diff --git a/docs/CHANGELOG.md b/docs/CHANGELOG.md
index d7e396559..6bab3f16b 100644
--- a/docs/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/docs/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -15,6 +15,23 @@ The following tip changes can be tested by building VictoriaMetrics components f
 
 ## tip
 
+* FEATURE: [vmagent](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/vmagent.html): drop all the labels with `__` prefix from discovered targets in the same way as Prometheus does according to [this article](https://www.robustperception.io/life-of-a-label/). Previously the following labels were available during [metric-level relabeling](https://prometheus.io/docs/prometheus/latest/configuration/configuration/#metric_relabel_configs): `__address__`, `__scheme__`, `__metrics_path__`, `__scrape_interval__`, `__scrape_timeout__`, `__param_*`. Now these labels are available only during [target-level relabeling](https://prometheus.io/docs/prometheus/latest/configuration/configuration/#relabel_config). This should reduce CPU usage and memory usage for `vmagent` setups, which scrape big number of targets.
+* FEATURE: [vmagent](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/vmagent.html): allow specifying full url in scrape target addresses (aka `__address__` label). This makes valid the following `-promscrape.config`:
+
+  ```yml
+  scrape_configs:
+  - job_name: abc
+    metrics_path: /foo/bar
+    scheme: https
+    static_configs:
+    - targets:
+      # the following targets are scraped by the provided full urls
+      - 'http://host1/metric/path1'
+      - 'https://host2/metric/path2'
+      - 'http://host3:1234/metric/path3?arg1=value1'
+      # the following target is scraped by <scheme>://host4:1234<metrics_path>
+      - host4:1234
+  ```
 
 ## [v1.82.0](https://github.com/VictoriaMetrics/VictoriaMetrics/releases/tag/v1.82.0)
 
diff --git a/docs/relabeling.md b/docs/relabeling.md
index 0ba729a01..5f8f90e3d 100644
--- a/docs/relabeling.md
+++ b/docs/relabeling.md
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ See also [useful tips for target relabeling](#useful-tips-for-target-relabeling)
 Single-node VictoriaMetrics and [vmagent](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/vmagent.html) automatically add `instance` and `job` labels per each discovered target:
 
 * The `job` label is set to `job_name` value specified in the corresponding [scrape_config](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/sd_configs.html#scrape_configs).
-* The `instance` label is set to the final `__address__` label value after target-level relabeling.
+* The `instance` label is set to the host:port part of `__address__` label value after target-level relabeling.
   The `__address__` label value is automatically set to the most suitable value depending
   on the used [service discovery type](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/sd_configs.html#supported-service-discovery-configs).
   The `__address__` label can be overriden during relabeling - see [these docs](#how-to-modify-scrape-urls-in-targets).
@@ -284,8 +284,10 @@ URLs for scrape targets are composed of the following parts:
   just update the `__address__` label during relabeling to the needed value.
   The port part is optional. If it is missing, then it is automatically set either to `80` or `443` depending
   on the used scheme (`http` or `https`).
-  The final `__address__` label is automatically converted into `instance` label per each target unless the `instance`
+  The host:port part from the final `__address__` label is automatically set to `instance` label unless the `instance`
   label is explicitly set during relabeling.
+  The `__address__` label can contain the full scrape url, e.g. `http://host:port/metrics/path?query_args`.
+  In this case the `__scheme__` and `__metrics_path__` labels are ignored.
 * URL path (e.g. `/metrics`). This information is available during target relabeling in a special label - `__metrics_path__`.
