diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/security_solution/public/timelines/components/timeline/esql_tab_content/index.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/security_solution/public/timelines/components/timeline/esql_tab_content/index.tsx
index 97737a8ebfc3b..b3697421906ef 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/security_solution/public/timelines/components/timeline/esql_tab_content/index.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/security_solution/public/timelines/components/timeline/esql_tab_content/index.tsx
@@ -181,6 +181,10 @@ export const DiscoverTabContent: FC<DiscoverTabContentProps> = ({ timelineId })
     if (!savedObjectId) return;
     if (!status || status === 'draft') return;
     const latestState = getCombinedDiscoverSavedSearchState();
+    const index = latestState?.searchSource.getField('index');
+    /* when a new timeline is loaded, a new discover instance is loaded which first emits
+     * discover's initial state which is then updated in the saved search. We want to avoid that.*/
+    if (!index) return;
     if (!latestState || combinedDiscoverSavedSearchStateRef.current === latestState) return;
     if (isEqualWith(latestState, savedSearchById, savedSearchComparator)) return;
     debouncedUpdateSavedSearch(latestState, timelineId);