diff --git a/pkg/services/dashboards/service/dashboard_service.go b/pkg/services/dashboards/service/dashboard_service.go
index 3836df0f202..b21b3472d90 100644
--- a/pkg/services/dashboards/service/dashboard_service.go
+++ b/pkg/services/dashboards/service/dashboard_service.go
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ func validateDashboardRefreshInterval(minRefreshInterval string, dash *dashboard
 	}
 
 	refresh := dash.Data.Get("refresh").MustString("")
-	if refresh == "" {
+	if refresh == "" || refresh == "auto" {
 		// since no refresh is set it is a valid refresh rate
 		return nil
 	}