diff --git a/public/app/features/explore/ExploreToolbar.tsx b/public/app/features/explore/ExploreToolbar.tsx
index e505251eea6..d3e42087edb 100644
--- a/public/app/features/explore/ExploreToolbar.tsx
+++ b/public/app/features/explore/ExploreToolbar.tsx
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ type Props = OwnProps & ConnectedProps<typeof connector>;
 
 export class UnConnectedExploreToolbar extends PureComponent<Props> {
   onChangeDatasource = async (dsSettings: DataSourceInstanceSettings) => {
-    this.props.changeDatasource(this.props.exploreId, dsSettings.name, { importQueries: true });
+    this.props.changeDatasource(this.props.exploreId, dsSettings.uid, { importQueries: true });
   };
 
   onClearAll = () => {
diff --git a/public/app/features/explore/state/datasource.ts b/public/app/features/explore/state/datasource.ts
index 54755dd5208..c1db1b22fff 100644
--- a/public/app/features/explore/state/datasource.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/explore/state/datasource.ts
@@ -35,12 +35,12 @@ export const updateDatasourceInstanceAction = createAction<UpdateDatasourceInsta
  */
 export function changeDatasource(
   exploreId: ExploreId,
-  datasourceName: string,
+  datasourceUid: string,
   options?: { importQueries: boolean }
 ): ThunkResult<void> {
   return async (dispatch, getState) => {
     const orgId = getState().user.orgId;
-    const { history, instance } = await loadAndInitDatasource(orgId, datasourceName);
+    const { history, instance } = await loadAndInitDatasource(orgId, datasourceUid);
     const currentDataSourceInstance = getState().explore[exploreId]!.datasourceInstance;
 
     dispatch(
diff --git a/public/app/features/explore/state/utils.ts b/public/app/features/explore/state/utils.ts
index f6215106ec2..9f959f975fe 100644
--- a/public/app/features/explore/state/utils.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/explore/state/utils.ts
@@ -60,11 +60,11 @@ export const createEmptyQueryResponse = (): PanelData => ({
 
 export async function loadAndInitDatasource(
   orgId: number,
-  datasourceName?: string
+  datasourceUid?: string
 ): Promise<{ history: HistoryItem[]; instance: DataSourceApi }> {
   let instance;
   try {
-    instance = await getDatasourceSrv().get(datasourceName);
+    instance = await getDatasourceSrv().get(datasourceUid);
   } catch (error) {
     // Falling back to the default data source in case the provided data source was not found.
     // It may happen if last used data source or the data source provided in the URL has been