diff --git a/extensions/ql-vscode/src/common/interface-types.ts b/extensions/ql-vscode/src/common/interface-types.ts
index fee7e62c518..f4df0ff2d61 100644
--- a/extensions/ql-vscode/src/common/interface-types.ts
+++ b/extensions/ql-vscode/src/common/interface-types.ts
@@ -334,13 +334,15 @@ interface ChangeCompareMessage {
   newResultSetName: string;
 }
 
-export type ToCompareViewMessage = SetComparisonsMessage;
+export type ToCompareViewMessage =
+  | SetComparisonQueryInfoMessage
+  | SetComparisonsMessage;
 
 /**
- * Message to the compare view that specifies the query results to compare.
+ * Message to the compare view that sets the metadata of the compared queries.
  */
-export interface SetComparisonsMessage {
-  readonly t: "setComparisons";
+export interface SetComparisonQueryInfoMessage {
+  readonly t: "setComparisonQueryInfo";
   readonly stats: {
     fromQuery?: {
       name: string;
@@ -353,11 +355,18 @@ export interface SetComparisonsMessage {
       time: string;
     };
   };
+  readonly databaseUri: string;
   readonly commonResultSetNames: string[];
+}
+
+/**
+ * Message to the compare view that specifies the query results to compare.
+ */
+export interface SetComparisonsMessage {
+  readonly t: "setComparisons";
   readonly currentResultSetName: string;
   readonly result: QueryCompareResult | undefined;
   readonly message: string | undefined;
-  readonly databaseUri: string;
 }
 
 type QueryCompareResult = RawQueryCompareResult | InterpretedQueryCompareResult;
diff --git a/extensions/ql-vscode/src/compare/compare-view.ts b/extensions/ql-vscode/src/compare/compare-view.ts
index 971f29f005b..61c467b241e 100644
--- a/extensions/ql-vscode/src/compare/compare-view.ts
+++ b/extensions/ql-vscode/src/compare/compare-view.ts
@@ -22,13 +22,18 @@ import {
 import { telemetryListener } from "../common/vscode/telemetry";
 import { redactableError } from "../common/errors";
 import { App } from "../common/app";
-import { findResultSetNames } from "./result-set-names";
+import {
+  findCommonResultSetNames,
+  findResultSetNames,
+} from "./result-set-names";
 
 interface ComparePair {
   from: CompletedLocalQueryInfo;
   fromSchemas: BQRSInfo;
   to: CompletedLocalQueryInfo;
   toSchemas: BQRSInfo;
+
+  commonResultSetNames: readonly string[];
 }
 
 export class CompareView extends AbstractWebview<
@@ -62,13 +67,44 @@ export class CompareView extends AbstractWebview<
       to.completedQuery.query.resultsPaths.resultsPath,
     );
 
+    const commonResultSetNames = await findCommonResultSetNames(
+      fromSchemas,
+      toSchemas,
+    );
+
     this.comparePair = {
       from,
       fromSchemas,
       to,
       toSchemas,
+      commonResultSetNames,
     };
 
+    const panel = await this.getPanel();
+    panel.reveal(undefined, true);
+    await this.waitForPanelLoaded();
+
+    await this.postMessage({
+      t: "setComparisonQueryInfo",
+      stats: {
+        fromQuery: {
+          // since we split the description into several rows
+          // only run interpolation if the label is user-defined
+          // otherwise we will wind up with duplicated rows
+          name: this.labelProvider.getShortLabel(from),
+          status: from.completedQuery.statusString,
+          time: from.startTime,
+        },
+        toQuery: {
+          name: this.labelProvider.getShortLabel(to),
+          status: to.completedQuery.statusString,
+          time: to.startTime,
+        },
+      },
+      databaseUri: to.initialInfo.databaseInfo.databaseUri,
+      commonResultSetNames,
+    });
+
     await this.showResultsInternal(selectedResultSetName);
   }
 
