diff --git a/public/app/features/explore/TraceView/TraceView.tsx b/public/app/features/explore/TraceView/TraceView.tsx
index 11badf9eca6..1e2debb1cfc 100644
--- a/public/app/features/explore/TraceView/TraceView.tsx
+++ b/public/app/features/explore/TraceView/TraceView.tsx
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ function useFocusSpanLink(options: {
     // Check if the link is to a different trace or not.
     // If it's the same trace, only update panel state with setFocusedSpanId (no navigation).
     // If it's a different trace, use splitOpenFn to open a new explore panel
-    const sameTrace = query?.queryType === 'traceId' && (query as TempoQuery).query === traceId;
+    const sameTrace = query?.queryType === 'traceql' && (query as TempoQuery).query === traceId;
 
     return mapInternalLinkToExplore({
       link,