   By default the `__metrics_path__` is set to `/metrics`. It can be overriden either by specifying the `metrics_path`
   option at [scrape_config](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/sd_configs.html#scrape_configs)
diff --git a/docs/sd_configs.md b/docs/sd_configs.md
index c9f4a8e32..d90ad7bc1 100644
--- a/docs/sd_configs.md
+++ b/docs/sd_configs.md
@@ -987,6 +987,8 @@ scrape_configs:
     #
     # Alternatively the scheme and path can be changed via `relabel_configs` section at `scrape_config` level.
     # See https://docs.victoriametrics.com/vmagent.html#relabeling .
+    #
+    # It is also possible specifying full target urls here, e.g. "http://host:port/metrics/path?query_args"
   - targets:
     - "vmsingle1:8428"
     - "vmsingleN:8428"
diff --git a/lib/promrelabel/relabel.go b/lib/promrelabel/relabel.go
index 6d55f3b64..2dc96c95e 100644
--- a/lib/promrelabel/relabel.go
+++ b/lib/promrelabel/relabel.go
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ func (prc *parsedRelabelConfig) String() string {
 //
 // If isFinalize is set, then FinalizeLabels is called on the labels[labelsOffset:].
 //
-// The returned labels at labels[labelsOffset:] are sorted.
+// The returned labels at labels[labelsOffset:] are sorted by name.
 func (pcs *ParsedConfigs) Apply(labels []prompbmarshal.Label, labelsOffset int, isFinalize bool) []prompbmarshal.Label {
 	var inStr string
 	relabelDebug := false
@@ -121,25 +121,36 @@ func removeEmptyLabels(labels []prompbmarshal.Label, labelsOffset int) []prompbm
 //
 // See https://www.robustperception.io/life-of-a-label fo details.
 func RemoveMetaLabels(dst, src []prompbmarshal.Label) []prompbmarshal.Label {
-	for i := range src {
-		label := &src[i]
+	for _, label := range src {
 		if strings.HasPrefix(label.Name, "__meta_") {
 			continue
 		}
-		dst = append(dst, *label)
+		dst = append(dst, label)
+	}
+	return dst
+}
+
+// RemoveLabelsWithDoubleDashPrefix removes labels with "__" prefix from src, appends the remaining lables to dst and returns the result.
+func RemoveLabelsWithDoubleDashPrefix(dst, src []prompbmarshal.Label) []prompbmarshal.Label {
+	for _, label := range src {
+		name := label.Name
+		// A hack: do not delete __vm_filepath label, since it is used by internal logic for FileSDConfig.
+		if strings.HasPrefix(name, "__") && name != "__vm_filepath" {
+			continue
+		}
+		dst = append(dst, label)
 	}
 	return dst
 }
 
 // FinalizeLabels removes labels with "__" in the beginning (except of "__name__").
 func FinalizeLabels(dst, src []prompbmarshal.Label) []prompbmarshal.Label {
-	for i := range src {
-		label := &src[i]
+	for _, label := range src {
 		name := label.Name
 		if strings.HasPrefix(name, "__") && name != "__name__" {
 			continue
 		}
-		dst = append(dst, *label)
+		dst = append(dst, label)
 	}
 	return dst
 }
diff --git a/lib/promscrape/config.go b/lib/promscrape/config.go
index 30358cedb..f3b3481e6 100644
--- a/lib/promscrape/config.go
+++ b/lib/promscrape/config.go
@@ -1193,6 +1193,7 @@ func (swc *scrapeWorkConfig) getScrapeWork(target string, extraLabels, metaLabel
 		originalLabels = append([]prompbmarshal.Label{}, lctx.labels...)
 	}
 	lctx.labels = swc.relabelConfigs.Apply(lctx.labels, 0, false)
+	// Remove labels starting from "__meta_" prefix according to https://www.robustperception.io/life-of-a-label/
 	lctx.labels = promrelabel.RemoveMetaLabels(lctx.labels[:0], lctx.labels)
 	// Remove references to already deleted labels, so GC could clean strings for label name and label value past len(labels).
 	// This should reduce memory usage when relabeling creates big number of temporary labels with long names and/or values.