@@ -77,21 +113,15 @@ export class CompareView extends AbstractWebview<
       return;
     }
 
-    const { from, to } = this.comparePair;
-
     const panel = await this.getPanel();
     panel.reveal(undefined, true);
 
     await this.waitForPanelLoaded();
-    const {
-      commonResultSetNames,
-      currentResultSetDisplayName,
-      fromResultSet,
-      toResultSet,
-    } = await this.findResultSetsToCompare(
-      this.comparePair,
-      selectedResultSetName,
-    );
+    const { currentResultSetDisplayName, fromResultSet, toResultSet } =
+      await this.findResultSetsToCompare(
+        this.comparePair,
+        selectedResultSetName,
+      );
     if (currentResultSetDisplayName) {
       let result: RawQueryCompareResult | undefined;
       let message: string | undefined;
@@ -103,26 +133,9 @@ export class CompareView extends AbstractWebview<
 
       await this.postMessage({
         t: "setComparisons",
-        stats: {
-          fromQuery: {
-            // since we split the description into several rows
-            // only run interpolation if the label is user-defined
-            // otherwise we will wind up with duplicated rows
-            name: this.labelProvider.getShortLabel(from),
-            status: from.completedQuery.statusString,
-            time: from.startTime,
-          },
-          toQuery: {
-            name: this.labelProvider.getShortLabel(to),
-            status: to.completedQuery.statusString,
-            time: to.startTime,
-          },
-        },
         result,
-        commonResultSetNames,
         currentResultSetName: currentResultSetDisplayName,
         message,
-        databaseUri: to.initialInfo.databaseInfo.databaseUri,
       });
     }
   }
@@ -190,15 +203,16 @@ export class CompareView extends AbstractWebview<
   }
 
   private async findResultSetsToCompare(
-    { from, fromSchemas, to, toSchemas }: ComparePair,
+    { from, fromSchemas, to, toSchemas, commonResultSetNames }: ComparePair,
     selectedResultSetName: string | undefined,
   ) {
-    const {
-      commonResultSetNames,
-      currentResultSetDisplayName,
-      fromResultSetName,
-      toResultSetName,
-    } = await findResultSetNames(fromSchemas, toSchemas, selectedResultSetName);
+    const { currentResultSetDisplayName, fromResultSetName, toResultSetName } =
+      await findResultSetNames(
+        fromSchemas,
+        toSchemas,
+        commonResultSetNames,
+        selectedResultSetName,
+      );
 
     const fromResultSet = await this.getResultSet(
       fromSchemas,
@@ -211,7 +225,6 @@ export class CompareView extends AbstractWebview<
       to.completedQuery.query.resultsPaths.resultsPath,
     );
     return {
-      commonResultSetNames,
       currentResultSetDisplayName,
       fromResultSet,
       toResultSet,
diff --git a/extensions/ql-vscode/src/compare/result-set-names.ts b/extensions/ql-vscode/src/compare/result-set-names.ts
index 5b43c0eb4a3..7df0a8a729c 100644
--- a/extensions/ql-vscode/src/compare/result-set-names.ts
+++ b/extensions/ql-vscode/src/compare/result-set-names.ts
@@ -1,18 +1,28 @@
 import { BQRSInfo } from "../common/bqrs-cli-types";
 import { getDefaultResultSetName } from "../common/interface-types";
 
+export async function findCommonResultSetNames(
+  fromSchemas: BQRSInfo,
+  toSchemas: BQRSInfo,
+): Promise<string[]> {
+  const fromSchemaNames = fromSchemas["result-sets"].map(
+    (schema) => schema.name,
+  );
+  const toSchemaNames = toSchemas["result-sets"].map((schema) => schema.name);
+
+  return fromSchemaNames.filter((name) => toSchemaNames.includes(name));
+}
+
 export async function findResultSetNames(
   fromSchemas: BQRSInfo,
   toSchemas: BQRSInfo,
+  commonResultSetNames: readonly string[],
   selectedResultSetName: string | undefined,
 ) {
   const fromSchemaNames = fromSchemas["result-sets"].map(
     (schema) => schema.name,
   );
   const toSchemaNames = toSchemas["result-sets"].map((schema) => schema.name);
-  const commonResultSetNames = fromSchemaNames.filter((name) =>
-    toSchemaNames.includes(name),
-  );
 
