diff --git a/frontend/src/scenes/dashboard/dashboardLogic.tsx b/frontend/src/scenes/dashboard/dashboardLogic.tsx
index ae2f269decde5..69f58adc3680b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/scenes/dashboard/dashboardLogic.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/scenes/dashboard/dashboardLogic.tsx
@@ -949,13 +949,15 @@ export const dashboardLogic = kea<dashboardLogicType>([
             let refreshesFinished = 0
             let totalResponseBytes = 0
 
+            const hardRefreshWithoutCache = action === 'refresh_manual' || action === 'refresh_above_threshold'
+
             // array of functions that reload each item
             const fetchItemFunctions = insights.map((insight) => async () => {
                 // :TODO: Support query cancellation and use this queryId in the actual query.
                 const queryId = `${dashboardQueryId}::${uuid()}`
                 const queryStartTime = performance.now()
                 const apiUrl = `api/projects/${values.currentTeamId}/insights/${insight.id}/?${toParams({
-                    refresh: true,
+                    refresh: hardRefreshWithoutCache,
                     from_dashboard: dashboardId, // needed to load insight in correct context
                     client_query_id: queryId,
                     session_id: currentSessionId(),