diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/dimension_panel/bucket_nesting_editor.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/dimension_panel/bucket_nesting_editor.tsx
index 3d692b1f7f5a8..962abd8d943db 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/dimension_panel/bucket_nesting_editor.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/dimension_panel/bucket_nesting_editor.tsx
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import { i18n } from '@kbn/i18n';
 import { EuiFormRow, EuiHorizontalRule, EuiRadio, EuiSelect, htmlIdGenerator } from '@elastic/eui';
 import { IndexPatternLayer, IndexPatternField } from '../types';
 import { hasField } from '../utils';
+import { IndexPatternColumn } from '../operations';
 
 const generator = htmlIdGenerator('lens-nesting');
 
@@ -21,6 +22,10 @@ function nestColumn(columnOrder: string[], outer: string, inner: string) {
   return result;
 }
 
+function getFieldName(fieldMap: Record<string, IndexPatternField>, column: IndexPatternColumn) {
+  return hasField(column) ? fieldMap[column.sourceField]?.displayName || column.sourceField : '';
+}
+
 export function BucketNestingEditor({
   columnId,
   layer,
@@ -39,7 +44,7 @@ export function BucketNestingEditor({
     .map(([value, c]) => ({
       value,
       text: c.label,
-      fieldName: hasField(c) ? fieldMap[c.sourceField].displayName : '',
+      fieldName: getFieldName(fieldMap, c),
       operationType: c.operationType,
     }));
 
@@ -47,7 +52,7 @@ export function BucketNestingEditor({
     return null;
   }
 
-  const fieldName = hasField(column) ? fieldMap[column.sourceField].displayName : '';
+  const fieldName = getFieldName(fieldMap, column);
 
   const prevColumn = layer.columnOrder[layer.columnOrder.indexOf(columnId) - 1];
 
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/dimension_panel/dimension_editor.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/dimension_panel/dimension_editor.tsx
index bd99bd16a63a8..b0d24928b794e 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/dimension_panel/dimension_editor.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/dimension_panel/dimension_editor.tsx
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ import {
 } from '../operations';
 import { deleteColumn, changeColumn, updateColumnParam } from '../state_helpers';
 import { FieldSelect } from './field_select';
-import { hasField } from '../utils';
+import { hasField, fieldIsInvalid } from '../utils';
 import { BucketNestingEditor } from './bucket_nesting_editor';
 import { IndexPattern, IndexPatternField } from '../types';
 import { trackUiEvent } from '../../lens_ui_telemetry';
@@ -132,6 +132,15 @@ export function DimensionEditor(props: DimensionEditorProps) {
     };
   });
 
+  const selectedColumnSourceField =
+    selectedColumn && 'sourceField' in selectedColumn ? selectedColumn.sourceField : undefined;
+
+  const currentFieldIsInvalid = useMemo(
+    () =>
+      fieldIsInvalid(selectedColumnSourceField, selectedColumn?.operationType, currentIndexPattern),
+    [selectedColumnSourceField, selectedColumn?.operationType, currentIndexPattern]
+  );
+
   const sideNavItems: EuiListGroupItemProps[] = operationsWithCompatibility.map(
     ({ operationType, compatibleWithCurrentField }) => {
       const isActive = Boolean(
@@ -271,20 +280,16 @@ export function DimensionEditor(props: DimensionEditorProps) {
               defaultMessage: 'Choose a field',
             })}
             fullWidth
-            isInvalid={Boolean(incompatibleSelectedOperationType)}
-            error={
-              selectedColumn && incompatibleSelectedOperationType
-                ? selectedOperationDefinition?.input === 'field'
-                  ? i18n.translate('xpack.lens.indexPattern.invalidOperationLabel', {
-                      defaultMessage: 'To use this function, select a different field.',
-                    })
-                  : i18n.translate('xpack.lens.indexPattern.chooseFieldLabel', {
-                      defaultMessage: 'To use this function, select a field.',
-                    })
-                : undefined
-            }
+            isInvalid={Boolean(incompatibleSelectedOperationType || currentFieldIsInvalid)}
+            error={getErrorMessage(
+              selectedColumn,
+              Boolean(incompatibleSelectedOperationType),
+              selectedOperationDefinition?.input,
+              currentFieldIsInvalid
+            )}
           >
             <FieldSelect
+              fieldIsInvalid={currentFieldIsInvalid}
               currentIndexPattern={currentIndexPattern}
               existingFields={state.existingFields}
               fieldMap={fieldMap}
@@ -355,90 +360,117 @@ export function DimensionEditor(props: DimensionEditorProps) {
           </EuiFormRow>
         ) : null}
 
