diff --git a/public/app/core/utils/rangeutil.ts b/public/app/core/utils/rangeutil.ts
index 1e64fcc0061..3fc4252ceaf 100644
--- a/public/app/core/utils/rangeutil.ts
+++ b/public/app/core/utils/rangeutil.ts
@@ -133,6 +133,10 @@ _.each(rangeOptions, function (frame) {
       return from.fromNow() + ' to ' + formatDate(range.to);
     }
 
+    if (!moment.isMoment(range.from) && !moment.isMoment(range.to)) {
+      return formatDate(dateMath.parse(range.from, true)) + ' to ' + formatDate(dateMath.parse(range.to, true));
+    }
+
     var res = describeTextRange(range.from);
     return res.display;
   }