diff --git a/plugin/src/main/java/org/opensearch/ml/indices/MLIndicesHandler.java b/plugin/src/main/java/org/opensearch/ml/indices/MLIndicesHandler.java
index 43da6b93d8..f44c0fd1a9 100644
--- a/plugin/src/main/java/org/opensearch/ml/indices/MLIndicesHandler.java
+++ b/plugin/src/main/java/org/opensearch/ml/indices/MLIndicesHandler.java
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ public void initMLIndexIfAbsent(String indexName, String mapping, ActionListener
                     log.error("Failed to create index " + indexName, e);
                     listener.onFailure(e);
                 });
-                CreateIndexRequest request = new CreateIndexRequest(indexName);
+                CreateIndexRequest request = new CreateIndexRequest(indexName).mapping(mapping);
                 client.admin().indices().create(request, ActionListener.runBefore(actionListener, () -> threadContext.restore()));
             } catch (Exception e) {
                 log.error("Failed to init index " + indexName, e);