diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/components/navigation_menu/date_picker_wrapper/date_picker_wrapper.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/components/navigation_menu/date_picker_wrapper/date_picker_wrapper.tsx
index 7d1a616d57114b..d27dc30831c40e 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/components/navigation_menu/date_picker_wrapper/date_picker_wrapper.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/components/navigation_menu/date_picker_wrapper/date_picker_wrapper.tsx
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ export const DatePickerWrapper: FC = () => {
           <EuiSuperDatePicker
             start={time.from}
             end={time.to}
-            isPaused={refreshInterval.pause}
+            isPaused={refreshInterval.pause || (!refreshInterval.pause && !refreshInterval.value)}
             isAutoRefreshOnly={!isTimeRangeSelectorEnabled}
             refreshInterval={refreshInterval.value}
             onTimeChange={updateFilter}