diff --git a/core/modules/content_moderation/src/Plugin/Field/FieldWidget/ModerationStateWidget.php b/core/modules/content_moderation/src/Plugin/Field/FieldWidget/ModerationStateWidget.php
index d8654f6142..a8665020be 100644
--- a/core/modules/content_moderation/src/Plugin/Field/FieldWidget/ModerationStateWidget.php
+++ b/core/modules/content_moderation/src/Plugin/Field/FieldWidget/ModerationStateWidget.php
@@ -123,10 +123,15 @@ public function formElement(FieldItemListInterface $items, $delta, array $elemen
     $workflow = $this->moderationInformation->getWorkflowForEntity($entity);
     $default = $workflow->getTypePlugin()->getInitialState($entity);
 
-    // Retrieve the correct current state value.
+    // If the entity is not new, grab the most recent revision and
+    // load it. The moderation state of the saved revision will be used
+    // to display the current state as well determine the the appropriate
+    // transitions.
     if (!$entity->isNew()) {
       $revision_id = $entity->getLoadedRevisionId();
       $saved_entity = $this->entityTypeManager->getStorage($entity->getEntityTypeId())->loadRevision($revision_id);
+
+      // If the entity allows translations, grab the translated version.
       if ($saved_entity->getEntityType()->isTranslatable() && $saved_entity->hasTranslation($entity->langcode->value)) {
         $saved_entity = $saved_entity->getTranslation($entity->langcode->value);
         $workflow = $this->moderationInformation->getWorkflowForEntity($saved_entity);