diff --git a/web-common/src/features/dashboards/stores/dashboard-stores.ts b/web-common/src/features/dashboards/stores/dashboard-stores.ts
index 51ef6a4168b..0d034178fcf 100644
--- a/web-common/src/features/dashboards/stores/dashboard-stores.ts
+++ b/web-common/src/features/dashboards/stores/dashboard-stores.ts
@@ -481,6 +481,9 @@ const metricsViewReducers = {
     metricsViewSpec: V1MetricsViewSpec,
   ) {
     updateMetricsExplorerByName(name, (metricsExplorer) => {
+      if (comparisonTimeRange) {
+        metricsExplorer.showTimeComparison = true;
+      }
       metricsExplorer.selectedComparisonTimeRange = comparisonTimeRange;
       AdvancedMeasureCorrector.correct(metricsExplorer, metricsViewSpec);
     });
diff --git a/web-common/src/features/dashboards/time-controls/comparison-pill/ComparisonPill.svelte b/web-common/src/features/dashboards/time-controls/comparison-pill/ComparisonPill.svelte
index 4301b3e609e..e583653d36f 100644
--- a/web-common/src/features/dashboards/time-controls/comparison-pill/ComparisonPill.svelte
+++ b/web-common/src/features/dashboards/time-controls/comparison-pill/ComparisonPill.svelte
@@ -54,12 +54,6 @@
     start: Date,
     end: Date,
   ) {
-    if (!showTimeComparison) {
-      metricsExplorerStore.displayTimeComparison(
-        $exploreName,
-        !showTimeComparison,
-      );
-    }
     metricsExplorerStore.setSelectedComparisonRange(
       $exploreName,
       {
diff --git a/web-common/src/features/dashboards/time-controls/time-control-store.ts b/web-common/src/features/dashboards/time-controls/time-control-store.ts
index ed8859ef762..73f8fdd3b8b 100644
--- a/web-common/src/features/dashboards/time-controls/time-control-store.ts
+++ b/web-common/src/features/dashboards/time-controls/time-control-store.ts
@@ -19,8 +19,8 @@ import {
   getAdjustedFetchTime,
 } from "@rilldata/web-common/lib/time/ranges";
 import { isoDurationToFullTimeRange } from "@rilldata/web-common/lib/time/ranges/iso-ranges";
-import type { DashboardTimeControls } from "@rilldata/web-common/lib/time/types";
 import {
+  type DashboardTimeControls,
   TimeComparisonOption,
   type TimeRange,
   TimeRangePreset,
@@ -419,7 +419,12 @@ function getComparisonTimeRange(
         name: comparisonOption,
       };
     }
-  } else if (comparisonTimeRange.name === TimeComparisonOption.CUSTOM) {
+  } else if (
+    comparisonTimeRange.name === TimeComparisonOption.CUSTOM ||
+    // 1st step towards using a single `Custom` variable
+    // TODO: replace the usage of TimeComparisonOption.CUSTOM with TimeRangePreset.CUSTOM
+    comparisonTimeRange.name === TimeRangePreset.CUSTOM
+  ) {
     return comparisonTimeRange;
   } else {
     // variable time range of some kind.