diff --git a/docs/api/environment-variables.md b/docs/api/environment-variables.md
index d31d769614f94..7ffc529ae6355 100644
--- a/docs/api/environment-variables.md
+++ b/docs/api/environment-variables.md
@@ -123,3 +123,14 @@ the one downloaded by `npm install`. Usage:
 ```sh
 export ELECTRON_OVERRIDE_DIST_PATH=/Users/username/projects/electron/out/Debug
 ```
+
+## Set By Electron
+
+Electron sets some variables in your environment at runtime.
+
+### `ORIGINAL_XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP`
+
+This variable is set to the value of `XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP` that your application
+originally launched with.  Electron sometimes modifies the value of `XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP`
+to affect other logic within Chromium so if you want access to the _original_ value
+you should look up this environment variable instead.
diff --git a/lib/browser/init.ts b/lib/browser/init.ts
index 1ea4218e9ab55..9d745024e4cb0 100644
--- a/lib/browser/init.ts
+++ b/lib/browser/init.ts
@@ -178,6 +178,7 @@ function currentPlatformSupportsAppIndicator () {
 }
 
 // Workaround for electron/electron#5050 and electron/electron#9046
+process.env.ORIGINAL_XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP = process.env.XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP;
 if (currentPlatformSupportsAppIndicator()) {
   process.env.XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP = 'Unity';
 }