-        {!incompatibleSelectedOperationType && selectedColumn && ParamEditor && (
-          <>
-            <ParamEditor
-              state={state}
-              setState={setState}
-              columnId={columnId}
-              currentColumn={state.layers[layerId].columns[columnId]}
-              storage={props.storage}
-              uiSettings={props.uiSettings}
-              savedObjectsClient={props.savedObjectsClient}
-              layerId={layerId}
-              http={props.http}
-              dateRange={props.dateRange}
-              data={props.data}
-            />
-          </>
-        )}
+        {!currentFieldIsInvalid &&
+          !incompatibleSelectedOperationType &&
+          selectedColumn &&
+          ParamEditor && (
+            <>
+              <ParamEditor
+                state={state}
+                setState={setState}
+                columnId={columnId}
+                currentColumn={state.layers[layerId].columns[columnId]}
+                storage={props.storage}
+                uiSettings={props.uiSettings}
+                savedObjectsClient={props.savedObjectsClient}
+                layerId={layerId}
+                http={props.http}
+                dateRange={props.dateRange}
+                data={props.data}
+              />
+            </>
+          )}
       </div>
 
       <EuiSpacer size="s" />
 
-      <div className="lnsIndexPatternDimensionEditor__section">
-        {!incompatibleSelectedOperationType && selectedColumn && (
-          <LabelInput
-            value={selectedColumn.label}
-            onChange={(value) => {
-              setState({
-                ...state,
-                layers: {
-                  ...state.layers,
-                  [layerId]: {
-                    ...state.layers[layerId],
-                    columns: {
-                      ...state.layers[layerId].columns,
-                      [columnId]: {
-                        ...selectedColumn,
-                        label: value,
-                        customLabel: true,
+      {!currentFieldIsInvalid && (
+        <div className="lnsIndexPatternDimensionEditor__section">
+          {!incompatibleSelectedOperationType && selectedColumn && (
+            <LabelInput
+              value={selectedColumn.label}
+              onChange={(value) => {
+                setState({
+                  ...state,
+                  layers: {
+                    ...state.layers,
+                    [layerId]: {
+                      ...state.layers[layerId],
+                      columns: {
+                        ...state.layers[layerId].columns,
+                        [columnId]: {
+                          ...selectedColumn,
+                          label: value,
+                          customLabel: true,
+                        },
                       },
                     },
                   },
-                },
-              });
-            }}
-          />
-        )}
-
-        {!hideGrouping && (
-          <BucketNestingEditor
-            fieldMap={fieldMap}
-            layer={state.layers[props.layerId]}
-            columnId={props.columnId}
-            setColumns={(columnOrder) => {
-              setState({
-                ...state,
-                layers: {
-                  ...state.layers,
-                  [props.layerId]: {
-                    ...state.layers[props.layerId],
-                    columnOrder,
+                });
+              }}
+            />
+          )}
+
+          {!hideGrouping && (
+            <BucketNestingEditor
+              fieldMap={fieldMap}
+              layer={state.layers[props.layerId]}
+              columnId={props.columnId}
+              setColumns={(columnOrder) => {
+                setState({
+                  ...state,
+                  layers: {
+                    ...state.layers,
+                    [props.layerId]: {
+                      ...state.layers[props.layerId],
+                      columnOrder,
+                    },
                   },
-                },
-              });
-            }}
-          />
-        )}
-
-        {selectedColumn && selectedColumn.dataType === 'number' ? (
-          <FormatSelector
-            selectedColumn={selectedColumn}
-            onChange={(newFormat) => {
-              setState(
-                updateColumnParam({
-                  state,
-                  layerId,
-                  currentColumn: selectedColumn,
-                  paramName: 'format',
-                  value: newFormat,
-                })
-              );
-            }}
-          />
-        ) : null}
-      </div>
+                });
+              }}
+            />
+          )}
+
+          {selectedColumn && selectedColumn.dataType === 'number' ? (
+            <FormatSelector
+              selectedColumn={selectedColumn}
+              onChange={(newFormat) => {
+                setState(
+                  updateColumnParam({
+                    state,
+                    layerId,
+                    currentColumn: selectedColumn,
+                    paramName: 'format',
+                    value: newFormat,
+                  })
+                );
+              }}
+            />
+          ) : null}
+        </div>
+      )}
     </div>
   );
 }
+function getErrorMessage(
+  selectedColumn: IndexPatternColumn | undefined,
+  incompatibleSelectedOperationType: boolean,
+  input: 'none' | 'field' | undefined,
+  fieldInvalid: boolean
+) {
+  if (selectedColumn && incompatibleSelectedOperationType) {
+    if (input === 'field') {
+      return i18n.translate('xpack.lens.indexPattern.invalidOperationLabel', {
+        defaultMessage: 'To use this function, select a different field.',
+      });
+    }
+    return i18n.translate('xpack.lens.indexPattern.chooseFieldLabel', {
+      defaultMessage: 'To use this function, select a field.',
+    });
+  }
+  if (fieldInvalid) {
+    return i18n.translate('xpack.lens.indexPattern.invalidFieldLabel', {
+      defaultMessage: 'Invalid field. Check your index pattern or pick another field.',
+    });
+  }
+}
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/dimension_panel/dimension_panel.test.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/dimension_panel/dimension_panel.test.tsx
index 270f9d9f67063..d15825718682c 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/dimension_panel/dimension_panel.test.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/dimension_panel/dimension_panel.test.tsx
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import { IndexPatternPrivateState } from '../types';
 import { IndexPatternColumn } from '../operations';
 import { documentField } from '../document_field';
 import { OperationMetadata } from '../../types';
+import { DateHistogramIndexPatternColumn } from '../operations/definitions/date_histogram';
 