   // Fall back on the default result set names if there are no common ones.
   const defaultFromResultSetName = fromSchemaNames.find((name) =>
@@ -37,7 +47,6 @@ export async function findResultSetNames(
   const toResultSetName = currentResultSetName || defaultToResultSetName!;
 
   return {
-    commonResultSetNames,
     currentResultSetDisplayName:
       currentResultSetName ||
       `${defaultFromResultSetName} <-> ${defaultToResultSetName}`,
diff --git a/extensions/ql-vscode/src/stories/compare/CompareTable.stories.tsx b/extensions/ql-vscode/src/stories/compare/CompareTable.stories.tsx
index d0ec928f6a9..1b5a82f4cca 100644
--- a/extensions/ql-vscode/src/stories/compare/CompareTable.stories.tsx
+++ b/extensions/ql-vscode/src/stories/compare/CompareTable.stories.tsx
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@ const Template: StoryFn<typeof CompareTableComponent> = (args) => (
 
 export const CompareTable = Template.bind({});
 CompareTable.args = {
-  comparison: {
-    t: "setComparisons",
+  queryInfo: {
+    t: "setComparisonQueryInfo",
     stats: {
       fromQuery: {
         name: "Query built from user-controlled sources",
@@ -31,7 +31,11 @@ CompareTable.args = {
         time: "8/16/2023, 3:07:21 PM",
       },
     },
+    databaseUri: "file:///java",
     commonResultSetNames: ["edges", "nodes", "subpaths", "#select"],
+  },
+  comparison: {
+    t: "setComparisons",
     currentResultSetName: "edges",
     result: {
       kind: "raw",
@@ -66,6 +70,5 @@ CompareTable.args = {
       ],
     },
     message: undefined,
-    databaseUri: "file:///java",
   },
 };
diff --git a/extensions/ql-vscode/src/view/compare/Compare.tsx b/extensions/ql-vscode/src/view/compare/Compare.tsx
index 65e0a8ef3fe..e335c966373 100644
--- a/extensions/ql-vscode/src/view/compare/Compare.tsx
+++ b/extensions/ql-vscode/src/view/compare/Compare.tsx
@@ -5,12 +5,14 @@ import { styled } from "styled-components";
 import {
   ToCompareViewMessage,
   SetComparisonsMessage,
+  SetComparisonQueryInfoMessage,
 } from "../../common/interface-types";
 import CompareSelector from "./CompareSelector";
 import { vscode } from "../vscode-api";
 import CompareTable from "./CompareTable";
 
 import "../results/resultsView.css";
+import { assertNever } from "../../common/helpers-pure";
 
 const Header = styled.div`
   display: flex;
@@ -25,6 +27,8 @@ const Message = styled.div`
 `;
 
 export function Compare(_: Record<string, never>): JSX.Element {
+  const [queryInfo, setQueryInfo] =
+    useState<SetComparisonQueryInfoMessage | null>(null);
   const [comparison, setComparison] = useState<SetComparisonsMessage | null>(
     null,
   );
@@ -39,8 +43,14 @@ export function Compare(_: Record<string, never>): JSX.Element {
       if (evt.origin === window.origin) {
         const msg: ToCompareViewMessage = evt.data;
         switch (msg.t) {
+          case "setComparisonQueryInfo":
+            setQueryInfo(msg);
+            break;
           case "setComparisons":
             setComparison(msg);
+            break;
+          default:
+            assertNever(msg);
         }
       } else {
         // sanitize origin
@@ -55,7 +65,7 @@ export function Compare(_: Record<string, never>): JSX.Element {
     };
   }, []);
 
