    it('throws when bad defaults are passed', () => {
+      const badDefaults = [
+        1,
+        null,
+        new Date(),
+        { 'one': null }
+      ]
+
+      for (const badDefault of badDefaults) {
+        assert.throws(() => {
+          systemPreferences.registerDefaults(badDefault)
+        }, 'Invalid userDefault data provided')
+      }
+    })
+  })
+
   describe('systemPreferences.getUserDefault(key, type)', () => {
     before(function () {
       if (process.platform !== 'darwin') {