@@ -1224,56 +1225,68 @@ func (swc *scrapeWorkConfig) getScrapeWork(target string, extraLabels, metaLabel
 		return nil, nil
 	}
 	// See https://www.robustperception.io/life-of-a-label
-	schemeRelabeled := promrelabel.GetLabelValueByName(labels, "__scheme__")
-	if len(schemeRelabeled) == 0 {
-		schemeRelabeled = "http"
+	scheme := promrelabel.GetLabelValueByName(labels, "__scheme__")
+	if len(scheme) == 0 {
+		scheme = "http"
 	}
-	addressRelabeled := promrelabel.GetLabelValueByName(labels, "__address__")
-	if len(addressRelabeled) == 0 {
+	metricsPath := promrelabel.GetLabelValueByName(labels, "__metrics_path__")
+	if len(metricsPath) == 0 {
+		metricsPath = "/metrics"
+	}
+	address := promrelabel.GetLabelValueByName(labels, "__address__")
+	if len(address) == 0 {
 		// Drop target without scrape address.
 		droppedTargetsMap.Register(originalLabels)
 		return nil, nil
 	}
-	if strings.Contains(addressRelabeled, "/") {
-		// Drop target with '/'
-		droppedTargetsMap.Register(originalLabels)
-		return nil, nil
+	// Usability extension to Prometheus behavior: extract optional scheme and metricsPath from __address__.
+	// Prometheus silently drops targets with __address__ containing scheme or metricsPath
+	// according to https://www.robustperception.io/life-of-a-label/ .
+	if strings.HasPrefix(address, "http://") {
+		scheme = "http"
+		address = address[len("http://"):]
+	} else if strings.HasPrefix(address, "https://") {
+		scheme = "https"
+		address = address[len("https://"):]
 	}
-	addressRelabeled = addMissingPort(addressRelabeled, schemeRelabeled == "https")
-	metricsPathRelabeled := promrelabel.GetLabelValueByName(labels, "__metrics_path__")
-	if metricsPathRelabeled == "" {
-		metricsPathRelabeled = "/metrics"
+	if n := strings.IndexByte(address, '/'); n >= 0 {
+		metricsPath = address[n:]
+		address = address[:n]
 	}
+	address = addMissingPort(address, scheme == "https")
 
 	var at *auth.Token
 	tenantID := promrelabel.GetLabelValueByName(labels, "__tenant_id__")
-	if tenantID != "" {
+	if len(tenantID) > 0 {
 		newToken, err := auth.NewToken(tenantID)
 		if err != nil {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("cannot parse __tenant_id__=%q for job=%s, err: %w", tenantID, swc.jobName, err)
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("cannot parse __tenant_id__=%q for job=%q: %w", tenantID, swc.jobName, err)
 		}
 		at = newToken
 	}
 
-	if !strings.HasPrefix(metricsPathRelabeled, "/") {
-		metricsPathRelabeled = "/" + metricsPathRelabeled
+	if !strings.HasPrefix(metricsPath, "/") {
+		metricsPath = "/" + metricsPath
 	}
-	paramsRelabeled := getParamsFromLabels(labels, swc.params)
-	optionalQuestion := "?"
-	if len(paramsRelabeled) == 0 || strings.Contains(metricsPathRelabeled, "?") {
-		optionalQuestion = ""
+	params := getParamsFromLabels(labels, swc.params)
+	optionalQuestion := ""
+	if len(params) > 0 {
+		optionalQuestion = "?"
