diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ml/server/routes/annotations.js b/x-pack/plugins/ml/server/routes/annotations.js
index bfb3a439a30d..e7945cf6b1f9 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/ml/server/routes/annotations.js
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ml/server/routes/annotations.js
@@ -4,14 +4,24 @@
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License.
  */
 
+import Boom from 'boom';
 import _ from 'lodash';
+import { i18n } from '@kbn/i18n';
 
 import { callWithRequestFactory } from '../client/call_with_request_factory';
+import { isAnnotationsFeatureAvailable } from '../lib/check_annotations';
 import { wrapError } from '../client/errors';
 import { annotationServiceProvider } from '../models/annotation_service';
 
 import { ANNOTATION_USER_UNKNOWN } from '../../common/constants/annotations';
 
+function getAnnotationsFeatureUnavailableErrorMessage() {
+  return Boom.badRequest(
+    i18n.translate('xpack.ml.routes.annotations.annotationsFeatureUnavailableErrorMessage', {
+      defaultMessage: 'Index and aliases required for the annotations feature have not been created.',
+    })
+  );
+}
 export function annotationRoutes(server, commonRouteConfig) {
   server.route({
     method: 'POST',
@@ -30,7 +40,12 @@ export function annotationRoutes(server, commonRouteConfig) {
   server.route({
     method: 'PUT',
     path: '/api/ml/annotations/index',
-    handler(request) {
+    async handler(request) {
+      const annotationsFeatureAvailable = await isAnnotationsFeatureAvailable(server);
+      if (annotationsFeatureAvailable === false) {
+        return getAnnotationsFeatureUnavailableErrorMessage();
+      }
+
       const callWithRequest = callWithRequestFactory(server, request);
       const { indexAnnotation } = annotationServiceProvider(callWithRequest);
       const username = _.get(request, 'auth.credentials.username', ANNOTATION_USER_UNKNOWN);
@@ -45,7 +60,12 @@ export function annotationRoutes(server, commonRouteConfig) {
   server.route({
     method: 'DELETE',
     path: '/api/ml/annotations/delete/{annotationId}',
-    handler(request) {
+    async handler(request) {
+      const annotationsFeatureAvailable = await isAnnotationsFeatureAvailable(server);
+      if (annotationsFeatureAvailable === false) {
+        return getAnnotationsFeatureUnavailableErrorMessage();
+      }
+
       const callWithRequest = callWithRequestFactory(server, request);
       const annotationId = request.params.annotationId;
       const { deleteAnnotation } = annotationServiceProvider(callWithRequest);