diff --git a/pkg/services/contexthandler/contexthandler.go b/pkg/services/contexthandler/contexthandler.go
index b31a0e8b72a..aad500e1451 100644
--- a/pkg/services/contexthandler/contexthandler.go
+++ b/pkg/services/contexthandler/contexthandler.go
@@ -350,11 +350,17 @@ func (h *ContextHandler) initContextWithAPIKey(reqContext *models.ReqContext) bo
 		return true
 	}
 
-	// update api_key last used date
-	if err := h.apiKeyService.UpdateAPIKeyLastUsedDate(reqContext.Req.Context(), apikey.Id); err != nil {
-		reqContext.JsonApiErr(http.StatusInternalServerError, InvalidAPIKey, errKey)
-		return true
-	}
+	// non-blocking update api_key last used date
+	go func(id int64) {
+		defer func() {
+			if err := recover(); err != nil {
+				reqContext.Logger.Error("api key authentication panic", "err", err)
+			}
+		}()
+		if err := h.apiKeyService.UpdateAPIKeyLastUsedDate(context.Background(), id); err != nil {
+			reqContext.Logger.Warn("failed to update last use date for api key", "id", id)
+		}
+	}(apikey.Id)
 
 	if apikey.ServiceAccountId == nil || *apikey.ServiceAccountId < 1 { //There is no service account attached to the apikey
 		// Use the old APIkey method.  This provides backwards compatibility.