diff --git a/public/app/core/controllers/json_editor_ctrl.js b/public/app/core/controllers/json_editor_ctrl.js
index f83a2ac3e8c..7d7d56fa96b 100644
--- a/public/app/core/controllers/json_editor_ctrl.js
+++ b/public/app/core/controllers/json_editor_ctrl.js
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ function (angular, coreModule) {
   coreModule.default.controller('JsonEditorCtrl', function($scope) {
 
     $scope.json = angular.toJson($scope.object, true);
-    $scope.canUpdate = $scope.updateHandler !== void 0;
+    $scope.canUpdate = $scope.updateHandler !== void 0 && $scope.contextSrv.isEditor;
 
     $scope.update = function () {
       var newObject = angular.fromJson($scope.json);