diff --git a/browser.js b/browser.js
index f907c708..a2552839 100644
--- a/browser.js
+++ b/browser.js
@@ -37,6 +37,13 @@ exports.colors = [
  */
 
 function useColors() {
+  // NB: In an Electron preload script, document will be defined but not fully
+  // initialized. Since we know we're in Chrome, we'll just detect this case
+  // explicitly
+  if (typeof window !== 'undefined' && 'process' in window && window.process.type === 'renderer') {
+    return true;
+  }
+
   // is webkit? http://stackoverflow.com/a/16459606/376773
   // document is undefined in react-native: https://github.com/facebook/react-native/pull/1632
   return (typeof document !== 'undefined' && 'WebkitAppearance' in document.documentElement.style) ||