 jest.mock('../loader');
 jest.mock('../state_helpers');
@@ -801,6 +802,35 @@ describe('IndexPatternDimensionEditorPanel', () => {
       });
     });
 
+    it('should render invalid field if field reference is broken', () => {
+      wrapper = mount(
+        <IndexPatternDimensionEditorComponent
+          {...defaultProps}
+          state={{
+            ...defaultProps.state,
+            layers: {
+              first: {
+                ...defaultProps.state.layers.first,
+                columns: {
+                  col1: {
+                    ...defaultProps.state.layers.first.columns.col1,
+                    sourceField: 'nonexistent',
+                  } as DateHistogramIndexPatternColumn,
+                },
+              },
+            },
+          }}
+        />
+      );
+
+      expect(wrapper.find(EuiComboBox).prop('selectedOptions')).toEqual([
+        {
+          label: 'nonexistent',
+          value: { type: 'field', field: 'nonexistent' },
+        },
+      ]);
+    });
+
     it('should support selecting the operation before the field', () => {
       wrapper = mount(<IndexPatternDimensionEditorComponent {...defaultProps} columnId={'col2'} />);
 
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/dimension_panel/dimension_panel.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/dimension_panel/dimension_panel.tsx
index c4d8300722f83..6f0a9c2a86acd 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/dimension_panel/dimension_panel.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/dimension_panel/dimension_panel.tsx
@@ -5,9 +5,9 @@
  */
 
 import _ from 'lodash';
-import React, { memo } from 'react';
+import React, { memo, useMemo } from 'react';
 import { i18n } from '@kbn/i18n';
-import { EuiLink } from '@elastic/eui';
+import { EuiLink, EuiIcon, EuiToolTip, EuiFlexGroup, EuiFlexItem } from '@elastic/eui';
 import { IUiSettingsClient, SavedObjectsClientContract, HttpSetup } from 'kibana/public';
 import { IStorageWrapper } from 'src/plugins/kibana_utils/public';
 import {
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ import { IndexPatternColumn, OperationType } from '../indexpattern';
 import { getAvailableOperationsByMetadata, buildColumn, changeField } from '../operations';
 import { DimensionEditor } from './dimension_editor';
 import { changeColumn } from '../state_helpers';
-import { isDraggedField, hasField } from '../utils';
+import { isDraggedField, hasField, fieldIsInvalid } from '../utils';
 import { IndexPatternPrivateState, IndexPatternField } from '../types';
 import { trackUiEvent } from '../../lens_ui_telemetry';
 import { DateRange } from '../../../common';
@@ -233,14 +233,63 @@ export const IndexPatternDimensionTriggerComponent = function IndexPatternDimens
   props: IndexPatternDimensionTriggerProps
 ) {
   const layerId = props.layerId;
-
-  const selectedColumn: IndexPatternColumn | null =
-    props.state.layers[layerId].columns[props.columnId] || null;
+  const layer = props.state.layers[layerId];
+  const selectedColumn: IndexPatternColumn | null = layer.columns[props.columnId] || null;
+  const currentIndexPattern = props.state.indexPatterns[layer.indexPatternId];
+
+  const selectedColumnSourceField =
+    selectedColumn && 'sourceField' in selectedColumn ? selectedColumn.sourceField : undefined;
+  const currentFieldIsInvalid = useMemo(
+    () =>
+      fieldIsInvalid(selectedColumnSourceField, selectedColumn?.operationType, currentIndexPattern),
+    [selectedColumnSourceField, selectedColumn?.operationType, currentIndexPattern]
+  );
 
