diff --git a/src/components/Explore/RootExploreContainer.js b/src/components/Explore/RootExploreContainer.js
index 1601e6f21..0e685af36 100644
--- a/src/components/Explore/RootExploreContainer.js
+++ b/src/components/Explore/RootExploreContainer.js
@@ -32,18 +32,26 @@ const RootExploreContainerWithContext = ( ): Node => {
   } = useLocationPermission( );
 
   const {
-    state, dispatch, makeSnapshot
+    state, dispatch, makeSnapshot, defaultExploreLocation
   } = useExplore( );
 
   const [showFiltersModal, setShowFiltersModal] = useState( false );
 
-  const updateLocation = ( place: Object ) => {
+  const updateLocation = async ( place: Object ) => {
     if ( place === "worldwide" ) {
       dispatch( { type: EXPLORE_ACTION.SET_PLACE_MODE_WORLDWIDE } );
       dispatch( {
         type: EXPLORE_ACTION.SET_PLACE,
         placeId: null
       } );
+    } else if ( place === "nearby" ) {
+      const exploreLocation = await defaultExploreLocation( );
+      // exploreLocation has a placeMode already
+      // dispatch( { type: EXPLORE_ACTION.SET_PLACE_MODE_NEARBY } );
+      dispatch( {
+        type: EXPLORE_ACTION.SET_EXPLORE_LOCATION,
+        exploreLocation
+      } );
     } else {
       navigation.setParams( { place } );
       dispatch( { type: EXPLORE_ACTION.SET_PLACE_MODE_PLACE } );
@@ -129,7 +137,7 @@ const RootExploreContainerWithContext = ( ): Node => {
         hasLocationPermissions={hasLocationPermissions}
         requestLocationPermissions={requestLocationPermissions}
       />
-      {renderPermissionsGate( )}
+      {renderPermissionsGate( { onPermissionGranted: () => updateLocation( "nearby" ) } )}
     </>
   );
 };