diff --git a/src/es_archiver/lib/indices/create_index_stream.ts b/src/es_archiver/lib/indices/create_index_stream.ts
index df9d3bb623ad6..5629f95c7c9c6 100644
--- a/src/es_archiver/lib/indices/create_index_stream.ts
+++ b/src/es_archiver/lib/indices/create_index_stream.ts
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@
  */
 
 import { Transform, Readable } from 'stream';
+import { inspect } from 'util';
+
 import { get, once } from 'lodash';
 import { Client } from 'elasticsearch';
 import { ToolingLog } from '@kbn/dev-utils';
@@ -84,6 +86,18 @@ export function createCreateIndexStream({
 
         stats.createdIndex(index, { settings });
       } catch (err) {
+        if (
+          err?.body?.error?.reason?.includes('index exists with the same name as the alias') &&
+          attemptNumber < 3
+        ) {
+          const aliasStr = inspect(aliases);
+          log.info(
+            `failed to create aliases [${aliasStr}] because ES indicated an index/alias already exists, trying again`
+          );
+          await attemptToCreate(attemptNumber + 1);
+          return;
+        }
+
         if (
           get(err, 'body.error.type') !== 'resource_already_exists_exception' ||
           attemptNumber >= 3