   const { columnId, uniqueLabel } = props;
   if (!selectedColumn) {
     return null;
   }
+
+  if (currentFieldIsInvalid) {
+    return (
+      <EuiToolTip
+        content={
+          <p>
+            {i18n.translate('xpack.lens.configure.invalidConfigTooltip', {
+              defaultMessage: 'Invalid configuration.',
+            })}
+            <br />
+            {i18n.translate('xpack.lens.configure.invalidConfigTooltipClick', {
+              defaultMessage: 'Click for more details.',
+            })}
+          </p>
+        }
+        anchorClassName="lnsLayerPanel__anchor"
+      >
+        <EuiLink
+          color="danger"
+          id={columnId}
+          className="lnsLayerPanel__triggerLink"
+          onClick={props.onClick}
+          data-test-subj="lns-dimensionTrigger"
+          aria-label={i18n.translate('xpack.lens.configure.editConfig', {
+            defaultMessage: 'Edit configuration',
+          })}
+          title={i18n.translate('xpack.lens.configure.editConfig', {
+            defaultMessage: 'Edit configuration',
+          })}
+        >
+          <EuiFlexGroup gutterSize="s" alignItems="center" responsive={false}>
+            <EuiFlexItem grow={false}>
+              <EuiIcon size="s" type="alert" />
+            </EuiFlexItem>
+            <EuiFlexItem grow={true}>{selectedColumn.label}</EuiFlexItem>
+          </EuiFlexGroup>
+        </EuiLink>
+      </EuiToolTip>
+    );
+  }
+
   return (
     <EuiLink
       id={columnId}
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/dimension_panel/field_select.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/dimension_panel/field_select.tsx
index de472cb09cdfe..c2e179fd13a2f 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/dimension_panel/field_select.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/dimension_panel/field_select.tsx
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ export interface FieldSelectProps extends EuiComboBoxProps<{}> {
   onChoose: (choice: FieldChoice) => void;
   onDeleteColumn: () => void;
   existingFields: IndexPatternPrivateState['existingFields'];
+  fieldIsInvalid: boolean;
 }
 
 export function FieldSelect({
@@ -53,6 +54,7 @@ export function FieldSelect({
   onChoose,
   onDeleteColumn,
   existingFields,
+  fieldIsInvalid,
   ...rest
 }: FieldSelectProps) {
   const { operationByField } = operationSupportMatrix;
@@ -171,12 +173,14 @@ export function FieldSelect({
         defaultMessage: 'Field',
       })}
       options={(memoizedFieldOptions as unknown) as EuiComboBoxOptionOption[]}
-      isInvalid={Boolean(incompatibleSelectedOperationType)}
+      isInvalid={Boolean(incompatibleSelectedOperationType || fieldIsInvalid)}
       selectedOptions={
         ((selectedColumnOperationType && selectedColumnSourceField
           ? [
               {
-                label: fieldMap[selectedColumnSourceField].displayName,
+                label: fieldIsInvalid
+                  ? selectedColumnSourceField
+                  : fieldMap[selectedColumnSourceField]?.displayName,
                 value: { type: 'field', field: selectedColumnSourceField },
               },
             ]
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/indexpattern_suggestions.test.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/indexpattern_suggestions.test.tsx
index 663d7c18bb370..80765627c1fc2 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/indexpattern_suggestions.test.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/indexpattern_suggestions.test.tsx
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ function testInitialState(): IndexPatternPrivateState {
 
             // Private
             operationType: 'terms',
-            sourceField: 'op',
+            sourceField: 'dest',
             params: {
               size: 5,
               orderBy: { type: 'alphabetical' },
@@ -1115,7 +1115,7 @@ describe('IndexPattern Data Source suggestions', () => {
 
                 // Private
                 operationType: 'terms',
-                sourceField: 'op',
+                sourceField: 'dest',
                 params: {
                   size: 5,
                   orderBy: { type: 'alphabetical' },
@@ -1615,7 +1615,7 @@ describe('IndexPattern Data Source suggestions', () => {
                 isBucketed: true,
 
                 operationType: 'date_histogram',
-                sourceField: 'field2',
+                sourceField: 'timestamp',
                 params: {
                   interval: 'd',
                 },
@@ -1626,7 +1626,7 @@ describe('IndexPattern Data Source suggestions', () => {
                 isBucketed: true,
 
