diff --git a/superset/connectors/sqla/models.py b/superset/connectors/sqla/models.py
index 934da17c73d..bf0384b790f 100644
--- a/superset/connectors/sqla/models.py
+++ b/superset/connectors/sqla/models.py
@@ -760,7 +760,8 @@ class SqlaTable(  # pylint: disable=too-many-public-methods,too-many-instance-at
                 raise QueryObjectValidationError(
                     _("Virtual dataset query cannot consist of multiple statements")
                 )
-            if not ParsedQuery(from_sql).is_readonly():
+            parsed_query = ParsedQuery(from_sql)
+            if not (parsed_query.is_unknown() or parsed_query.is_readonly()):
                 raise QueryObjectValidationError(
                     _("Virtual dataset query must be read-only")
                 )
diff --git a/superset/sql_parse.py b/superset/sql_parse.py
index e532a5eef6f..0bc20c1bf32 100644
--- a/superset/sql_parse.py
+++ b/superset/sql_parse.py
@@ -113,6 +113,9 @@ class ParsedQuery:
     def is_explain(self) -> bool:
         return self.stripped().upper().startswith("EXPLAIN")
 
+    def is_unknown(self) -> bool:
+        return self._parsed[0].get_type() == "UNKNOWN"
+
     def is_readonly(self) -> bool:
         """Pessimistic readonly, 100% sure statement won't mutate anything"""
         return self.is_select() or self.is_explain()