diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/data_frame_analytics/common/use_results_view_config.ts b/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/data_frame_analytics/common/use_results_view_config.ts
index 2570dd20416be..fde1b26106508 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/data_frame_analytics/common/use_results_view_config.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/data_frame_analytics/common/use_results_view_config.ts
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ export const useResultsViewConfig = (jobId: string) => {
   const mlContext = useMlContext();
   const [indexPattern, setIndexPattern] = useState<IndexPattern | undefined>(undefined);
   const [isInitialized, setIsInitialized] = useState<boolean>(false);
+  const [needsDestIndexPattern, setNeedsDestIndexPattern] = useState<boolean>(false);
   const [isLoadingJobConfig, setIsLoadingJobConfig] = useState<boolean>(false);
   const [jobConfig, setJobConfig] = useState<DataFrameAnalyticsConfig | undefined>(undefined);
   const [jobCapsServiceErrorMessage, setJobCapsServiceErrorMessage] = useState<undefined | string>(
@@ -68,6 +69,7 @@ export const useResultsViewConfig = (jobId: string) => {
             }
 
             if (indexP === undefined) {
+              setNeedsDestIndexPattern(true);
               const sourceIndex = jobConfigUpdate.source.index[0];
               const sourceIndexPatternId = getIndexPatternIdFromName(sourceIndex) || sourceIndex;
               indexP = await mlContext.indexPatterns.get(sourceIndexPatternId);
@@ -100,5 +102,6 @@ export const useResultsViewConfig = (jobId: string) => {
     jobConfig,
     jobConfigErrorMessage,
     jobStatus,
+    needsDestIndexPattern,
   };
 };
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/data_frame_analytics/pages/analytics_creation/components/details_step/details_step_form.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/data_frame_analytics/pages/analytics_creation/components/details_step/details_step_form.tsx
index 67f8472e7ad14..d846ae95c2c7e 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/data_frame_analytics/pages/analytics_creation/components/details_step/details_step_form.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/data_frame_analytics/pages/analytics_creation/components/details_step/details_step_form.tsx
@@ -5,7 +5,15 @@
  */
 
 import React, { FC, Fragment, useRef } from 'react';
-import { EuiFieldText, EuiFormRow, EuiLink, EuiSpacer, EuiSwitch, EuiTextArea } from '@elastic/eui';
+import {
+  EuiFieldText,
+  EuiFormRow,
+  EuiLink,
+  EuiSpacer,
+  EuiSwitch,
+  EuiText,
+  EuiTextArea,
+} from '@elastic/eui';
 import { i18n } from '@kbn/i18n';
 
 import { useMlKibana } from '../../../../../contexts/kibana';
@@ -188,15 +196,32 @@ export const DetailsStepForm: FC<CreateAnalyticsStepProps> = ({
         />
       </EuiFormRow>
       <EuiFormRow
-        isInvalid={createIndexPattern && destinationIndexPatternTitleExists}
-        error={
-          createIndexPattern &&
-          destinationIndexPatternTitleExists && [
-            i18n.translate('xpack.ml.dataframe.analytics.create.indexPatternExistsError', {
-              defaultMessage: 'An index pattern with this title already exists.',
-            }),
-          ]
+        fullWidth
+        isInvalid={
+          (createIndexPattern && destinationIndexPatternTitleExists) || !createIndexPattern
         }
+        error={[
+          ...(createIndexPattern && destinationIndexPatternTitleExists
+            ? [
+                i18n.translate('xpack.ml.dataframe.analytics.create.indexPatternExistsError', {
+                  defaultMessage: 'An index pattern with this title already exists.',
+                }),
+              ]
+            : []),
+          ...(!createIndexPattern
+            ? [
+                <EuiText size="xs" color="warning">
+                  {i18n.translate(
+                    'xpack.ml.dataframe.analytics.create.shouldCreateIndexPatternMessage',
+                    {
+                      defaultMessage:
+                        'You may not be able to view job results if an index pattern is not created for the destination index.',
+                    }
+                  )}
+                </EuiText>,
+              ]
+            : []),
+        ]}
       >
         <EuiSwitch
           disabled={isJobCreated}
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/data_frame_analytics/pages/analytics_exploration/components/exploration_page_wrapper/exploration_page_wrapper.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/data_frame_analytics/pages/analytics_exploration/components/exploration_page_wrapper/exploration_page_wrapper.tsx
index 1986c486974c9..34ff36c59fa6c 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/data_frame_analytics/pages/analytics_exploration/components/exploration_page_wrapper/exploration_page_wrapper.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/data_frame_analytics/pages/analytics_exploration/components/exploration_page_wrapper/exploration_page_wrapper.tsx
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ export const ExplorationPageWrapper: FC<Props> = ({ jobId, title, EvaluatePanel
     jobConfig,
     jobConfigErrorMessage,
     jobStatus,
+    needsDestIndexPattern,
   } = useResultsViewConfig(jobId);
   const [searchQuery, setSearchQuery] = useState<ResultsSearchQuery>(defaultSearchQuery);
 
