diff --git a/app/controllers/application_controller/compare.rb b/app/controllers/application_controller/compare.rb
index b48f03fc68b..c24457d30cc 100644
--- a/app/controllers/application_controller/compare.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/application_controller/compare.rb
@@ -1213,6 +1213,7 @@ def compare_to_json(view)
     @grid_cols_json = @cols.to_json.to_s.html_safe
 
     @lastaction = "compare_miq"
+    @explorer = true if request.xml_http_request? && explorer_controller?
   end
 
   def compare_build_record_rows(view, section, records, fields)