diff --git a/public/app/features/dashboard/unsavedChangesSrv.js b/public/app/features/dashboard/unsavedChangesSrv.js
index 7318d4824d5..eeff9ae05c7 100644
--- a/public/app/features/dashboard/unsavedChangesSrv.js
+++ b/public/app/features/dashboard/unsavedChangesSrv.js
@@ -80,6 +80,9 @@ function(angular, _) {
           // remove scopedVars
           panel.scopedVars = null;
 
+          // ignore span changes
+          panel.span = null;
+
           // ignore panel legend sort
           if (panel.legend)  {
             delete panel.legend.sort;