diff --git a/frappe/database/database.py b/frappe/database/database.py
index 0c7fe76a39..b30be49437 100644
--- a/frappe/database/database.py
+++ b/frappe/database/database.py
@@ -389,15 +389,15 @@ class Database:
 		"""Wrap the object with str to generate mogrified query."""
 		return LazyMogrify(query, values)
 
-	def explain_query(self, query, values=None):
+	def explain_query(self, query, values=EmptyQueryValues):
 		"""Print `EXPLAIN` in error log."""
 		frappe.log("--- query explain ---")
 		try:
-			self._cursor.execute(f"EXPLAIN {query}", values)
+			results = self.sql(f"EXPLAIN {query}", values, as_dict=1)
 		except Exception as e:
 			frappe.log(f"error in query explain: {e}")
 		else:
-			frappe.log(json.dumps(self.fetch_as_dict(), indent=1))
+			frappe.log(json.dumps(results, indent=1))
 			frappe.log("--- query explain end ---")
 
 	def sql_list(self, query, values=(), debug=False, **kwargs):
diff --git a/frappe/tests/test_db.py b/frappe/tests/test_db.py
index 6beb96860f..9469abb6b7 100644
--- a/frappe/tests/test_db.py
+++ b/frappe/tests/test_db.py
@@ -618,6 +618,9 @@ class TestDB(FrappeTestCase):
 
 		self.assertEqual(order_of_execution, list(range(0, 9)))
 
+	def test_db_explain(self):
+		frappe.db.sql("select 1", debug=1, explain=1)
+
 
 @run_only_if(db_type_is.MARIADB)
 class TestDDLCommandsMaria(FrappeTestCase):