diff --git a/go/vt/vtgate/planbuilder/show.go b/go/vt/vtgate/planbuilder/show.go
index f9446b21093..536adbcf662 100644
--- a/go/vt/vtgate/planbuilder/show.go
+++ b/go/vt/vtgate/planbuilder/show.go
@@ -115,26 +115,40 @@ func buildVariablePlan(show *sqlparser.ShowBasic, vschema ContextVSchema) (engin
 func buildShowTblPlan(show *sqlparser.ShowBasic, vschema ContextVSchema) (engine.Primitive, error) {
 	if show.DbName != "" {
 		show.Tbl.Qualifier = sqlparser.NewTableIdent(show.DbName)
+		// Remove Database Name from the query.
+		show.DbName = ""
 	}
-	table, _, _, _, destination, err := vschema.FindTableOrVindex(show.Tbl)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	if table == nil {
-		return nil, vterrors.NewErrorf(vtrpcpb.Code_NOT_FOUND, vterrors.UnknownTable, "Table '%s' doesn't exist", show.Tbl.Name.String())
-	}
-	if destination == nil {
-		destination = key.DestinationAnyShard{}
-	}
 
-	// Remove Database Name from the query.
-	show.DbName = ""
-	show.Tbl.Qualifier = sqlparser.NewTableIdent("")
-	show.Tbl.Name = table.Name
+	dest := key.Destination(key.DestinationAnyShard{})
+	var ks *vindexes.Keyspace
+	var err error
+
+	if !show.Tbl.Qualifier.IsEmpty() && sqlparser.SystemSchema(show.Tbl.Qualifier.String()) {
+		ks, err = vschema.AnyKeyspace()
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+	} else {
+		table, _, _, _, destination, err := vschema.FindTableOrVindex(show.Tbl)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		if table == nil {
+			return nil, vterrors.NewErrorf(vtrpcpb.Code_NOT_FOUND, vterrors.UnknownTable, "Table '%s' doesn't exist", show.Tbl.Name.String())
+		}
+		// Update the table.
+		show.Tbl.Qualifier = sqlparser.NewTableIdent("")
+		show.Tbl.Name = table.Name
+
+		if destination != nil {
+			dest = destination
+		}
+		ks = table.Keyspace
+	}
 
 	return &engine.Send{
-		Keyspace:          table.Keyspace,
-		TargetDestination: destination,
+		Keyspace:          ks,
+		TargetDestination: dest,
 		Query:             sqlparser.String(show),
 		IsDML:             false,
 		SingleShardOnly:   true,
diff --git a/go/vt/vtgate/planbuilder/testdata/show_cases_no_default_keyspace.txt b/go/vt/vtgate/planbuilder/testdata/show_cases_no_default_keyspace.txt
index df2253e38bb..43395759844 100644
--- a/go/vt/vtgate/planbuilder/testdata/show_cases_no_default_keyspace.txt
+++ b/go/vt/vtgate/planbuilder/testdata/show_cases_no_default_keyspace.txt
@@ -56,3 +56,39 @@
     ]
   }
 }
+
+# show full columns from system schema
+"show full columns from sys.sys_config"
+{
+  "QueryType": "SHOW",
+  "Original": "show full columns from sys.sys_config",
+  "Instructions": {
+    "OperatorType": "Send",
+    "Keyspace": {
+      "Name": "main",
+      "Sharded": false
+    },
+    "TargetDestination": "AnyShard()",
+    "IsDML": false,
+    "Query": "show full columns from sys.sys_config",
+    "SingleShardOnly": true
+  }
+}
+
+# show full columns from system schema replacing qualifier
+"show full columns from x.sys_config from sys"
+{
+  "QueryType": "SHOW",
+  "Original": "show full columns from x.sys_config from sys",
+  "Instructions": {
+    "OperatorType": "Send",
+    "Keyspace": {
+      "Name": "main",
+      "Sharded": false
+    },
+    "TargetDestination": "AnyShard()",
+    "IsDML": false,
+    "Query": "show full columns from sys.sys_config",
+    "SingleShardOnly": true
+  }
+}