diff --git a/CHANGELOG.next.asciidoc b/CHANGELOG.next.asciidoc
index 16f43d97714c..44db08ace8dd 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.next.asciidoc
+++ b/CHANGELOG.next.asciidoc
@@ -146,6 +146,7 @@ https://github.com/elastic/beats/compare/v7.0.0-alpha2...master[Check the HEAD d
 - Include ip and boolean type when generating index pattern. {pull}10995[10995]
 - Cancelling enrollment of a beat will not enroll the beat. {issue}10150[10150]
 - Add missing fields and test cases for libbeat add_kubernetes_metadata processor. {issue}11133[11133], {pull}11134[11134]
+- decode_json_field: do not process arrays when flag not set. {pull}11318[11318]
 - Report faulting file when config reload fails. {pull}[11304]11304
 
 *Auditbeat*
diff --git a/libbeat/processors/actions/decode_json_fields.go b/libbeat/processors/actions/decode_json_fields.go
index 5f01d0c2c643..684648e169c4 100644
--- a/libbeat/processors/actions/decode_json_fields.go
+++ b/libbeat/processors/actions/decode_json_fields.go
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ var (
 		MaxDepth:     1,
 		ProcessArray: false,
 	}
+	errProcessingSkipped = errors.New("processing skipped")
 )
 
 var debug = logp.MakeDebug("filters")
@@ -150,7 +151,7 @@ func unmarshal(maxDepth int, text string, fields *interface{}, processArray bool
 		var tmp interface{}
 		err := unmarshal(maxDepth, str, &tmp, processArray)
 		if err != nil {
-			return v, false
+			return v, err == errProcessingSkipped
 		}
 
 		return tmp, true
@@ -167,7 +168,7 @@ func unmarshal(maxDepth int, text string, fields *interface{}, processArray bool
 	// We want to process arrays here
 	case []interface{}:
 		if !processArray {
-			break
+			return errProcessingSkipped
 		}
 
 		for i, v := range O {
diff --git a/libbeat/processors/actions/decode_json_fields_test.go b/libbeat/processors/actions/decode_json_fields_test.go
index cdfe3ff3ff45..50309652dfb8 100644
--- a/libbeat/processors/actions/decode_json_fields_test.go
+++ b/libbeat/processors/actions/decode_json_fields_test.go
@@ -199,6 +199,53 @@ func TestTargetRootOption(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, expected.String(), actual.String())
 }
 
+func TestArrayWithArraysDisabled(t *testing.T) {
+	input := common.MapStr{
+		"msg": `{
+			"arrayOfMap": "[{\"a\":\"b\"}]"
+		  }`,
+	}
+
+	testConfig, _ = common.NewConfigFrom(map[string]interface{}{
+		"fields":        fields,
+		"max_depth":     10,
+		"process_array": false,
+	})
+
+	actual := getActualValue(t, testConfig, input)
+
+	expected := common.MapStr{
+		"msg": common.MapStr{
+			"arrayOfMap": "[{\"a\":\"b\"}]",
+		},
+	}
+
+	assert.Equal(t, expected.String(), actual.String())
+}
+func TestArrayWithArraysEnabled(t *testing.T) {
+	input := common.MapStr{
+		"msg": `{
+			"arrayOfMap": "[{\"a\":\"b\"}]"
+		  }`,
+	}
+
+	testConfig, _ = common.NewConfigFrom(map[string]interface{}{
+		"fields":        fields,
+		"max_depth":     10,
+		"process_array": true,
+	})
+
+	actual := getActualValue(t, testConfig, input)
+
+	expected := common.MapStr{
+		"msg": common.MapStr{
+			"arrayOfMap": []common.MapStr{common.MapStr{"a": "b"}},
+		},
+	}
+
+	assert.Equal(t, expected.String(), actual.String())
+}
+
 func getActualValue(t *testing.T, config *common.Config, input common.MapStr) common.MapStr {
 	logp.TestingSetup()