diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ml/server/models/job_audit_messages/job_audit_messages.js b/x-pack/plugins/ml/server/models/job_audit_messages/job_audit_messages.js
index 0b0524acd58bf..3a6a61474f8dd 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/ml/server/models/job_audit_messages/job_audit_messages.js
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ml/server/models/job_audit_messages/job_audit_messages.js
@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@ export function jobAuditMessagesProvider(callWithRequest) {
     let gte = null;
     if (jobId !== undefined && from === undefined) {
       const jobs = await callWithRequest('ml.jobs', { jobId });
-      if (jobs.length) {
-        gte = moment(jobs[0].create_time).valueOf();
+      if (jobs.count > 0 && jobs.jobs !== undefined) {
+        gte = moment(jobs.jobs[0].create_time).valueOf();
       }
     } else if (from !== undefined) {
       gte = `now-${from}`;