diff --git a/lib/browser/api/dialog.js b/lib/browser/api/dialog.js
index 8eb3096b052c..0966c81245a5 100644
--- a/lib/browser/api/dialog.js
+++ b/lib/browser/api/dialog.js
@@ -61,9 +61,7 @@ module.exports = {
 
     if (properties == null) {
       properties = ['openFile']
-    }
-
-    if (!Array.isArray(properties)) {
+    } else if (!Array.isArray(properties)) {
       throw new TypeError('Properties must be an array')
     }
 
@@ -167,7 +165,9 @@ module.exports = {
       throw new TypeError('Invalid message box type')
     }
 
-    if (!Array.isArray(buttons)) {
+    if (buttons == null) {
+      buttons = []
+    } else if (!Array.isArray(buttons)) {
       throw new TypeError('Buttons must be an array')
     }
 
diff --git a/spec/api-dialog-spec.js b/spec/api-dialog-spec.js
index 6391edcd7573..5d6c54083b8d 100644
--- a/spec/api-dialog-spec.js
+++ b/spec/api-dialog-spec.js
@@ -49,15 +49,15 @@ describe('dialog module', () => {
       }, /Buttons must be an array/)
 
       assert.throws(() => {
-        dialog.showMessageBox({title: 300, buttons: ['OK']})
+        dialog.showMessageBox({title: 300})
       }, /Title must be a string/)
 
       assert.throws(() => {
-        dialog.showMessageBox({message: [], buttons: ['OK']})
+        dialog.showMessageBox({message: []})
       }, /Message must be a string/)
 
       assert.throws(() => {
-        dialog.showMessageBox({detail: 3.14, buttons: ['OK']})
+        dialog.showMessageBox({detail: 3.14})
       }, /Detail must be a string/)
     })
   })