                 operationType: 'terms',
-                sourceField: 'field1',
+                sourceField: 'dest',
                 params: { size: 5, orderBy: { type: 'alphabetical' }, orderDirection: 'asc' },
               },
               id3: {
@@ -1635,7 +1635,7 @@ describe('IndexPattern Data Source suggestions', () => {
                 isBucketed: false,
 
                 operationType: 'avg',
-                sourceField: 'field1',
+                sourceField: 'bytes',
               },
             },
             columnOrder: ['id1', 'id2', 'id3'],
@@ -1652,6 +1652,38 @@ describe('IndexPattern Data Source suggestions', () => {
         })
       );
     });
+
+    it('does not generate suggestions if invalid fields are referenced', () => {
+      const initialState = testInitialState();
+      const state: IndexPatternPrivateState = {
+        indexPatternRefs: [],
+        existingFields: {},
+        currentIndexPatternId: '1',
+        indexPatterns: expectedIndexPatterns,
+        isFirstExistenceFetch: false,
+        layers: {
+          first: {
+            ...initialState.layers.first,
+            columns: {
+              ...initialState.layers.first.columns,
+              col2: {
+                label: 'Top 5',
+                dataType: 'string',
+                isBucketed: true,
+
+                operationType: 'terms',
+                sourceField: 'nonExistingField',
+                params: { size: 5, orderBy: { type: 'alphabetical' }, orderDirection: 'asc' },
+              },
+            },
+            columnOrder: ['col1', 'col2'],
+          },
+        },
+      };
+
+      const suggestions = getDatasourceSuggestionsFromCurrentState(state);
+      expect(suggestions).toEqual([]);
+    });
   });
 });
 
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/indexpattern_suggestions.ts b/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/indexpattern_suggestions.ts
index f5e64149c2c76..75945529ffb34 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/indexpattern_suggestions.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/indexpattern_suggestions.ts
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ import {
 } from './operations';
 import { operationDefinitions } from './operations/definitions';
 import { TermsIndexPatternColumn } from './operations/definitions/terms';
-import { hasField } from './utils';
+import { hasField, hasInvalidReference } from './utils';
 import {
   IndexPattern,
   IndexPatternPrivateState,
@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@ export function getDatasourceSuggestionsForField(
   indexPatternId: string,
   field: IndexPatternField
 ): IndexPatternSugestion[] {
+  if (hasInvalidReference(state)) return [];
   const layers = Object.keys(state.layers);
   const layerIds = layers.filter((id) => state.layers[id].indexPatternId === indexPatternId);
 
@@ -380,6 +381,7 @@ function createNewLayerWithMetricAggregation(
 export function getDatasourceSuggestionsFromCurrentState(
   state: IndexPatternPrivateState
 ): Array<DatasourceSuggestion<IndexPatternPrivateState>> {
+  if (hasInvalidReference(state)) return [];
   const layers = Object.entries(state.layers || {});
   if (layers.length > 1) {
     // Return suggestions that reduce the data to each layer individually
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/utils.ts b/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/utils.ts
index 374dbe77b4ca3..f1d2e7765d99f 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/utils.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/utils.ts
@@ -5,11 +5,13 @@
  */
 
 import { DataType } from '../types';
+import { IndexPatternPrivateState, IndexPattern } from './types';
 import { DraggedField } from './indexpattern';
 import {
   BaseIndexPatternColumn,
   FieldBasedIndexPatternColumn,
 } from './operations/definitions/column_types';
+import { operationDefinitionMap, OperationType } from './operations';
 
 /**
  * Normalizes the specified operation type. (e.g. document operations
@@ -40,3 +42,37 @@ export function isDraggedField(fieldCandidate: unknown): fieldCandidate is Dragg
     'indexPatternId' in fieldCandidate
   );
 }
+
+export function hasInvalidReference(state: IndexPatternPrivateState) {
+  return Object.values(state.layers).some((layer) => {
+    return layer.columnOrder.some((columnId) => {
+      const column = layer.columns[columnId];
+      return (
+        hasField(column) &&
+        fieldIsInvalid(
+          column.sourceField,
+          column.operationType,
+          state.indexPatterns[layer.indexPatternId]
+        )
+      );
+    });
+  });
+}
+
+export function fieldIsInvalid(
+  sourceField: string | undefined,
+  operationType: OperationType | undefined,
+  indexPattern: IndexPattern
+) {
+  const operationDefinition = operationType && operationDefinitionMap[operationType];
+  return Boolean(
+    sourceField &&
+      operationDefinition &&
+      !indexPattern.fields.some(
+        (field) =>
+          field.name === sourceField &&
+          operationDefinition.input === 'field' &&
+          operationDefinition.getPossibleOperationForField(field) !== undefined
+      )
+  );
+}