diff --git a/lib/editor/components/EditorHelpModal.js b/lib/editor/components/EditorHelpModal.js
index d7312a35d..52b1b5f2c 100644
--- a/lib/editor/components/EditorHelpModal.js
+++ b/lib/editor/components/EditorHelpModal.js
@@ -28,8 +28,12 @@ export default class EditorHelpModal extends Component {
     loadFeedVersionForEditing({feedSourceId, feedVersionId})
   }
 
-  _onClickReload = () => {
-    this.props.onComponentMount({})
+  _onClickBeginEditing = () => {
+    const {onComponentMount} = this.props
+    // To begin editing, the GtfsEditor on mount function is called in order to
+    // fetch the base GTFS and perform any other initialization activities (e.g.
+    // to create an exclusive lock to edit the feed).
+    onComponentMount(this.props)
     this.close()
   }
 
@@ -55,8 +59,7 @@ export default class EditorHelpModal extends Component {
         show={this.state.showModal}
         onHide={this.close}
         // Prevent closure of modal if there is no snapshot yet
-        backdrop={isNewFeed ? 'static' : undefined}
-        >
+        backdrop={isNewFeed ? 'static' : undefined}>
         <Header closeButton={!isNewFeed}>
           <Title>Welcome to the GTFS Editor</Title>
         </Header>
@@ -75,7 +78,7 @@ export default class EditorHelpModal extends Component {
                   bsStyle='primary'
                   bsSize='large'
                   block
-                  onClick={this._onClickReload} >
+                  onClick={this._onClickBeginEditing} >
                   <Icon type='check' /> Begin editing
                 </Button>
                 : <ButtonToolbar>
@@ -102,7 +105,7 @@ export default class EditorHelpModal extends Component {
                 href={`${getConfigProperty('application.docs_url')}/en/latest/user/editor/introduction/`} >
                 documentation
               </a>.
-              </p>
+            </p>
           }
           {/* <Carousel>
             <Item>