+		if strings.Contains(metricsPath, "?") {
+			optionalQuestion = "&"
+		}
 	}
-	paramsStr := url.Values(paramsRelabeled).Encode()
-	scrapeURL := fmt.Sprintf("%s://%s%s%s%s", schemeRelabeled, addressRelabeled, metricsPathRelabeled, optionalQuestion, paramsStr)
+	paramsStr := url.Values(params).Encode()
+	scrapeURL := fmt.Sprintf("%s://%s%s%s%s", scheme, address, metricsPath, optionalQuestion, paramsStr)
 	if _, err := url.Parse(scrapeURL); err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid url %q for scheme=%q (%q), target=%q (%q), metrics_path=%q (%q) for `job_name` %q: %w",
-			scrapeURL, swc.scheme, schemeRelabeled, target, addressRelabeled, swc.metricsPath, metricsPathRelabeled, swc.jobName, err)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid url %q for scheme=%q, target=%q, address=%q, metrics_path=%q for job=%q: %w",
+			scrapeURL, scheme, target, address, metricsPath, swc.jobName, err)
 	}
 	// Set missing "instance" label according to https://www.robustperception.io/life-of-a-label
 	if promrelabel.GetLabelByName(labels, "instance") == nil {
 		labels = append(labels, prompbmarshal.Label{
 			Name:  "instance",
-			Value: addressRelabeled,
+			Value: address,
 		})
 		promrelabel.SortLabels(labels)
 	}
@@ -1314,8 +1327,15 @@ func (swc *scrapeWorkConfig) getScrapeWork(target string, extraLabels, metaLabel
 		}
 		streamParse = b
 	}
+	// Remove labels with "__" prefix according to https://www.robustperception.io/life-of-a-label/
+	labels = promrelabel.RemoveLabelsWithDoubleDashPrefix(labels[:0], labels)
+	// Remove references to deleted labels, so GC could clean strings for label name and label value past len(labels).
+	// This should reduce memory usage when relabeling creates big number of temporary labels with long names and/or values.
+	// See https://github.com/VictoriaMetrics/VictoriaMetrics/issues/825 for details.
+	labels = append([]prompbmarshal.Label{}, labels...)
 	// Reduce memory usage by interning all the strings in labels.
 	internLabelStrings(labels)
+
 	sw := &ScrapeWork{
 		ScrapeURL:            scrapeURL,
 		ScrapeInterval:       scrapeInterval,
diff --git a/lib/promscrape/config_test.go b/lib/promscrape/config_test.go
index 0f9352460..9f3ed971c 100644
--- a/lib/promscrape/config_test.go
+++ b/lib/promscrape/config_test.go
@@ -214,6 +214,116 @@ func TestLoadConfig(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestAddressWithFullURL(t *testing.T) {
+	data := `
+scrape_configs:
+- job_name: abc
+  metrics_path: /foo/bar
+  scheme: https
+  params:
+    x: [y]
+  static_configs:
+  - targets:
+    # the following targets are scraped by the provided urls
+    - 'http://host1/metric/path1'
+    - 'https://host2/metric/path2'
+    - 'http://host3:1234/metric/path3?arg1=value1'
+    # the following target is scraped by <scheme>://host4:1234<metrics_path>
+    - host4:1234
+`
+	var cfg Config
+	allData, err := cfg.parseData([]byte(data), "sss")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("cannot parase data: %s", err)
+	}
+	if string(allData) != data {
+		t.Fatalf("invalid data returned from parseData;\ngot\n%s\nwant\n%s", allData, data)
+	}
+	sws := cfg.getStaticScrapeWork()
+	resetNonEssentialFields(sws)
+	swsExpected := []*ScrapeWork{
+		{
+			ScrapeURL:       "http://host1:80/metric/path1?x=y",
+			ScrapeInterval:  defaultScrapeInterval,
+			ScrapeTimeout:   defaultScrapeTimeout,
+			HonorTimestamps: true,
+			Labels: []prompbmarshal.Label{
+				{
+					Name:  "instance",
+					Value: "host1:80",
+				},
+				{
+					Name:  "job",
+					Value: "abc",
+				},
+			},
+			AuthConfig:      &promauth.Config{},
+			ProxyAuthConfig: &promauth.Config{},
+			jobNameOriginal: "abc",
+		},
+		{
+			ScrapeURL:       "https://host2:443/metric/path2?x=y",
+			ScrapeInterval:  defaultScrapeInterval,
+			ScrapeTimeout:   defaultScrapeTimeout,
+			HonorTimestamps: true,
+			Labels: []prompbmarshal.Label{
+				{
+					Name:  "instance",
+					Value: "host2:443",
+				},
+				{
+					Name:  "job",
+					Value: "abc",
+				},
+			},
+			AuthConfig:      &promauth.Config{},
+			ProxyAuthConfig: &promauth.Config{},
+			jobNameOriginal: "abc",
