diff --git a/public/app/features/dashboard/export/exporter.ts b/public/app/features/dashboard/export/exporter.ts
index 065bfa15a59..c50e252efff 100644
--- a/public/app/features/dashboard/export/exporter.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/dashboard/export/exporter.ts
@@ -105,7 +105,9 @@ export class DashboardExporter {
       return newObj;
     }).catch(err => {
       console.log('Export failed:', err);
-      return {};
+      return {
+        error: err
+      };
     });
   }