diff --git a/public/app/features/explore/QueryEditor.tsx b/public/app/features/explore/QueryEditor.tsx
index 54927b8cc91..5689f67ee13 100644
--- a/public/app/features/explore/QueryEditor.tsx
+++ b/public/app/features/explore/QueryEditor.tsx
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ export default class QueryEditor extends PureComponent<QueryEditorProps, any> {
 
     const loader = getAngularLoader();
     const template = '<plugin-component type="query-ctrl"> </plugin-component>';
-    const target = { ...initialQuery };
+    const target = { datasource: datasource.name, ...initialQuery };
     const scopeProps = {
       ctrl: {
         datasource,