diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/security_solution/server/lib/entity_analytics/entity_store/saved_object/engine_descriptor.ts b/x-pack/plugins/security_solution/server/lib/entity_analytics/entity_store/saved_object/engine_descriptor.ts
index cfaea1b1da0ff..a3c7a7d0266a1 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/security_solution/server/lib/entity_analytics/entity_store/saved_object/engine_descriptor.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/security_solution/server/lib/entity_analytics/entity_store/saved_object/engine_descriptor.ts
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ export class EngineDescriptorClient {
       const old = engineDescriptor.saved_objects[0].attributes;
       const update = {
         ...old,
+        error: undefined, // if the engine is being re-initialized, clear any previous error
         status: ENGINE_STATUS.INSTALLING,
         filter,
         fieldHistoryLength,