@@ -64,9 +65,10 @@ export const ExplorationPageWrapper: FC<Props> = ({ jobId, title, EvaluatePanel
         indexPattern !== undefined &&
         isInitialized === true && (
           <ExplorationResultsTable
-            jobConfig={jobConfig}
             indexPattern={indexPattern}
+            jobConfig={jobConfig}
             jobStatus={jobStatus}
+            needsDestIndexPattern={needsDestIndexPattern}
             setEvaluateSearchQuery={setSearchQuery}
             title={title}
           />
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/data_frame_analytics/pages/analytics_exploration/components/exploration_results_table/exploration_results_table.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/data_frame_analytics/pages/analytics_exploration/components/exploration_results_table/exploration_results_table.tsx
index 941fbefd78084..755bac699ce40 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/data_frame_analytics/pages/analytics_exploration/components/exploration_results_table/exploration_results_table.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/data_frame_analytics/pages/analytics_exploration/components/exploration_results_table/exploration_results_table.tsx
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ import { getTaskStateBadge } from '../../../analytics_management/components/anal
 import { DATA_FRAME_TASK_STATE } from '../../../analytics_management/components/analytics_list/common';
 import { ExplorationTitle } from '../exploration_title';
 import { ExplorationQueryBar } from '../exploration_query_bar';
+import { IndexPatternPrompt } from '../index_pattern_prompt';
 
 import { useExplorationResults } from './use_exploration_results';
 
@@ -55,12 +56,20 @@ interface Props {
   indexPattern: IndexPattern;
   jobConfig: DataFrameAnalyticsConfig;
   jobStatus?: DATA_FRAME_TASK_STATE;
+  needsDestIndexPattern: boolean;
   setEvaluateSearchQuery: React.Dispatch<React.SetStateAction<object>>;
   title: string;
 }
 
 export const ExplorationResultsTable: FC<Props> = React.memo(
-  ({ indexPattern, jobConfig, jobStatus, setEvaluateSearchQuery, title }) => {
+  ({
+    indexPattern,
+    jobConfig,
+    jobStatus,
+    needsDestIndexPattern,
+    setEvaluateSearchQuery,
+    title,
+  }) => {
     const [searchQuery, setSearchQuery] = useState<SavedSearchQuery>(defaultSearchQuery);
 
