diff --git a/public/app/plugins/datasource/opentsdb/plugin.json b/public/app/plugins/datasource/opentsdb/plugin.json
index fa34545d303..311dcf0da9a 100644
--- a/public/app/plugins/datasource/opentsdb/plugin.json
+++ b/public/app/plugins/datasource/opentsdb/plugin.json
@@ -11,5 +11,6 @@
     "config": "app/plugins/datasource/opentsdb/partials/config.html"
   },
 
-  "metrics": true
+  "metrics": true,
+  "defaultMatchFormat": "pipe"
 }