diff --git a/pkg/api/datasources.go b/pkg/api/datasources.go
index 8acd522c85c..3b9bd651e68 100644
--- a/pkg/api/datasources.go
+++ b/pkg/api/datasources.go
@@ -318,7 +318,8 @@ func (hs *HTTPServer) DeleteDataSourceByName(c *models.ReqContext) response.Resp
 
 func validateURL(cmdType string, url string) response.Response {
 	if _, err := datasource.ValidateURL(cmdType, url); err != nil {
-		return response.Error(400, fmt.Sprintf("Validation error, invalid URL: %q", url), err)
+		datasourcesLogger.Error("Failed to validate URL", "url", url)
+		return response.Error(http.StatusBadRequest, "Validation error, invalid URL", err)
 	}
 
 	return nil