diff --git a/docs/sources/features/datasources/prometheus.md b/docs/sources/features/datasources/prometheus.md
index 0ef05f8b57c..39793e0d453 100755
--- a/docs/sources/features/datasources/prometheus.md
+++ b/docs/sources/features/datasources/prometheus.md
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ Query: query_result(topk(5, sum(rate(http_requests_total[$__range])) by (instanc
 Regex: /"([^"]+)"/
 ```
 
-Populate a variable with the instances having a certain state over the time range shown in the dashboard, using the more precise `$__range_s`:
+Populate a variable with the instances having a certain state over the time range shown in the dashboard, using `$__range_s`:
 
 ```
 Query: query_result(max_over_time(<metric>[${__range_s}s]) != <state>)
diff --git a/public/app/plugins/datasource/prometheus/datasource.test.ts b/public/app/plugins/datasource/prometheus/datasource.test.ts
index 692a100fd52..7550e596f17 100644
--- a/public/app/plugins/datasource/prometheus/datasource.test.ts
+++ b/public/app/plugins/datasource/prometheus/datasource.test.ts
@@ -1456,7 +1456,7 @@ describe('PrometheusDatasource', () => {
 
     it('should use overridden ranges, not dashboard ranges', async () => {
       const expectedRangeSecond = 3600;
-      const expectedRangeString = '1h';
+      const expectedRangeString = '3600s';
       const query = {
         range: {
           from: time({}),
diff --git a/public/app/plugins/datasource/prometheus/datasource.ts b/public/app/plugins/datasource/prometheus/datasource.ts
index 8a1f3559414..996f50ac40e 100644
--- a/public/app/plugins/datasource/prometheus/datasource.ts
+++ b/public/app/plugins/datasource/prometheus/datasource.ts
@@ -519,11 +519,10 @@ export class PrometheusDatasource extends DataSourceApi<PromQuery, PromOptions>
   getRangeScopedVars(range: TimeRange = getTimeSrv().timeRange()) {
     const msRange = range.to.diff(range.from);
     const sRange = Math.round(msRange / 1000);
-    const regularRange = kbn.secondsToHms(msRange / 1000);
     return {
       __range_ms: { text: msRange, value: msRange },
       __range_s: { text: sRange, value: sRange },
-      __range: { text: regularRange, value: regularRange },
+      __range: { text: sRange + 's', value: sRange + 's' },
     };
   }