diff --git a/go/test/endtoend/vtgate/misc_test.go b/go/test/endtoend/vtgate/misc_test.go
index aec30cd7b6f..6a28bf191ec 100644
--- a/go/test/endtoend/vtgate/misc_test.go
+++ b/go/test/endtoend/vtgate/misc_test.go
@@ -424,6 +424,19 @@ func TestSavepointAdditionalCase(t *testing.T) {
 	assertMatches(t, conn, "select id1 from t1 order by id1", `[]`)
 }
 
+func TestExplainPassthrough(t *testing.T) {
+	defer cluster.PanicHandler(t)
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	conn, err := mysql.Connect(ctx, &vtParams)
+	require.Nil(t, err)
+	defer conn.Close()
+
+	result := exec(t, conn, "explain select * from t1")
+	got := fmt.Sprintf("%v", result.Rows)
+	require.Contains(t, got, "SIMPLE") // there is a lot more coming from mysql,
+	// but we are trying to make the test less fragile
+}
+
 func assertMatches(t *testing.T, conn *mysql.Conn, query, expected string) {
 	t.Helper()
 	qr := exec(t, conn, query)
diff --git a/go/vt/vttablet/tabletserver/planbuilder/plan.go b/go/vt/vttablet/tabletserver/planbuilder/plan.go
index 694ec49ae0e..8f1285a97df 100644
--- a/go/vt/vttablet/tabletserver/planbuilder/plan.go
+++ b/go/vt/vttablet/tabletserver/planbuilder/plan.go
@@ -180,9 +180,7 @@ func Build(statement sqlparser.Statement, tables map[string]*schema.Table, isRes
 		// DDLs and other statements below don't get fully parsed.
 		// We have to use the original query at the time of execution.
 		plan = &Plan{PlanID: PlanDDL}
-	case *sqlparser.Show:
-		plan, err = &Plan{PlanID: PlanOtherRead}, nil
-	case *sqlparser.OtherRead:
+	case *sqlparser.Show, *sqlparser.OtherRead, *sqlparser.Explain:
 		plan, err = &Plan{PlanID: PlanOtherRead}, nil
 	case *sqlparser.OtherAdmin:
 		plan, err = &Plan{PlanID: PlanOtherAdmin}, nil