+		},
+		{
+			ScrapeURL:       "http://host3:1234/metric/path3?arg1=value1&x=y",
+			ScrapeInterval:  defaultScrapeInterval,
+			ScrapeTimeout:   defaultScrapeTimeout,
+			HonorTimestamps: true,
+			Labels: []prompbmarshal.Label{
+				{
+					Name:  "instance",
+					Value: "host3:1234",
+				},
+				{
+					Name:  "job",
+					Value: "abc",
+				},
+			},
+			AuthConfig:      &promauth.Config{},
+			ProxyAuthConfig: &promauth.Config{},
+			jobNameOriginal: "abc",
+		},
+		{
+			ScrapeURL:       "https://host4:1234/foo/bar?x=y",
+			ScrapeInterval:  defaultScrapeInterval,
+			ScrapeTimeout:   defaultScrapeTimeout,
+			HonorTimestamps: true,
+			Labels: []prompbmarshal.Label{
+				{
+					Name:  "instance",
+					Value: "host4:1234",
+				},
+				{
+					Name:  "job",
+					Value: "abc",
+				},
+			},
+			AuthConfig:      &promauth.Config{},
+			ProxyAuthConfig: &promauth.Config{},
+			jobNameOriginal: "abc",
+		},
+	}
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(sws, swsExpected) {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected scrapeWork;\ngot\n%#v\nwant\n%#v", sws, swsExpected)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestBlackboxExporter(t *testing.T) {
 	// See https://github.com/VictoriaMetrics/VictoriaMetrics/issues/684
 	data := `
@@ -249,34 +359,6 @@ scrape_configs:
 		ScrapeTimeout:   defaultScrapeTimeout,
 		HonorTimestamps: true,
 		Labels: []prompbmarshal.Label{
-			{
-				Name:  "__address__",
-				Value: "black:9115",
-			},
-			{
-				Name:  "__metrics_path__",
-				Value: "/probe",
-			},
-			{
-				Name:  "__param_module",
-				Value: "dns_udp_example",
-			},
-			{
-				Name:  "__param_target",
-				Value: "8.8.8.8",
-			},
-			{
-				Name:  "__scheme__",
-				Value: "http",
-			},
-			{
-				Name:  "__scrape_interval__",
-				Value: "1m0s",
-			},
-			{
-				Name:  "__scrape_timeout__",
-				Value: "10s",
-			},
 			{
 				Name:  "instance",
 				Value: "8.8.8.8",
@@ -718,26 +800,6 @@ scrape_configs:
 			ScrapeTimeout:   defaultScrapeTimeout,
 			HonorTimestamps: true,
 			Labels: []prompbmarshal.Label{
-				{
-					Name:  "__address__",
-					Value: "host1",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__metrics_path__",
-					Value: "/abc/de",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scheme__",
-					Value: "http",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scrape_interval__",
-					Value: "1m0s",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scrape_timeout__",
-					Value: "10s",
-				},
 				{
 					Name:  "__vm_filepath",
 					Value: "",
@@ -765,26 +827,6 @@ scrape_configs:
 			ScrapeTimeout:   defaultScrapeTimeout,
 			HonorTimestamps: true,
 			Labels: []prompbmarshal.Label{
-				{
-					Name:  "__address__",
-					Value: "host2",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__metrics_path__",
-					Value: "/abc/de",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scheme__",
-					Value: "http",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scrape_interval__",
-					Value: "1m0s",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scrape_timeout__",
-					Value: "10s",
-				},
 				{
 					Name:  "__vm_filepath",
 					Value: "",
@@ -812,26 +854,6 @@ scrape_configs:
 			ScrapeTimeout:   defaultScrapeTimeout,
 			HonorTimestamps: true,
 			Labels: []prompbmarshal.Label{
-				{
-					Name:  "__address__",
-					Value: "localhost:9090",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__metrics_path__",
-					Value: "/abc/de",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scheme__",
-					Value: "http",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scrape_interval__",
-					Value: "1m0s",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scrape_timeout__",
-					Value: "10s",
-				},
 				{
 					Name:  "__vm_filepath",
 					Value: "",
@@ -881,26 +903,6 @@ scrape_configs:
 			ScrapeTimeout:   defaultScrapeTimeout,
 			HonorTimestamps: true,
 			Labels: []prompbmarshal.Label{
-				{
-					Name:  "__address__",
-					Value: "foo.bar:1234",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__metrics_path__",
