diff --git a/public/app/features/dashboard/save_modal.ts b/public/app/features/dashboard/save_modal.ts
index 1c364fbc55f..7a753f3653e 100644
--- a/public/app/features/dashboard/save_modal.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/dashboard/save_modal.ts
@@ -91,6 +91,9 @@ export class SaveDashboardModalCtrl {
   }
 
   compareTemplating() {
+    if (this.dashboardSrv.dash.originalTemplating.length !== this.dashboardSrv.dash.templating.list.length) {
+      return (this.variableChange = false);
+    }
     if (this.dashboardSrv.dash.templating.list.length > 0) {
       for (let i = 0; i < this.dashboardSrv.dash.templating.list.length; i++) {
         if (