diff --git a/public/app/features/dashboard/timeSrv.js b/public/app/features/dashboard/timeSrv.js
index e0e0ed47dab..691bfd07904 100644
--- a/public/app/features/dashboard/timeSrv.js
+++ b/public/app/features/dashboard/timeSrv.js
@@ -90,11 +90,11 @@ define([
       timer.cancel(this.refresh_timer);
     };
 
-    this.setTime = function(time) {
+    this.setTime = function(time, enableRefresh) {
       _.extend(this.time, time);
 
-      // disable refresh if we have an absolute time
-      if (moment.isMoment(time.to)) {
+      // disable refresh if zoom in or zoom out
+      if (!enableRefresh && moment.isMoment(time.to)) {
         this.old_refresh = this.dashboard.refresh || this.old_refresh;
         this.setAutoRefresh(false);
       }
diff --git a/public/app/features/dashboard/timepicker/timepicker.ts b/public/app/features/dashboard/timepicker/timepicker.ts
index c6d2680ce02..0f99210f3fa 100644
--- a/public/app/features/dashboard/timepicker/timepicker.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/dashboard/timepicker/timepicker.ts
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ export class TimePickerCtrl {
       this.timeSrv.setAutoRefresh(this.refresh.value);
     }
 
-    this.timeSrv.setTime(this.timeRaw);
+    this.timeSrv.setTime(this.timeRaw, true);
     this.$rootScope.appEvent('hide-dash-editor');
   }
 
diff --git a/public/test/specs/time_srv_specs.js b/public/test/specs/time_srv_specs.js
index 4f065af6cf8..9943aae6cc3 100644
--- a/public/test/specs/time_srv_specs.js
+++ b/public/test/specs/time_srv_specs.js
@@ -78,13 +78,20 @@ define([
     });
 
     describe('setTime', function() {
-      it('should return disable refresh for absolute times', function() {
+      it('should return disable refresh if refresh is disabled for any range', function() {
         _dashboard.refresh = false;
 
         ctx.service.setTime({from: '2011-01-01', to: '2015-01-01' });
         expect(_dashboard.refresh).to.be(false);
       });
 
+      it('should restore refresh for absolute time range', function() {
+        _dashboard.refresh = '30s';
+
+        ctx.service.setTime({from: '2011-01-01', to: '2015-01-01' });
+        expect(_dashboard.refresh).to.be('30s');
+      });
+
       it('should restore refresh after relative time range is set', function() {
         _dashboard.refresh = '10s';
         ctx.service.setTime({from: moment([2011,1,1]), to: moment([2015,1,1])});