diff --git a/binder/postBuild b/binder/postBuild
index 233572629..c59547846 100644
--- a/binder/postBuild
+++ b/binder/postBuild
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 pip install .
 jupyter serverextension enable --sys-prefix --py nbgitpuller
-jupyter lab build
+jupyter lab build --dev-build=False --minimize=False --debug
diff --git a/src/commandsAndMenu.ts b/src/commandsAndMenu.ts
index 88fac284d..685f2de66 100644
--- a/src/commandsAndMenu.ts
+++ b/src/commandsAndMenu.ts
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ import { ITerminal } from '@jupyterlab/terminal';
 import { CommandRegistry } from '@lumino/commands';
 import { Menu } from '@lumino/widgets';
 import { IGitExtension } from './tokens';
-import { GitExtension } from './model';
 import { GitCredentialsForm } from './widgets/CredentialsBox';
 import { doGitClone } from './widgets/gitClone';
 import { GitPullPushDialog, Operation } from './widgets/gitPushPull';
@@ -199,11 +198,6 @@ export function addCommands(
     isEnabled: () => model.pathRepository !== null,
     execute: async () => {
       await model.ensureGitignore();
-      const gitModel = model as GitExtension;
-      await gitModel.commands.execute('docmanager:reload');
-      await gitModel.commands.execute('docmanager:open', {
-        path: model.getRelativeFilePath('.gitignore')
-      });
     }
   });
 
diff --git a/src/components/FileList.tsx b/src/components/FileList.tsx
index c97c1b154..c65d7313a 100644
--- a/src/components/FileList.tsx
+++ b/src/components/FileList.tsx
@@ -160,10 +160,6 @@ export class FileList extends React.Component<IFileListProps, IFileListState> {
         execute: async () => {
           if (this.state.selectedFile) {
             await this.props.model.ignore(this.state.selectedFile.to, false);
-            await this.props.model.commands.execute('docmanager:reload');
-            await this.props.model.commands.execute('docmanager:open', {
-              path: this.props.model.getRelativeFilePath('.gitignore')
-            });
           }
         }
       });
@@ -187,10 +183,6 @@ export class FileList extends React.Component<IFileListProps, IFileListState> {
               });
               if (result.button.label === 'Ignore') {
                 await this.props.model.ignore(this.state.selectedFile.to, true);
-                await this.props.model.commands.execute('docmanager:reload');
-                await this.props.model.commands.execute('docmanager:open', {
-                  path: this.props.model.getRelativeFilePath('.gitignore')
-                });
               }
             }
           }
diff --git a/src/model.ts b/src/model.ts
index c09e0223f..b9944a5a0 100644
--- a/src/model.ts
+++ b/src/model.ts
@@ -1240,6 +1240,7 @@ export class GitExtension implements IGitExtension {
     });
 
     this.refreshStatus();
+    this._openGitignore();
     return Promise.resolve(response);
   }
 
@@ -1271,6 +1272,7 @@ export class GitExtension implements IGitExtension {
     });
 
     this.refreshStatus();
+    this._openGitignore();
     return Promise.resolve(response);
   }
 
@@ -1423,6 +1425,22 @@ export class GitExtension implements IGitExtension {
     return this._taskID;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * open new editor or show an existing editor of the
+   * .gitignore file. If the editor does not have unsaved changes
+   * then ensure the editor's content matches the file on disk
+   */
+  private _openGitignore() {
+    if (this._docmanager) {
+      const widget = this._docmanager.openOrReveal(
+        this.getRelativeFilePath('.gitignore')
+      );
+      if (widget && !widget.context.model.dirty) {
+        widget.context.revert();
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
   /**
    * if file is open in JupyterLab find the widget and ensure the JupyterLab
    * version matches the version on disk. Do nothing if the file has unsaved changes