diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/explorer/explorer_swimlane.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/explorer/explorer_swimlane.tsx
index 926f38ac8b552d..2590ab2f1cb230 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/explorer/explorer_swimlane.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/explorer/explorer_swimlane.tsx
@@ -204,6 +204,8 @@ export class ExplorerSwimlane extends React.Component<ExplorerSwimlaneProps> {
     });
 
     this.renderSwimlane();
+
+    this.dragSelect.stop();
   }
 
   componentDidUpdate() {
@@ -211,11 +213,11 @@ export class ExplorerSwimlane extends React.Component<ExplorerSwimlaneProps> {
   }
 
   componentWillUnmount() {
-    if (this.dragSelectSubscriber !== null) {
-      this.dragSelectSubscriber.unsubscribe();
-    }
-    const element = d3.select(this.rootNode.current!);
-    element.html('');
+    this.dragSelectSubscriber!.unsubscribe();
+    // Remove selector element from DOM
+    this.dragSelect.selector.remove();
+    // removes all mousedown event handlers
+    this.dragSelect.stop(true);
   }
 
   selectCell(cellsToSelect: any[], { laneLabels, bucketScore, times }: SelectedData) {