diff --git a/public/app/plugins/datasource/prometheus/components/PromExploreQueryEditor.tsx b/public/app/plugins/datasource/prometheus/components/PromExploreQueryEditor.tsx
index 6f9e0d901ec..44c9db1124e 100644
--- a/public/app/plugins/datasource/prometheus/components/PromExploreQueryEditor.tsx
+++ b/public/app/plugins/datasource/prometheus/components/PromExploreQueryEditor.tsx
@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@ export const PromExploreQueryEditor: FC<Props> = (props: Props) => {
     if (query.exemplar === undefined) {
       onChange({ ...query, exemplar: true });
     }
+
+    if (!query.instant && !query.range) {
+      onChange({ ...query, instant: true, range: true });
+    }
   }, [onChange, query]);
 
   function onChangeQueryStep(value: string) {