diff --git a/superset/common/query_object.py b/superset/common/query_object.py
index 265729a77dfc..c8f08146732d 100644
--- a/superset/common/query_object.py
+++ b/superset/common/query_object.py
@@ -137,7 +137,8 @@ def __init__(  # pylint: disable=too-many-arguments,too-many-locals
             self.series_columns = series_columns
         elif is_timeseries and metrics:
             self.series_columns = columns
-        self.series_columns = series_columns or []
+        else:
+            self.series_columns = []
 
         self.is_rowcount = is_rowcount
         self.datasource = None