diff --git a/types/atom/atom-tests.ts b/types/atom/atom-tests.ts
index e53e29b176..b295259d79 100644
--- a/types/atom/atom-tests.ts
+++ b/types/atom/atom-tests.ts
@@ -953,7 +953,8 @@ function testFile() {
 
     // Reading and Writing
     async function readFile() {
-        str = await file.read();
+        const res = await file.read();
+        if (res !== null) str = res;
     }
 
     const stream = file.createReadStream();
diff --git a/types/atom/index.d.ts b/types/atom/index.d.ts
index 9b0d194976..5cc136f7a6 100644
--- a/types/atom/index.d.ts
+++ b/types/atom/index.d.ts
@@ -3547,7 +3547,7 @@ export class File {
 
     // Reading and Writing
     /** Reads the contents of the file. */
-    read(flushCache?: boolean): Promise<string>;
+    read(flushCache?: boolean): Promise<string | null>;
 
     /** Returns a stream to read the content of the file. */
     createReadStream(): ReadStream;