diff --git a/pkg/api/dashboard_snapshot.go b/pkg/api/dashboard_snapshot.go
index 3c369ca5b7f..cdcb871314d 100644
--- a/pkg/api/dashboard_snapshot.go
+++ b/pkg/api/dashboard_snapshot.go
@@ -21,6 +21,10 @@ func GetSharingOptions(c *middleware.Context) {
 }
 
 func CreateDashboardSnapshot(c *middleware.Context, cmd m.CreateDashboardSnapshotCommand) {
+	if cmd.Name == "" {
+		cmd.Name = "Unnamed snapshot"
+	}
+
 	if cmd.External {
 		// external snapshot ref requires key and delete key
 		if cmd.Key == "" || cmd.DeleteKey == "" {
diff --git a/pkg/models/dashboard_snapshot.go b/pkg/models/dashboard_snapshot.go
index f920e91f2e4..4a4d1290b6d 100644
--- a/pkg/models/dashboard_snapshot.go
+++ b/pkg/models/dashboard_snapshot.go
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ type DashboardSnapshotDTO struct {
 
 type CreateDashboardSnapshotCommand struct {
 	Dashboard *simplejson.Json `json:"dashboard" binding:"Required"`
-	Name      string           `json:"name" binding:"Required"`
+	Name      string           `json:"name"`
 	Expires   int64            `json:"expires"`
 
 	// these are passed when storing an external snapshot ref