diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/datapanel.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/datapanel.tsx
index 6854452fd02a4..bb564214e4fab 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/datapanel.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/datapanel.tsx
@@ -125,6 +125,7 @@ export function IndexPatternDataPanel({
       id,
       title: indexPatterns[id].title,
       timeFieldName: indexPatterns[id].timeFieldName,
+      fields: indexPatterns[id].fields,
     }));
 
   const dslQuery = buildSafeEsQuery(
@@ -197,6 +198,7 @@ export function IndexPatternDataPanel({
           charts={charts}
           onChangeIndexPattern={onChangeIndexPattern}
           existingFields={state.existingFields}
+          existenceFetchFailed={state.existenceFetchFailed}
         />
       )}
     </>
@@ -231,6 +233,7 @@ export const InnerIndexPatternDataPanel = function InnerIndexPatternDataPanel({
   currentIndexPatternId,
   indexPatternRefs,
   indexPatterns,
+  existenceFetchFailed,
   query,
   dateRange,
   filters,
@@ -249,6 +252,7 @@ export const InnerIndexPatternDataPanel = function InnerIndexPatternDataPanel({
   onChangeIndexPattern: (newId: string) => void;
   existingFields: IndexPatternPrivateState['existingFields'];
   charts: ChartsPluginSetup;
+  existenceFetchFailed?: boolean;
 }) {
   const [localState, setLocalState] = useState<DataPanelState>({
     nameFilter: '',
@@ -553,9 +557,15 @@ export const InnerIndexPatternDataPanel = function InnerIndexPatternDataPanel({
               <FieldsAccordion
                 initialIsOpen={localState.isAvailableAccordionOpen}
                 id="lnsIndexPatternAvailableFields"
-                label={i18n.translate('xpack.lens.indexPattern.availableFieldsLabel', {
-                  defaultMessage: 'Available fields',
-                })}
+                label={
+                  existenceFetchFailed
+                    ? i18n.translate('xpack.lens.indexPattern.allFieldsLabel', {
+                        defaultMessage: 'All fields',
+                      })
+                    : i18n.translate('xpack.lens.indexPattern.availableFieldsLabel', {
+                        defaultMessage: 'Available fields',
+                      })
+                }
                 exists={true}
                 hasLoaded={!!hasSyncedExistingFields}
                 fieldsCount={filteredFieldGroups.availableFields.length}
@@ -576,6 +586,7 @@ export const InnerIndexPatternDataPanel = function InnerIndexPatternDataPanel({
                     Math.max(PAGINATION_SIZE, Math.min(pageSize * 1.5, displayedFieldLength))
                   );
                 }}
+                showExistenceFetchError={existenceFetchFailed}
                 renderCallout={
                   <NoFieldsCallout
                     isAffectedByGlobalFilter={!!filters.length}
@@ -588,42 +599,44 @@ export const InnerIndexPatternDataPanel = function InnerIndexPatternDataPanel({
                 }
               />
               <EuiSpacer size="m" />
-              <FieldsAccordion
-                initialIsOpen={localState.isEmptyAccordionOpen}
-                isFiltered={
-                  filteredFieldGroups.emptyFields.length !== fieldGroups.emptyFields.length
-                }
-                fieldsCount={filteredFieldGroups.emptyFields.length}
-                paginatedFields={paginatedEmptyFields}
-                hasLoaded={!!hasSyncedExistingFields}
-                exists={false}
-                fieldProps={fieldProps}
-                id="lnsIndexPatternEmptyFields"
-                label={i18n.translate('xpack.lens.indexPattern.emptyFieldsLabel', {
-                  defaultMessage: 'Empty fields',
-                })}
-                onToggle={(open) => {
-                  setLocalState((s) => ({
-                    ...s,
-                    isEmptyAccordionOpen: open,
-                  }));
-                  const displayedFieldLength =
-                    (localState.isAvailableAccordionOpen
-                      ? filteredFieldGroups.availableFields.length
-                      : 0) + (open ? filteredFieldGroups.emptyFields.length : 0);
-                  setPageSize(
-                    Math.max(PAGINATION_SIZE, Math.min(pageSize * 1.5, displayedFieldLength))
-                  );
-                }}
-                renderCallout={
-                  <NoFieldsCallout
-                    isAffectedByFieldFilter={
-                      !!(localState.typeFilter.length || localState.nameFilter.length)
-                    }
-                    existFieldsInIndex={!!fieldGroups.emptyFields.length}
-                  />
-                }
-              />
+              {!existenceFetchFailed && (
+                <FieldsAccordion
+                  initialIsOpen={localState.isEmptyAccordionOpen}
+                  isFiltered={
+                    filteredFieldGroups.emptyFields.length !== fieldGroups.emptyFields.length
+                  }
+                  fieldsCount={filteredFieldGroups.emptyFields.length}
+                  paginatedFields={paginatedEmptyFields}
+                  hasLoaded={!!hasSyncedExistingFields}
+                  exists={false}
+                  fieldProps={fieldProps}
+                  id="lnsIndexPatternEmptyFields"
+                  label={i18n.translate('xpack.lens.indexPattern.emptyFieldsLabel', {
+                    defaultMessage: 'Empty fields',
+                  })}
+                  onToggle={(open) => {
+                    setLocalState((s) => ({
+                      ...s,
+                      isEmptyAccordionOpen: open,
+                    }));
+                    const displayedFieldLength =
+                      (localState.isAvailableAccordionOpen
+                        ? filteredFieldGroups.availableFields.length
+                        : 0) + (open ? filteredFieldGroups.emptyFields.length : 0);
+                    setPageSize(
+                      Math.max(PAGINATION_SIZE, Math.min(pageSize * 1.5, displayedFieldLength))
+                    );
+                  }}
+                  renderCallout={
+                    <NoFieldsCallout
+                      isAffectedByFieldFilter={
+                        !!(localState.typeFilter.length || localState.nameFilter.length)
+                      }
+                      existFieldsInIndex={!!fieldGroups.emptyFields.length}
+                    />
+                  }
+                />
+              )}
               <EuiSpacer size="m" />
             </div>
           </div>
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/fields_accordion.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/fields_accordion.tsx
index 7cc049c107b87..1d60b0b5cbbee 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/fields_accordion.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/fields_accordion.tsx
@@ -6,12 +6,14 @@
 