-					Value: "/metrics",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scheme__",
-					Value: "http",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scrape_interval__",
-					Value: "1m0s",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scrape_timeout__",
-					Value: "10s",
-				},
 				{
 					Name:  "instance",
 					Value: "foo.bar:1234",
@@ -931,26 +933,6 @@ scrape_configs:
 			ScrapeTimeout:   defaultScrapeTimeout,
 			HonorTimestamps: true,
 			Labels: []prompbmarshal.Label{
-				{
-					Name:  "__address__",
-					Value: "foo.bar:1234",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__metrics_path__",
-					Value: "/metrics",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scheme__",
-					Value: "http",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scrape_interval__",
-					Value: "1m0s",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scrape_timeout__",
-					Value: "10s",
-				},
 				{
 					Name:  "instance",
 					Value: "foo.bar:1234",
@@ -1015,30 +997,6 @@ scrape_configs:
 			HonorTimestamps: false,
 			DenyRedirects:   true,
 			Labels: []prompbmarshal.Label{
-				{
-					Name:  "__address__",
-					Value: "foo.bar",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__metrics_path__",
-					Value: "/foo/bar",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__param_p",
-					Value: "x&y",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scheme__",
-					Value: "https",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scrape_interval__",
-					Value: "54s",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scrape_timeout__",
-					Value: "5s",
-				},
 				{
 					Name:  "instance",
 					Value: "foo.bar:443",
@@ -1065,30 +1023,6 @@ scrape_configs:
 			HonorTimestamps: false,
 			DenyRedirects:   true,
 			Labels: []prompbmarshal.Label{
-				{
-					Name:  "__address__",
-					Value: "aaa",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__metrics_path__",
-					Value: "/foo/bar",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__param_p",
-					Value: "x&y",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scheme__",
-					Value: "https",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scrape_interval__",
-					Value: "54s",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scrape_timeout__",
-					Value: "5s",
-				},
 				{
 					Name:  "instance",
 					Value: "aaa:443",
@@ -1113,26 +1047,6 @@ scrape_configs:
 			ScrapeTimeout:   8 * time.Second,
 			HonorTimestamps: true,
 			Labels: []prompbmarshal.Label{
-				{
-					Name:  "__address__",
-					Value: "1.2.3.4",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__metrics_path__",
-					Value: "/metrics",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scheme__",
-					Value: "http",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scrape_interval__",
-					Value: "8s",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scrape_timeout__",
-					Value: "8s",
-				},
 				{
 					Name:  "instance",
 					Value: "1.2.3.4:80",
@@ -1155,26 +1069,6 @@ scrape_configs:
 			ScrapeTimeout:   8 * time.Second,
 			HonorTimestamps: true,
 			Labels: []prompbmarshal.Label{
-				{
-					Name:  "__address__",
-					Value: "foobar",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__metrics_path__",
-					Value: "/metrics",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scheme__",
-					Value: "http",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scrape_interval__",
-					Value: "8s",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scrape_timeout__",
-					Value: "8s",
-				},
 				{
 					Name:  "instance",
 					Value: "foobar:80",
@@ -1231,30 +1125,6 @@ scrape_configs:
 			ScrapeTimeout:   defaultScrapeTimeout,
 			HonorTimestamps: true,
 			Labels: []prompbmarshal.Label{
-				{
-					Name:  "__address__",
-					Value: "foo.bar:1234",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__metrics_path__",
-					Value: "/metrics",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__param_x",
-					Value: "keep_me",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scheme__",
-					Value: "http",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scrape_interval__",
