diff --git a/packages/core-components/src/components/Link/Link.tsx b/packages/core-components/src/components/Link/Link.tsx
index dd169390a5..89f5a69245 100644
--- a/packages/core-components/src/components/Link/Link.tsx
+++ b/packages/core-components/src/components/Link/Link.tsx
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ export const isExternalUri = (uri: string) => /^([a-z+.-]+):/.test(uri);
 export type LinkProps = MaterialLinkProps &
   RouterLinkProps & {
     component?: ElementType<any>;
+    externalLinkTarget?: undefined | '_blank';
   };
 
 /**
@@ -39,7 +40,14 @@ export const Link = React.forwardRef<any, LinkProps>((props, ref) => {
   const to = String(props.to);
   return isExternalUri(to) ? (
     // External links
-    <MaterialLink ref={ref} href={to} {...props} />
+    <MaterialLink
+      ref={ref}
+      href={to}
+      {...(props.externalLinkTarget
+        ? { target: props.externalLinkTarget }
+        : {})}
+      {...props}
+    />
   ) : (
     // Interact with React Router for internal links
     <MaterialLink ref={ref} component={RouterLink} {...props} />
diff --git a/plugins/explore/src/components/ToolCard/ToolCard.tsx b/plugins/explore/src/components/ToolCard/ToolCard.tsx
index 00c9851865..584d0a54a6 100644
--- a/plugins/explore/src/components/ToolCard/ToolCard.tsx
+++ b/plugins/explore/src/components/ToolCard/ToolCard.tsx
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ import { ExploreTool } from '@backstage/plugin-explore-react';
 import { BackstageTheme } from '@backstage/theme';
 import {
   Box,
-  Button,
   Card,
   CardActions,
   CardContent,
@@ -27,6 +26,7 @@ import {
   makeStyles,
   Typography,
 } from '@material-ui/core';
+import { Button } from '@backstage/core-components';
 import classNames from 'classnames';
 import React from 'react';
 
@@ -63,7 +63,6 @@ export const ToolCard = ({ card, objectFit }: Props) => {
   const classes = useStyles();
 
   const { title, description, url, image, lifecycle, tags } = card;
-  const isExternalUrl = url.startsWith('https://') || url.startsWith('http://');
 
   return (
     <Card key={title}>
@@ -99,9 +98,9 @@ export const ToolCard = ({ card, objectFit }: Props) => {
       </CardContent>
       <CardActions>
         <Button
-          {...(isExternalUrl ? { target: '_blank' } : {})}
+          externalLinkTarget="_blank"
           color="primary"
-          href={url}
+          to={url}
           disabled={!url}
         >
           Explore