diff --git a/core/dnsserver/server.go b/core/dnsserver/server.go
index b1bbd247f..9b0a20b3c 100644
--- a/core/dnsserver/server.go
+++ b/core/dnsserver/server.go
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ func errorAndMetricsFunc(server string, w dns.ResponseWriter, r *dns.Msg, rc int
 	answer.SetRcode(r, rc)
 	state.SizeAndDo(answer)
 
-	vars.Report(server, state, vars.Dropped, rcode.ToString(rc), "", answer.Len(), time.Now())
+	vars.Report(server, state, vars.Dropped, rcode.ToString(rc), "" /* plugin */, answer.Len(), time.Now())
 
 	w.WriteMsg(answer)
 }