     useEffect(() => {
@@ -119,6 +128,7 @@ export const ExplorationResultsTable: FC<Props> = React.memo(
         id="mlDataFrameAnalyticsTableResultsPanel"
         data-test-subj="mlDFAnalyticsExplorationTablePanel"
       >
+        {needsDestIndexPattern && <IndexPatternPrompt destIndex={jobConfig.dest.index} />}
         <EuiFlexGroup alignItems="center" justifyContent="spaceBetween" responsive={false}>
           <EuiFlexItem grow={false}>
             <EuiFlexGroup gutterSize="s">
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/data_frame_analytics/pages/analytics_exploration/components/index_pattern_prompt/index.ts b/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/data_frame_analytics/pages/analytics_exploration/components/index_pattern_prompt/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..0b012794c9420
--- /dev/null
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/data_frame_analytics/pages/analytics_exploration/components/index_pattern_prompt/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License;
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License.
+ */
+
+export { IndexPatternPrompt } from './index_pattern_prompt';
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/data_frame_analytics/pages/analytics_exploration/components/index_pattern_prompt/index_pattern_prompt.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/data_frame_analytics/pages/analytics_exploration/components/index_pattern_prompt/index_pattern_prompt.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..f478dc639da2f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/data_frame_analytics/pages/analytics_exploration/components/index_pattern_prompt/index_pattern_prompt.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License;
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License.
+ */
+
+import React, { FC } from 'react';
+import { FormattedMessage } from '@kbn/i18n/react';
+import { EuiLink, EuiSpacer, EuiText } from '@elastic/eui';
+import { useMlKibana } from '../../../../../contexts/kibana';
+
+interface Props {
+  destIndex: string;
+}
+
+export const IndexPatternPrompt: FC<Props> = ({ destIndex }) => {
+  const {
+    services: {
+      http: { basePath },
+    },
+  } = useMlKibana();
+
+  return (
+    <>
+      <EuiText size="xs" color="warning">
+        <FormattedMessage
+          id="xpack.ml.dataframe.analytics.indexPatternPromptMessage"
+          defaultMessage="No index pattern exists for index {destIndex}. {linkToIndexPatternManagement} for {destIndex}."
+          values={{
+            destIndex,
+            linkToIndexPatternManagement: (
+              <EuiLink
+                href={`${basePath.get()}/app/management/kibana/indexPatterns/create`}
+                target="_blank"
+              >
+                <FormattedMessage
+                  id="xpack.ml.dataframe.analytics.indexPatternPromptLinkText"
+                  defaultMessage="Create an index pattern"
+                />
+              </EuiLink>
+            ),
+          }}
+        />
+      </EuiText>
+      <EuiSpacer size="m" />
+    </>
+  );
+};
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/data_frame_analytics/pages/analytics_exploration/components/outlier_exploration/outlier_exploration.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/data_frame_analytics/pages/analytics_exploration/components/outlier_exploration/outlier_exploration.tsx
index 0b29b7f43bfc8..9afb50c11fad7 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/data_frame_analytics/pages/analytics_exploration/components/outlier_exploration/outlier_exploration.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/data_frame_analytics/pages/analytics_exploration/components/outlier_exploration/outlier_exploration.tsx
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ import { getTaskStateBadge } from '../../../analytics_management/components/anal
 
 import { ExplorationQueryBar } from '../exploration_query_bar';
 import { ExplorationTitle } from '../exploration_title';
+import { IndexPatternPrompt } from '../index_pattern_prompt';
 
 import { getFeatureCount } from './common';
 import { useOutlierData } from './use_outlier_data';
@@ -49,7 +50,7 @@ export const OutlierExploration: FC<ExplorationProps> = React.memo(({ jobId }) =
     values: { jobId },
   });
 
-  const { indexPattern, jobConfig, jobStatus } = useResultsViewConfig(jobId);
+  const { indexPattern, jobConfig, jobStatus, needsDestIndexPattern } = useResultsViewConfig(jobId);
   const [searchQuery, setSearchQuery] = useState<SavedSearchQuery>(defaultSearchQuery);
   const outlierData = useOutlierData(indexPattern, jobConfig, searchQuery);
 
@@ -82,6 +83,9 @@ export const OutlierExploration: FC<ExplorationProps> = React.memo(({ jobId }) =
 
   return (
     <EuiPanel data-test-subj="mlDFAnalyticsOutlierExplorationTablePanel">
+      {jobConfig !== undefined && needsDestIndexPattern && (
+        <IndexPatternPrompt destIndex={jobConfig.dest.index} />
+      )}
       <EuiFlexGroup
         alignItems="center"
         justifyContent="spaceBetween"