diff --git a/js/id/modes/add_area.js b/js/id/modes/add_area.js
index 58109befc..6b476a5b8 100644
--- a/js/id/modes/add_area.js
+++ b/js/id/modes/add_area.js
@@ -30,6 +30,18 @@ iD.modes.AddArea = function() {
                     iD.actions.AddWayNode(way.id, node.id),
                     iD.actions.AddWayNode(way.id, node.id));
 
+            } else if (datum.type === 'way') {
+                // begin a new way starting from an existing way
+                var choice = iD.geo.chooseIndex(datum, d3.mouse(map.surface.node()), map);
+                node = iD.Node({ loc: choice.loc });
+
+                history.perform(
+                    iD.actions.AddWay(way),
+                    iD.actions.AddNode(node),
+                    iD.actions.AddWayNode(datum.id, node.id, choice.index),
+                    iD.actions.AddWayNode(way.id, node.id),
+                    iD.actions.AddWayNode(way.id, node.id));
+
             } else {
                 // start from a new node
                 node = iD.Node({loc: map.mouseCoordinates()});
diff --git a/js/id/modes/draw_area.js b/js/id/modes/draw_area.js
index d692ae550..8ad50c97b 100644
--- a/js/id/modes/draw_area.js
+++ b/js/id/modes/draw_area.js
@@ -20,6 +20,10 @@ iD.modes.DrawArea = function(wayId) {
             behavior.addNode(node, way.nodes.length > 2 ? 'added to an area' : '');
         }
 
+        function addWay(way, loc, index) {
+            behavior.addWay(way, loc, index, way.nodes.length > 2 ? 'added to an area' : '');
+        }
+
         function add(loc) {
             behavior.add(loc, way.nodes.length > 2 ? 'added to an area' : '');
         }
@@ -28,7 +32,7 @@ iD.modes.DrawArea = function(wayId) {
             .on('addHead', addHeadTail)
             .on('addTail', addHeadTail)
             .on('addNode', addNode)
-            .on('addWay', add)
+            .on('addWay', addWay)
             .on('add', add);
 
         mode.map.surface.call(behavior);