 import './datapanel.scss';
 import React, { memo, useCallback } from 'react';
+import { i18n } from '@kbn/i18n';
 import {
   EuiText,
   EuiNotificationBadge,
   EuiSpacer,
   EuiAccordion,
   EuiLoadingSpinner,
+  EuiIconTip,
 } from '@elastic/eui';
 import { DataPublicPluginStart } from 'src/plugins/data/public';
 import { IndexPatternField } from './types';
@@ -44,6 +46,7 @@ export interface FieldsAccordionProps {
   fieldProps: FieldItemSharedProps;
   renderCallout: JSX.Element;
   exists: boolean;
+  showExistenceFetchError?: boolean;
 }
 
 export const InnerFieldsAccordion = function InnerFieldsAccordion({
@@ -58,6 +61,7 @@ export const InnerFieldsAccordion = function InnerFieldsAccordion({
   fieldProps,
   renderCallout,
   exists,
+  showExistenceFetchError,
 }: FieldsAccordionProps) {
   const renderField = useCallback(
     (field: IndexPatternField) => {
@@ -78,7 +82,18 @@ export const InnerFieldsAccordion = function InnerFieldsAccordion({
         </EuiText>
       }
       extraAction={
-        hasLoaded ? (
+        showExistenceFetchError ? (
+          <EuiIconTip
+            aria-label={i18n.translate('xpack.lens.indexPattern.existenceErrorAriaLabel', {
+              defaultMessage: 'Existence fetch failed',
+            })}
+            type="alert"
+            color="warning"
+            content={i18n.translate('xpack.lens.indexPattern.existenceErrorLabel', {
+              defaultMessage: "Field information can't be loaded",
+            })}
+          />
+        ) : hasLoaded ? (
           <EuiNotificationBadge size="m" color={isFiltered ? 'accent' : 'subdued'}>
             {fieldsCount}
           </EuiNotificationBadge>
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/loader.test.ts b/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/loader.test.ts
index 5776691fbcc7f..27904a0f23f16 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/loader.test.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/loader.test.ts
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import {
   changeLayerIndexPattern,
   syncExistingFields,
 } from './loader';
-import { IndexPatternPersistedState, IndexPatternPrivateState } from './types';
+import { IndexPatternPersistedState, IndexPatternPrivateState, IndexPatternField } from './types';
 import { documentField } from './document_field';
 
