diff --git a/src/plugins/data/common/search/aggs/utils/time_column_meta.test.ts b/src/plugins/data/common/search/aggs/utils/time_column_meta.test.ts
index 37529b45074a7..8eb076f5b7906 100644
--- a/src/plugins/data/common/search/aggs/utils/time_column_meta.test.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/data/common/search/aggs/utils/time_column_meta.test.ts
@@ -91,6 +91,43 @@ describe('getDateMetaByDatatableColumn', () => {
     });
   });
 
+  it('throws if unable to resolve interval', async () => {
+    await expect(
+      getDateMetaByDatatableColumn(params)({
+        id: 'test',
+        name: 'test',
+        meta: {
+          type: 'date',
+          source: 'esaggs',
+          sourceParams: {
+            type: BUCKET_TYPES.DATE_HISTOGRAM,
+            params: {
+              time_zone: 'UTC',
+              interval: 'auto',
+            },
+          },
+        },
+      })
+    ).rejects.toBeDefined();
+
+    await expect(
+      getDateMetaByDatatableColumn(params)({
+        id: 'test',
+        name: 'test',
+        meta: {
+          type: 'date',
+          source: 'esaggs',
+          sourceParams: {
+            type: BUCKET_TYPES.DATE_HISTOGRAM,
+            params: {
+              time_zone: 'UTC',
+            },
+          },
+        },
+      })
+    ).rejects.toBeDefined();
+  });
+
   it('returns resolved auto interval', async () => {
     expect(
       await getDateMetaByDatatableColumn(params)({
diff --git a/src/plugins/data/common/search/aggs/utils/time_column_meta.ts b/src/plugins/data/common/search/aggs/utils/time_column_meta.ts
index abf34d3b5e06f..7ed8cb79f63f4 100644
--- a/src/plugins/data/common/search/aggs/utils/time_column_meta.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/data/common/search/aggs/utils/time_column_meta.ts
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ export const getDateMetaByDatatableColumn = ({
       ? calculateAutoTimeExpression(appliedTimeRange)
       : params.interval;
 
-  if (!interval) {
+  if (!interval || interval === 'auto') {
     throw new Error('time interval could not be determined');
   }