diff --git a/lib/pbench/server/api/resources/datasets_compare.py b/lib/pbench/server/api/resources/datasets_compare.py
index 6f08c6557f..f123a17451 100644
--- a/lib/pbench/server/api/resources/datasets_compare.py
+++ b/lib/pbench/server/api/resources/datasets_compare.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
     Schema,
 )
 from pbench.server.cache_manager import CacheManager
-from pbench.server.database.models.datasets import Metadata
+from pbench.server.database.models.datasets import Dataset, Metadata
 
 
 class DatasetsCompare(ApiBase):
@@ -29,6 +29,35 @@ class DatasetsCompare(ApiBase):
     This class implements the Server API used to retrieve comparison data for visualization.
     """
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def get_benchmark_name(dataset: Dataset) -> str:
+        """Convenience function to get dataset's benchmark
+
+        The Pbench Server intake constructs a server.benchmark metadata key to
+        represent the benchmark type. This helper implements a fallback for
+        datasets processed prior to the implementation of server.benchmark to
+        avoid null values, by using the Pbench Agent metadata.log "script"
+        value if that exists and then a constant fallback value.
+
+        TODO: This is a workaround from the transition to server.benchmark in
+        order to cleanly support earlier datasets on the staging server. This
+        can be removed at some point, but it's not critical.
+
+        Args:
+            dataset: Dataset object
+
+        Returns:
+            A lowercase benchmark identifer string, including the value defined
+            by Metadata.SERVER_BENCHMARK_UNKNOWN if we can't find a value.
+        """
+        benchmark = Metadata.getvalue(dataset, Metadata.SERVER_BENCHMARK)
+
+        if not benchmark:
+            benchmark = Metadata.getvalue(dataset, "dataset.metalog.pbench.script")
+            if not benchmark:
+                benchmark = Metadata.SERVER_BENCHMARK_UNKNOWN
+        return benchmark
+
     def __init__(self, config: PbenchServerConfig):
         super().__init__(
             config,
@@ -70,17 +99,8 @@ def _get(
         datasets = params.query.get("datasets")
         benchmark_choice = None
         for dataset in datasets:
-            benchmark = Metadata.getvalue(dataset, Metadata.SERVER_BENCHMARK)
-            # Validate if all the selected datasets is of same benchmark
-            if not benchmark_choice:
-                benchmark_choice = benchmark
-            elif benchmark != benchmark_choice:
-                raise APIAbort(
-                    HTTPStatus.BAD_REQUEST,
-                    f"Selected dataset benchmarks must match: {benchmark_choice} and {benchmark} cannot be compared.",
-                )
 
-            # Validate if the user is authorized to access the selected datasets
+            # Check that the user is authorized to read each dataset
             self._check_authorization(
                 ApiAuthorization(
                     ApiAuthorizationType.USER_ACCESS,
@@ -90,6 +110,16 @@ def _get(
                 )
             )
 
+            # Determine the dataset benchmark and check consistency
+            benchmark = DatasetsCompare.get_benchmark_name(dataset)
+            if not benchmark_choice:
+                benchmark_choice = benchmark
+            elif benchmark != benchmark_choice:
+                raise APIAbort(
+                    HTTPStatus.BAD_REQUEST,
+                    f"Selected dataset benchmarks must match: {benchmark_choice} and {benchmark} cannot be compared.",
+                )
+
         benchmark_type = BenchmarkName.__members__.get(benchmark.upper())
         if not benchmark_type:
             raise APIAbort(
diff --git a/lib/pbench/server/api/resources/datasets_visualize.py b/lib/pbench/server/api/resources/datasets_visualize.py
index e0138f9e37..3aa29e945c 100644
--- a/lib/pbench/server/api/resources/datasets_visualize.py
+++ b/lib/pbench/server/api/resources/datasets_visualize.py
@@ -19,8 +19,8 @@
     ParamType,
     Schema,
 )
+from pbench.server.api.resources.datasets_compare import DatasetsCompare
 from pbench.server.cache_manager import CacheManager
-from pbench.server.database.models.datasets import Metadata
 
 
 class DatasetsVisualize(ApiBase):
@@ -59,8 +59,7 @@ def _get(
         """
 
         dataset = params.uri["dataset"]
-
-        benchmark = Metadata.getvalue(dataset, Metadata.SERVER_BENCHMARK)
+        benchmark = DatasetsCompare.get_benchmark_name(dataset)
         benchmark_type = BenchmarkName.__members__.get(benchmark.upper())
         if not benchmark_type:
             raise APIAbort(
diff --git a/lib/pbench/test/unit/server/test_datasets_visualize.py b/lib/pbench/test/unit/server/test_datasets_visualize.py
index 43658ff6cd..5547010360 100644
--- a/lib/pbench/test/unit/server/test_datasets_visualize.py
+++ b/lib/pbench/test/unit/server/test_datasets_visualize.py
@@ -132,3 +132,39 @@ def mock_get_metadata(_d: Dataset, _k: str, _u: Optional[User] = None) -> JSON:
         response = query_get_as("uperf_1", "test", HTTPStatus.BAD_REQUEST)
         assert response.json["message"] == "Unsupported Benchmark: hammerDB"
         assert extract_not_called
+
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize(
+        "script,result", (("hammerDB", "hammerDB"), (None, "unknown"))
+    )
+    def test_benchmark_fallback(self, query_get_as, monkeypatch, script, result):
+        """Test benchmark metadata fallback.
+
+        If server.benchmark isn't defined, try dataset.metalog.pbench.script,
+        then fall back to "unknown".
+
+        NOTE: This is deliberately not merged with test_unsupported_benchmark,
+        which it closely resembles, because the benchmark identification
+        tested here is intended to be a transitional workaround.
+        """
+
+        extract_not_called = True
+
+        def mock_extract_data(*args, **kwargs) -> JSON:
+            nonlocal extract_not_called
+            extract_not_called = False
+
+        @staticmethod
+        def mock_get_metadata(_d: Dataset, k: str, _u: Optional[User] = None) -> JSON:
+            if k == Metadata.SERVER_BENCHMARK:
+                return None
+            elif k == "dataset.metalog.pbench.script":
+                return script
+            else:
+                return "Not what you expected?"
+
+        monkeypatch.setattr(CacheManager, "get_inventory", self.mock_get_inventory)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(Metadata, "getvalue", mock_get_metadata)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(QuisbyProcessing, "extract_data", mock_extract_data)
+        response = query_get_as("uperf_1", "test", HTTPStatus.BAD_REQUEST)
+        assert response.json["message"] == f"Unsupported Benchmark: {result}"
+        assert extract_not_called