 jest.mock('./operations');
@@ -642,7 +642,11 @@ describe('loader', () => {
       await syncExistingFields({
         dateRange: { fromDate: '1900-01-01', toDate: '2000-01-01' },
         fetchJson,
-        indexPatterns: [{ id: 'a' }, { id: 'b' }, { id: 'c' }],
+        indexPatterns: [
+          { id: 'a', title: 'a', fields: [] },
+          { id: 'b', title: 'a', fields: [] },
+          { id: 'c', title: 'a', fields: [] },
+        ],
         setState,
         dslQuery,
         showNoDataPopover: jest.fn(),
@@ -662,6 +666,7 @@ describe('loader', () => {
       expect(newState).toEqual({
         foo: 'bar',
         isFirstExistenceFetch: false,
+        existenceFetchFailed: false,
         existingFields: {
           a: { a_field_1: true, a_field_2: true },
           b: { b_field_1: true, b_field_2: true },
@@ -687,7 +692,11 @@ describe('loader', () => {
       const args = {
         dateRange: { fromDate: '1900-01-01', toDate: '2000-01-01' },
         fetchJson,
-        indexPatterns: [{ id: 'a' }, { id: 'b' }, { id: 'c' }],
+        indexPatterns: [
+          { id: 'a', title: 'a', fields: [] },
+          { id: 'b', title: 'a', fields: [] },
+          { id: 'c', title: 'a', fields: [] },
+        ],
         setState,
         dslQuery,
         showNoDataPopover: jest.fn(),
@@ -702,5 +711,45 @@ describe('loader', () => {
       await syncExistingFields({ ...args, isFirstExistenceFetch: true });
       expect(showNoDataPopover).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
     });
+
+    it('should set all fields to available and existence error flag if the request fails', async () => {
+      const setState = jest.fn();
+      const fetchJson = (jest.fn((path: string) => {
+        return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+          reject(new Error());
+        });
+      }) as unknown) as HttpHandler;
+
+      const args = {
+        dateRange: { fromDate: '1900-01-01', toDate: '2000-01-01' },
+        fetchJson,
+        indexPatterns: [
+          {
+            id: 'a',
+            title: 'a',
+            fields: [{ name: 'field1' }, { name: 'field2' }] as IndexPatternField[],
+          },
+        ],
+        setState,
+        dslQuery,
+        showNoDataPopover: jest.fn(),
+        currentIndexPatternTitle: 'abc',
+        isFirstExistenceFetch: false,
+      };
+
+      await syncExistingFields(args);
+
+      const [fn] = setState.mock.calls[0];
+      const newState = fn({
+        foo: 'bar',
+        existingFields: {},
+      }) as IndexPatternPrivateState;
+
+      expect(newState.existenceFetchFailed).toEqual(true);
+      expect(newState.existingFields.a).toEqual({
+        field1: true,
+        field2: true,
+      });
+    });
   });
 });
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/loader.ts b/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/loader.ts
index e995c7317b5d8..20e7bec6db131 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/loader.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/loader.ts
@@ -246,7 +246,12 @@ export async function syncExistingFields({
   showNoDataPopover,
 }: {
   dateRange: DateRange;
-  indexPatterns: Array<{ id: string; timeFieldName?: string | null }>;
+  indexPatterns: Array<{
+    id: string;
+    title: string;
+    fields: IndexPatternField[];
+    timeFieldName?: string | null;
+  }>;
   fetchJson: HttpSetup['post'];
   setState: SetState;
   isFirstExistenceFetch: boolean;
@@ -254,41 +259,53 @@ export async function syncExistingFields({
   dslQuery: object;
   showNoDataPopover: () => void;
 }) {
-  const emptinessInfo = await Promise.all(
-    indexPatterns.map((pattern) => {
-      const body: Record<string, string | object> = {
-        dslQuery,
-        fromDate: dateRange.fromDate,
-        toDate: dateRange.toDate,
-      };
-
-      if (pattern.timeFieldName) {
-        body.timeFieldName = pattern.timeFieldName;
-      }
+  const existenceRequests = indexPatterns.map((pattern) => {
+    const body: Record<string, string | object> = {
+      dslQuery,
+      fromDate: dateRange.fromDate,
+      toDate: dateRange.toDate,
+    };
 
