diff --git a/public/app/features/dashboard/time_srv.ts b/public/app/features/dashboard/time_srv.ts
index dd5a0ba758f..528b7b1de26 100644
--- a/public/app/features/dashboard/time_srv.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/dashboard/time_srv.ts
@@ -85,6 +85,11 @@ export class TimeSrv {
     if (params.to) {
       this.time.to = this.parseUrlParam(params.to) || this.time.to;
     }
+    // if absolute ignore refresh option saved to dashboard
+    if (params.to && params.to.indexOf('now') === -1) {
+      this.refresh = false;
+    }
+    // but if refresh explicitly set then use that
     if (params.refresh) {
       this.refresh = params.refresh || this.refresh;
     }