diff --git a/pkg/api/pluginproxy/ds_auth_provider.go b/pkg/api/pluginproxy/ds_auth_provider.go
index d1d8f822d70..1614e7ee455 100644
--- a/pkg/api/pluginproxy/ds_auth_provider.go
+++ b/pkg/api/pluginproxy/ds_auth_provider.go
@@ -22,22 +22,24 @@ func ApplyRoute(ctx context.Context, req *http.Request, proxyPath string, route
 		SecureJsonData: ds.SecureJsonData.Decrypt(),
 	}
 
-	interpolatedURL, err := InterpolateString(route.URL, data)
-	if err != nil {
-		logger.Error("Error interpolating proxy url", "error", err)
-		return
-	}
+	if len(route.URL) > 0 {
+		interpolatedURL, err := InterpolateString(route.URL, data)
+		if err != nil {
+			logger.Error("Error interpolating proxy url", "error", err)
+			return
+		}
 
-	routeURL, err := url.Parse(interpolatedURL)
-	if err != nil {
-		logger.Error("Error parsing plugin route url", "error", err)
-		return
-	}
+		routeURL, err := url.Parse(interpolatedURL)
+		if err != nil {
+			logger.Error("Error parsing plugin route url", "error", err)
+			return
+		}
 
-	req.URL.Scheme = routeURL.Scheme
-	req.URL.Host = routeURL.Host
-	req.Host = routeURL.Host
-	req.URL.Path = util.JoinURLFragments(routeURL.Path, proxyPath)
+		req.URL.Scheme = routeURL.Scheme
+		req.URL.Host = routeURL.Host
+		req.Host = routeURL.Host
+		req.URL.Path = util.JoinURLFragments(routeURL.Path, proxyPath)
+	}
 
 	if err := addQueryString(req, route, data); err != nil {
 		logger.Error("Failed to render plugin URL query string", "error", err)
diff --git a/pkg/api/pluginproxy/ds_proxy_test.go b/pkg/api/pluginproxy/ds_proxy_test.go
index 7f14665ae87..6e138e49270 100644
--- a/pkg/api/pluginproxy/ds_proxy_test.go
+++ b/pkg/api/pluginproxy/ds_proxy_test.go
@@ -67,6 +67,10 @@ func TestDSRouteRule(t *testing.T) {
 							{Name: "x-header", Content: "my secret {{.SecureJsonData.key}}"},
 						},
 					},
+					{
+						Path:    "api/restricted",
+						ReqRole: models.ROLE_ADMIN,
+					},
 				},
 			}
 
@@ -116,6 +120,17 @@ func TestDSRouteRule(t *testing.T) {
 				})
 			})
 
+			Convey("When matching route path with no url", func() {
+				proxy, err := NewDataSourceProxy(ds, plugin, ctx, "", &setting.Cfg{})
+				So(err, ShouldBeNil)
+				proxy.route = plugin.Routes[4]
+				ApplyRoute(proxy.ctx.Req.Context(), req, proxy.proxyPath, proxy.route, proxy.ds)
+
+				Convey("Should not replace request url", func() {
+					So(req.URL.String(), ShouldEqual, "http://localhost/asd")
+				})
+			})
+
 			Convey("Validating request", func() {
 				Convey("plugin route with valid role", func() {
 					proxy, err := NewDataSourceProxy(ds, plugin, ctx, "api/v4/some/method", &setting.Cfg{})