-      return fetchJson(`${BASE_API_URL}/existing_fields/${pattern.id}`, {
-        body: JSON.stringify(body),
-      }) as Promise<ExistingFields>;
-    })
-  );
+    if (pattern.timeFieldName) {
+      body.timeFieldName = pattern.timeFieldName;
+    }
 
-  if (isFirstExistenceFetch) {
-    const fieldsCurrentIndexPattern = emptinessInfo.find(
-      (info) => info.indexPatternTitle === currentIndexPatternTitle
-    );
-    if (fieldsCurrentIndexPattern && fieldsCurrentIndexPattern.existingFieldNames.length === 0) {
-      showNoDataPopover();
+    return fetchJson(`${BASE_API_URL}/existing_fields/${pattern.id}`, {
+      body: JSON.stringify(body),
+    }) as Promise<ExistingFields>;
+  });
+
+  try {
+    const emptinessInfo = await Promise.all(existenceRequests);
+    if (isFirstExistenceFetch) {
+      const fieldsCurrentIndexPattern = emptinessInfo.find(
+        (info) => info.indexPatternTitle === currentIndexPatternTitle
+      );
+      if (fieldsCurrentIndexPattern && fieldsCurrentIndexPattern.existingFieldNames.length === 0) {
+        showNoDataPopover();
+      }
     }
-  }
 
-  setState((state) => ({
-    ...state,
-    isFirstExistenceFetch: false,
-    existingFields: emptinessInfo.reduce((acc, info) => {
-      acc[info.indexPatternTitle] = booleanMap(info.existingFieldNames);
-      return acc;
-    }, state.existingFields),
-  }));
+    setState((state) => ({
+      ...state,
+      isFirstExistenceFetch: false,
+      existenceFetchFailed: false,
+      existingFields: emptinessInfo.reduce((acc, info) => {
+        acc[info.indexPatternTitle] = booleanMap(info.existingFieldNames);
+        return acc;
+      }, state.existingFields),
+    }));
+  } catch (e) {
+    // show all fields as available if fetch failed
+    setState((state) => ({
+      ...state,
+      existenceFetchFailed: true,
+      existingFields: indexPatterns.reduce((acc, pattern) => {
+        acc[pattern.title] = booleanMap(pattern.fields.map((field) => field.name));
+        return acc;
+      }, state.existingFields),
+    }));
+  }
 }
 
 function booleanMap(keys: string[]) {
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/types.ts b/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/types.ts
index b7beb67196add..2a9b3f452d991 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/types.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/types.ts
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ export type IndexPatternPrivateState = IndexPatternPersistedState & {
    */
   existingFields: Record<string, Record<string, boolean>>;
   isFirstExistenceFetch: boolean;
+  existenceFetchFailed?: boolean;
 };
 
 export interface IndexPatternRef {