diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ml/server/routes/system.ts b/x-pack/plugins/ml/server/routes/system.ts
index c067b8e3ff438..6ddc325154ed2 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/ml/server/routes/system.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ml/server/routes/system.ts
@@ -231,6 +231,7 @@ export function systemRoutes(
           indices.map(async (index) =>
             client.asCurrentUser.indices.exists({
               index,
+              allow_no_indices: false,
             })
           )
         );
diff --git a/x-pack/test/api_integration/apis/ml/system/index.ts b/x-pack/test/api_integration/apis/ml/system/index.ts
index 68ffd5fa267e9..8b9aef9b813c9 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/api_integration/apis/ml/system/index.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/api_integration/apis/ml/system/index.ts
@@ -11,5 +11,6 @@ export default function ({ loadTestFile }: FtrProviderContext) {
   describe('system', function () {
     loadTestFile(require.resolve('./capabilities'));
     loadTestFile(require.resolve('./space_capabilities'));
+    loadTestFile(require.resolve('./index_exists'));
   });
 }
diff --git a/x-pack/test/api_integration/apis/ml/system/index_exists.ts b/x-pack/test/api_integration/apis/ml/system/index_exists.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..6cd68d82f0b88
--- /dev/null
+++ b/x-pack/test/api_integration/apis/ml/system/index_exists.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,111 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License
+ * 2.0; you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License
+ * 2.0.
+ */
+
+import expect from '@kbn/expect';
+
+import { FtrProviderContext } from '../../../ftr_provider_context';
+import { USER } from '../../../../functional/services/ml/security_common';
+import { COMMON_REQUEST_HEADERS } from '../../../../functional/services/ml/common_api';
+
+export default ({ getService }: FtrProviderContext) => {
+  const esArchiver = getService('esArchiver');
+  const supertest = getService('supertestWithoutAuth');
+  const ml = getService('ml');
+
+  const responseBody = {
+    ft_farequote_small: { exists: true },
+    'ft_farequote_*': { exists: true }, // wildcard
+    ft_farequote_fail: { exists: false },
+    'ft_farequote_fail_*': { exists: false }, // wildcard
+  };
+
+  const testDataList = [
+    {
+      testTitle: 'as ML Poweruser',
+      user: USER.ML_POWERUSER,
+      requestBody: {
+        indices: Object.keys(responseBody),
+      },
+      expected: {
+        responseCode: 200,
+        responseBody,
+      },
+    },
+  ];
+
+  const testDataListUnauthorized = [
+    {
+      testTitle: 'as ML Viewer',
+      user: USER.ML_VIEWER,
+      requestBody: {
+        indices: Object.keys(responseBody),
+      },
+      expected: {
+        responseCode: 403,
+        error: 'Forbidden',
+      },
+    },
+    {
+      testTitle: 'as ML Unauthorized user',
+      user: USER.ML_UNAUTHORIZED,
+      requestBody: {
+        jobIds: Object.keys(responseBody),
+      },
+      expected: {
+        responseCode: 403,
+        error: 'Forbidden',
+      },
+    },
+  ];
+
+  async function runRequest(user: USER, requestBody: object, expectedStatusCode: number) {
+    const { body, status } = await supertest
+      .post('/api/ml/index_exists')
+      .auth(user, ml.securityCommon.getPasswordForUser(user))
+      .set(COMMON_REQUEST_HEADERS)
+      .send(requestBody);
+
+    ml.api.assertResponseStatusCode(expectedStatusCode, status, body);
+    return body;
+  }
+
+  describe('POST ml/index_exists', function () {
+    before(async () => {
+      await esArchiver.loadIfNeeded('x-pack/test/functional/es_archives/ml/farequote_small');
+    });
+
+    describe('should correctly check if indices exist ', function () {
+      for (const testData of testDataList) {
+        it(`${testData.testTitle}`, async () => {
+          const body = await runRequest(
+            testData.user,
+            testData.requestBody,
+            testData.expected.responseCode
+          );
+          const expectedResponse = testData.expected.responseBody;
+          expect(body).to.eql(expectedResponse);
+        });
+      }
+    });
+
+    describe('rejects request', function () {
+      for (const testData of testDataListUnauthorized) {
+        describe('fails to check if indices exist', function () {
+          it(`${testData.testTitle}`, async () => {
+            const body = await runRequest(
+              testData.user,
+              testData.requestBody,
+              testData.expected.responseCode
+            );
+
+            expect(body).to.have.property('error').eql(testData.expected.error);
+          });
+        });
+      }
+    });
+  });
+};