-					Value: "1m0s",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scrape_timeout__",
-					Value: "10s",
-				},
 				{
 					Name:  "hash",
 					Value: "82",
@@ -1311,30 +1181,6 @@ scrape_configs:
 			ScrapeTimeout:   defaultScrapeTimeout,
 			HonorTimestamps: true,
 			Labels: []prompbmarshal.Label{
-				{
-					Name:  "__address__",
-					Value: "foo.bar:1234",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__metrics_path__",
-					Value: "/abc.de",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__param_a",
-					Value: "b",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scheme__",
-					Value: "mailto",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scrape_interval__",
-					Value: "1m0s",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scrape_timeout__",
-					Value: "10s",
-				},
 				{
 					Name:  "instance",
 					Value: "fake.addr",
@@ -1376,10 +1222,6 @@ scrape_configs:
 			ScrapeTimeout:   defaultScrapeTimeout,
 			HonorTimestamps: true,
 			Labels: []prompbmarshal.Label{
-				{
-					Name:  "__address__",
-					Value: "foo.bar:1234",
-				},
 				{
 					Name:  "instance",
 					Value: "foo.bar:1234",
@@ -1410,26 +1252,6 @@ scrape_configs:
 			ScrapeTimeout:   defaultScrapeTimeout,
 			HonorTimestamps: true,
 			Labels: []prompbmarshal.Label{
-				{
-					Name:  "__address__",
-					Value: "foo.bar:1234",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__metrics_path__",
-					Value: "/metrics",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scheme__",
-					Value: "http",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scrape_interval__",
-					Value: "1m0s",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scrape_timeout__",
-					Value: "10s",
-				},
 				{
 					Name:  "instance",
 					Value: "foo.bar:1234",
@@ -1456,26 +1278,6 @@ scrape_configs:
 			ScrapeTimeout:   defaultScrapeTimeout,
 			HonorTimestamps: true,
 			Labels: []prompbmarshal.Label{
-				{
-					Name:  "__address__",
-					Value: "foo.bar:1234",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__metrics_path__",
-					Value: "/metrics",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scheme__",
-					Value: "http",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scrape_interval__",
-					Value: "1m0s",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scrape_timeout__",
-					Value: "10s",
-				},
 				{
 					Name:  "instance",
 					Value: "foo.bar:1234",
@@ -1502,26 +1304,6 @@ scrape_configs:
 			ScrapeTimeout:   defaultScrapeTimeout,
 			HonorTimestamps: true,
 			Labels: []prompbmarshal.Label{
-				{
-					Name:  "__address__",
-					Value: "foo.bar:1234",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__metrics_path__",
-					Value: "/metrics",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scheme__",
-					Value: "http",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scrape_interval__",
-					Value: "1m0s",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scrape_timeout__",
-					Value: "10s",
-				},
 				{
 					Name:  "instance",
 					Value: "foo.bar:1234",
@@ -1562,30 +1344,6 @@ scrape_configs:
 			ScrapeTimeout:   defaultScrapeTimeout,
 			HonorTimestamps: true,
 			Labels: []prompbmarshal.Label{
-				{
-					Name:  "__address__",
-					Value: "pp",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__metrics_path__",
-					Value: "/metrics",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__param_a",
-					Value: "c",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scheme__",
-					Value: "http",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scrape_interval__",
-					Value: "1m0s",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scrape_timeout__",
-					Value: "10s",
-				},
 				{
 					Name:  "foo",
 					Value: "bar",
@@ -1677,42 +1435,6 @@ scrape_configs:
 			ScrapeTimeout:   defaultScrapeTimeout,
 			HonorTimestamps: true,
 			Labels: []prompbmarshal.Label{
-				{
-					Name:  "__address__",
-					Value: "127.0.0.1:9116",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__metrics_path__",
-					Value: "/snmp",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__param_module",
