diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/services/http_service.js b/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/services/http_service.js
index e368ad5a768b..1f868bea4d89 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/services/http_service.js
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/services/http_service.js
@@ -27,12 +27,17 @@ export function http(options) {
       const allHeaders = (options.headers === undefined) ? headers : { ...options.headers, ...headers };
       const body = (options.data === undefined) ? null : JSON.stringify(options.data);
 
-      fetch(url, {
+      const payload = {
         method: (options.method || 'GET'),
-        headers: (allHeaders),
-        credentials: 'same-origin',
-        body,
-      })
+        headers: allHeaders,
+        credentials: 'same-origin'
+      };
+
+      if (body !== null) {
+        payload.body = body;
+      }
+
+      fetch(url, payload)
         .then((resp) => {
           resolve(resp.json());
         })