diff --git a/artiq/dashboard/explorer.py b/artiq/dashboard/explorer.py
index 481596b24..f9dab39dd 100644
--- a/artiq/dashboard/explorer.py
+++ b/artiq/dashboard/explorer.py
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ class WaitingPanel(LayoutWidget):
 class ExplorerDock(QtWidgets.QDockWidget):
     def __init__(self, exp_manager, d_shortcuts,
                  explist_sub, explist_status_sub,
-                 schedule_ctl, experiment_db_ctl):
+                 schedule_ctl, experiment_db_ctl, device_db_ctl):
         QtWidgets.QDockWidget.__init__(self, "Explorer")
         self.setObjectName("Explorer")
         self.setFeatures(QtWidgets.QDockWidget.DockWidgetMovable |
@@ -251,6 +251,12 @@ class ExplorerDock(QtWidgets.QDockWidget):
         scan_repository_action.triggered.connect(scan_repository)
         self.el.addAction(scan_repository_action)
 
+        scan_ddb_action = QtWidgets.QAction("Scan device database", self.el)
+        def scan_ddb():
+            asyncio.ensure_future(device_db_ctl.scan())
+        scan_ddb_action.triggered.connect(scan_ddb)
+        self.el.addAction(scan_ddb_action)
+
         self.current_directory = ""
         open_file_action = QtWidgets.QAction("Open file outside repository",
                                              self.el)
diff --git a/artiq/frontend/artiq_dashboard.py b/artiq/frontend/artiq_dashboard.py
index bd9127f9d..b1bfca59d 100755
--- a/artiq/frontend/artiq_dashboard.py
+++ b/artiq/frontend/artiq_dashboard.py
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ def main():
 
     # create connections to master
     rpc_clients = dict()
-    for target in "schedule", "experiment_db", "dataset_db":
+    for target in "schedule", "experiment_db", "dataset_db", "device_db":
         client = AsyncioClient()
         loop.run_until_complete(client.connect_rpc(
             args.server, args.port_control, "master_" + target))
@@ -171,7 +171,8 @@ def main():
                                        sub_clients["explist"],
                                        sub_clients["explist_status"],
                                        rpc_clients["schedule"],
-                                       rpc_clients["experiment_db"])
+                                       rpc_clients["experiment_db"],
+                                       rpc_clients["device_db"])
     smgr.register(d_explorer)
 
     d_datasets = datasets.DatasetsDock(sub_clients["datasets"],