-					Value: "if_mib",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__param_target",
-					Value: "192.168.1.2",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scheme__",
-					Value: "http",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scrape_interval__",
-					Value: "1m0s",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scrape_timeout__",
-					Value: "10s",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__series_limit__",
-					Value: "1234",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__stream_parse__",
-					Value: "true",
-				},
 				{
 					Name:  "instance",
 					Value: "192.168.1.2",
@@ -1749,26 +1471,6 @@ scrape_configs:
 			ScrapeTimeout:   defaultScrapeTimeout,
 			HonorTimestamps: true,
 			Labels: []prompbmarshal.Label{
-				{
-					Name:  "__address__",
-					Value: "foo.bar:1234",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__metrics_path__",
-					Value: "metricspath",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scheme__",
-					Value: "http",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scrape_interval__",
-					Value: "1m0s",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scrape_timeout__",
-					Value: "10s",
-				},
 				{
 					Name:  "instance",
 					Value: "foo.bar:1234",
@@ -1802,26 +1504,6 @@ scrape_configs:
 			ScrapeOffset:        time.Hour * 24 * 2,
 			HonorTimestamps:     true,
 			Labels: []prompbmarshal.Label{
-				{
-					Name:  "__address__",
-					Value: "foo.bar:1234",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__metrics_path__",
-					Value: "/metrics",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scheme__",
-					Value: "http",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scrape_interval__",
-					Value: "168h0m0s",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:  "__scrape_timeout__",
-					Value: "24h0m0s",
-				},
 				{
 					Name:  "instance",
 					Value: "foo.bar:1234",
diff --git a/lib/promscrape/scrapework.go b/lib/promscrape/scrapework.go
index e94b5e4ca..878f6d62f 100644
--- a/lib/promscrape/scrapework.go
+++ b/lib/promscrape/scrapework.go
@@ -72,19 +72,15 @@ type ScrapeWork struct {
 
 	// Labels to add to the scraped metrics.
 	//
-	// The list contains at least the following labels according to https://prometheus.io/docs/prometheus/latest/configuration/configuration/#relabel_config
+	// The list contains at least the following labels according to https://www.robustperception.io/life-of-a-label/
 	//
 	//     * job
-	//     * __address__
-	//     * __scheme__
-	//     * __metrics_path__
-	//     * __scrape_interval__
-	//     * __scrape_timeout__
-	//     * __param_<name>
-	//     * __meta_*
+	//     * instance
 	//     * user-defined labels set via `relabel_configs` section in `scrape_config`
 	//
 	// See also https://prometheus.io/docs/concepts/jobs_instances/
+	//
+	// Labels are already sorted by name.
 	Labels []prompbmarshal.Label
 
 	// ExternalLabels contains labels from global->external_labels section of -promscrape.config
@@ -164,8 +160,7 @@ func (sw *ScrapeWork) Job() string {
 
 // LabelsString returns labels in Prometheus format for the given sw.
 func (sw *ScrapeWork) LabelsString() string {
-	labelsFinalized := promrelabel.FinalizeLabels(nil, sw.Labels)
-	return promLabelsString(labelsFinalized)
+	return promLabelsString(sw.Labels)
 }
 
 func promLabelsString(labels []prompbmarshal.Label) string {
diff --git a/lib/promscrape/targetstatus.go b/lib/promscrape/targetstatus.go
index e39f15b0f..b16a49053 100644
--- a/lib/promscrape/targetstatus.go
+++ b/lib/promscrape/targetstatus.go
@@ -196,8 +196,7 @@ func (tsm *targetStatusMap) WriteActiveTargetsJSON(w io.Writer) {
 		fmt.Fprintf(w, `{"discoveredLabels":`)
 		writeLabelsJSON(w, ts.sw.Config.OriginalLabels)
 		fmt.Fprintf(w, `,"labels":`)
-		labelsFinalized := promrelabel.FinalizeLabels(nil, ts.sw.Config.Labels)
-		writeLabelsJSON(w, labelsFinalized)
+		writeLabelsJSON(w, ts.sw.Config.Labels)
 		fmt.Fprintf(w, `,"scrapePool":%q`, ts.sw.Config.Job())
 		fmt.Fprintf(w, `,"scrapeUrl":%q`, ts.sw.Config.ScrapeURL)
 		errMsg := ""