diff --git a/atom/browser/default_app/index.html b/atom/browser/default_app/index.html
index 96e45806d5dd..b9bdfffc659f 100644
--- a/atom/browser/default_app/index.html
+++ b/atom/browser/default_app/index.html
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@
 <body>
   <script>
     var execPath = require('remote').process.execPath;
-    var command = execPath + ' path-to-your-app';
+    var command = execPath + '--app=path-to-your-app';
 
     document.onclick = function(e) {
       e.preventDefault();
diff --git a/atom/browser/default_app/main.js b/atom/browser/default_app/main.js
index 1b92685d13a2..e2c29f2d7e69 100644
--- a/atom/browser/default_app/main.js
+++ b/atom/browser/default_app/main.js
@@ -18,6 +18,9 @@ for (var i = 0; i < argv.length; i++) {
   if (argv[i] == '--version' || argv[i] == '-v') {
     option.version = true;
     break;
+  } else if (argv[i].match(/^--app=/)) {
+    option.file = argv[i].split('=')[1];
+    break;
   } else if (argv[i] == '--help' || argv[i] == '-h') {
     option.help = true;
     break;
