diff --git a/docs/reference/ilm/apis/explain.asciidoc b/docs/reference/ilm/apis/explain.asciidoc
index 956c88b2af2e1..fb8d669f70e52 100644
--- a/docs/reference/ilm/apis/explain.asciidoc
+++ b/docs/reference/ilm/apis/explain.asciidoc
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ phase completes.
       "action": "rollover",
       "action_time_millis": 1538475653317,
       "action_time": "2018-10-15T13:45:22.577Z",
-      "step": "attempt_rollover",
+      "step": "attempt-rollover",
       "step_time_millis": 1538475653317,
       "step_time": "2018-10-15T13:45:22.577Z",
       "phase_execution": {
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ the step that failed and the step info provides information about the error.
       "step": "ERROR",
       "step_time_millis": 1538475653317,
       "step_time": "2018-10-15T13:45:22.577Z",
-      "failed_step": "attempt_rollover", <1>
+      "failed_step": "attempt-rollover", <1>
       "step_info": { <2>
         "type": "resource_already_exists_exception",
         "reason": "index [test-000057/H7lF9n36Rzqa-KfKcnGQMg] already exists",
diff --git a/docs/reference/ilm/getting-started-ilm.asciidoc b/docs/reference/ilm/getting-started-ilm.asciidoc
index a0aef586acee3..401883d6a7c11 100644
--- a/docs/reference/ilm/getting-started-ilm.asciidoc
+++ b/docs/reference/ilm/getting-started-ilm.asciidoc
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ managed indices.
       "phase_time_millis": 1538475653317,
       "action": "rollover",                      <4>
       "action_time_millis": 1538475653317,
-      "step": "attempt_rollover",                <5>
+      "step": "attempt-rollover",                <5>
       "step_time_millis": 1538475653317,
       "phase_execution": {
         "policy": "datastream_policy",
diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/indexlifecycle/RolloverStep.java b/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/indexlifecycle/RolloverStep.java
index a636295dc84ae..1bdbea03df964 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/indexlifecycle/RolloverStep.java
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/indexlifecycle/RolloverStep.java
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
  * Unconditionally rolls over an index using the Rollover API.
  */
 public class RolloverStep extends AsyncActionStep {
-    public static final String NAME = "attempt_rollover";
+    public static final String NAME = "attempt-rollover";
 
     public RolloverStep(StepKey key, StepKey nextStepKey, Client client) {
         super(key, nextStepKey, client);
diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/ilm/qa/multi-node/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/indexlifecycle/TimeSeriesLifecycleActionsIT.java b/x-pack/plugin/ilm/qa/multi-node/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/indexlifecycle/TimeSeriesLifecycleActionsIT.java
index fe72285be7a23..adf6ab8972bab 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/ilm/qa/multi-node/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/indexlifecycle/TimeSeriesLifecycleActionsIT.java
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/ilm/qa/multi-node/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/indexlifecycle/TimeSeriesLifecycleActionsIT.java
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ public void testMoveToRolloverStep() throws Exception {
             "  \"next_step\": {\n" +
             "    \"phase\": \"hot\",\n" +
             "    \"action\": \"rollover\",\n" +
-            "    \"name\": \"attempt_rollover\"\n" +
+            "    \"name\": \"attempt-rollover\"\n" +
             "  }\n" +
             "}");
         client().performRequest(moveToStepRequest);