-  if (!comparison) {
+  if (!queryInfo || !comparison) {
     return <div>Waiting for results to load.</div>;
   }
 
@@ -65,7 +75,7 @@ export function Compare(_: Record<string, never>): JSX.Element {
         <Header>
           <HeaderTitle>Comparing:</HeaderTitle>
           <CompareSelector
-            availableResultSets={comparison.commonResultSetNames}
+            availableResultSets={queryInfo.commonResultSetNames}
             currentResultSetName={comparison.currentResultSetName}
             updateResultSet={(newResultSetName: string) =>
               vscode.postMessage({ t: "changeCompare", newResultSetName })
@@ -73,7 +83,10 @@ export function Compare(_: Record<string, never>): JSX.Element {
           />
         </Header>
         {hasRows ? (
-          <CompareTable comparison={comparison}></CompareTable>
+          <CompareTable
+            queryInfo={queryInfo}
+            comparison={comparison}
+          ></CompareTable>
         ) : (
           <Message>{message}</Message>
         )}
diff --git a/extensions/ql-vscode/src/view/compare/CompareTable.tsx b/extensions/ql-vscode/src/view/compare/CompareTable.tsx
index 3384580bfd9..8645285355f 100644
--- a/extensions/ql-vscode/src/view/compare/CompareTable.tsx
+++ b/extensions/ql-vscode/src/view/compare/CompareTable.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 import * as React from "react";
 
-import { SetComparisonsMessage } from "../../common/interface-types";
+import {
+  SetComparisonQueryInfoMessage,
+  SetComparisonsMessage,
+} from "../../common/interface-types";
 import { className } from "../results/result-table-utils";
 import { vscode } from "../vscode-api";
 import TextButton from "../common/TextButton";
@@ -8,6 +11,7 @@ import { styled } from "styled-components";
 import { RawCompareResultTable } from "./RawCompareResultTable";
 
 interface Props {
+  queryInfo: SetComparisonQueryInfoMessage;
   comparison: SetComparisonsMessage;
 }
 
@@ -26,9 +30,8 @@ const Table = styled.table`
   }
 `;
 
-export default function CompareTable(props: Props) {
-  const comparison = props.comparison;
-  const result = props.comparison.result!;
+export default function CompareTable({ queryInfo, comparison }: Props) {
+  const result = comparison.result!;
 
   async function openQuery(kind: "from" | "to") {
     vscode.postMessage({
@@ -43,18 +46,18 @@ export default function CompareTable(props: Props) {
         <tr>
           <td>
             <OpenButton onClick={() => openQuery("from")}>
-              {comparison.stats.fromQuery?.name}
+              {queryInfo.stats.fromQuery?.name}
             </OpenButton>
           </td>
           <td>
             <OpenButton onClick={() => openQuery("to")}>
-              {comparison.stats.toQuery?.name}
+              {queryInfo.stats.toQuery?.name}
             </OpenButton>
           </td>
         </tr>
         <tr>
-          <td>{comparison.stats.fromQuery?.time}</td>
-          <td>{comparison.stats.toQuery?.time}</td>
+          <td>{queryInfo.stats.fromQuery?.time}</td>
+          <td>{queryInfo.stats.toQuery?.time}</td>
         </tr>
         <tr>
           <th>{result.from.length} rows removed</th>
@@ -69,7 +72,7 @@ export default function CompareTable(props: Props) {
                 columns={result.columns}
                 schemaName={comparison.currentResultSetName}
                 rows={result.from}
-                databaseUri={comparison.databaseUri}
+                databaseUri={queryInfo.databaseUri}
                 className={className}
               />
             )}
@@ -80,7 +83,7 @@ export default function CompareTable(props: Props) {
                 columns={result.columns}
                 schemaName={comparison.currentResultSetName}
                 rows={result.to}
-                databaseUri={comparison.databaseUri}
+                databaseUri={queryInfo.databaseUri}
                 className={className}
               />
             )}