diff --git a/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/admin/indices/cache/clear/RestClearIndicesCacheAction.java b/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/admin/indices/cache/clear/RestClearIndicesCacheAction.java
index d4f26d1ee47..7d530459a65 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/admin/indices/cache/clear/RestClearIndicesCacheAction.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/admin/indices/cache/clear/RestClearIndicesCacheAction.java
@@ -59,7 +59,9 @@ public class RestClearIndicesCacheAction extends BaseRestHandler {
     public void handleRequest(final RestRequest request, final RestChannel channel) {
         ClearIndicesCacheRequest clearIndicesCacheRequest = new ClearIndicesCacheRequest(RestActions.splitIndices(request.param("index")));
         clearIndicesCacheRequest.listenerThreaded(false);
-        clearIndicesCacheRequest.ignoreIndices(IgnoreIndices.fromString(request.param("ignore_indices")));
+        if (request.hasParam("ignore_indices")) {
+            clearIndicesCacheRequest.ignoreIndices(IgnoreIndices.fromString(request.param("ignore_indices")));
+        }
         try {
             clearIndicesCacheRequest.filterCache(request.paramAsBoolean("filter", clearIndicesCacheRequest.filterCache()));
             clearIndicesCacheRequest.fieldDataCache(request.paramAsBoolean("field_data", clearIndicesCacheRequest.fieldDataCache()));
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/admin/indices/flush/RestFlushAction.java b/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/admin/indices/flush/RestFlushAction.java
index c387b298c5a..02d8fa3de2a 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/admin/indices/flush/RestFlushAction.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/admin/indices/flush/RestFlushAction.java
@@ -58,7 +58,9 @@ public class RestFlushAction extends BaseRestHandler {
     public void handleRequest(final RestRequest request, final RestChannel channel) {
         FlushRequest flushRequest = new FlushRequest(RestActions.splitIndices(request.param("index")));
         flushRequest.listenerThreaded(false);
-        flushRequest.ignoreIndices(IgnoreIndices.fromString(request.param("ignore_indices")));
+        if (request.hasParam("ignore_indices")) {
+            flushRequest.ignoreIndices(IgnoreIndices.fromString(request.param("ignore_indices")));
+        }
         BroadcastOperationThreading operationThreading = BroadcastOperationThreading.fromString(request.param("operationThreading"), BroadcastOperationThreading.SINGLE_THREAD);
         if (operationThreading == BroadcastOperationThreading.NO_THREADS) {
             // since we don't spawn, don't allow no_threads, but change it to a single thread
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/admin/indices/gateway/snapshot/RestGatewaySnapshotAction.java b/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/admin/indices/gateway/snapshot/RestGatewaySnapshotAction.java
index 82bbb2f7952..f2f14968c68 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/admin/indices/gateway/snapshot/RestGatewaySnapshotAction.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/admin/indices/gateway/snapshot/RestGatewaySnapshotAction.java
@@ -53,7 +53,9 @@ public class RestGatewaySnapshotAction extends BaseRestHandler {
     public void handleRequest(final RestRequest request, final RestChannel channel) {
         GatewaySnapshotRequest gatewaySnapshotRequest = new GatewaySnapshotRequest(RestActions.splitIndices(request.param("index")));
         gatewaySnapshotRequest.listenerThreaded(false);
-        gatewaySnapshotRequest.ignoreIndices(IgnoreIndices.fromString(request.param("ignore_indices")));
+        if (request.hasParam("ignore_indices")) {
+            gatewaySnapshotRequest.ignoreIndices(IgnoreIndices.fromString(request.param("ignore_indices")));
+        }
         client.admin().indices().gatewaySnapshot(gatewaySnapshotRequest, new ActionListener<GatewaySnapshotResponse>() {
             @Override
             public void onResponse(GatewaySnapshotResponse response) {
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/admin/indices/optimize/RestOptimizeAction.java b/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/admin/indices/optimize/RestOptimizeAction.java
index 1efcb69357e..dd2eb4f04e1 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/admin/indices/optimize/RestOptimizeAction.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/admin/indices/optimize/RestOptimizeAction.java
@@ -59,7 +59,9 @@ public class RestOptimizeAction extends BaseRestHandler {
     public void handleRequest(final RestRequest request, final RestChannel channel) {
         OptimizeRequest optimizeRequest = new OptimizeRequest(RestActions.splitIndices(request.param("index")));
         optimizeRequest.listenerThreaded(false);
-        optimizeRequest.ignoreIndices(IgnoreIndices.fromString(request.param("ignore_indices")));
+        if (request.hasParam("ignore_indices")) {
+            optimizeRequest.ignoreIndices(IgnoreIndices.fromString(request.param("ignore_indices")));
+        }
         try {
             optimizeRequest.waitForMerge(request.paramAsBoolean("wait_for_merge", optimizeRequest.waitForMerge()));
             optimizeRequest.maxNumSegments(request.paramAsInt("max_num_segments", optimizeRequest.maxNumSegments()));
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/admin/indices/refresh/RestRefreshAction.java b/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/admin/indices/refresh/RestRefreshAction.java
index ac26e12202c..21ff1803e5d 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/admin/indices/refresh/RestRefreshAction.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/admin/indices/refresh/RestRefreshAction.java
@@ -58,7 +58,9 @@ public class RestRefreshAction extends BaseRestHandler {
     public void handleRequest(final RestRequest request, final RestChannel channel) {
         RefreshRequest refreshRequest = new RefreshRequest(RestActions.splitIndices(request.param("index")));
         refreshRequest.listenerThreaded(false);
-        refreshRequest.ignoreIndices(IgnoreIndices.fromString(request.param("ignore_indices")));
+        if (request.hasParam("ignore_indices")) {
+            refreshRequest.ignoreIndices(IgnoreIndices.fromString(request.param("ignore_indices")));
+        }
         BroadcastOperationThreading operationThreading = BroadcastOperationThreading.fromString(request.param("operation_threading"), BroadcastOperationThreading.SINGLE_THREAD);
         if (operationThreading == BroadcastOperationThreading.NO_THREADS) {
             // since we don't spawn, don't allow no_threads, but change it to a single thread
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/admin/indices/segments/RestIndicesSegmentsAction.java b/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/admin/indices/segments/RestIndicesSegmentsAction.java
index 9defc531cbd..7b7e8aa4e03 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/admin/indices/segments/RestIndicesSegmentsAction.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/admin/indices/segments/RestIndicesSegmentsAction.java
@@ -53,7 +53,9 @@ public class RestIndicesSegmentsAction extends BaseRestHandler {
     public void handleRequest(final RestRequest request, final RestChannel channel) {
         IndicesSegmentsRequest indicesSegmentsRequest = new IndicesSegmentsRequest(splitIndices(request.param("index")));
         indicesSegmentsRequest.listenerThreaded(false);
-        indicesSegmentsRequest.ignoreIndices(IgnoreIndices.fromString(request.param("ignore_indices")));
+        if (request.hasParam("ignore_indices")) {
+            indicesSegmentsRequest.ignoreIndices(IgnoreIndices.fromString(request.param("ignore_indices")));
+        }
         BroadcastOperationThreading operationThreading = BroadcastOperationThreading.fromString(request.param("operation_threading"), BroadcastOperationThreading.SINGLE_THREAD);
         if (operationThreading == BroadcastOperationThreading.NO_THREADS) {
             // since we don't spawn, don't allow no_threads, but change it to a single thread
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/admin/indices/stats/RestIndicesStatsAction.java b/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/admin/indices/stats/RestIndicesStatsAction.java
index 8507bc6b262..e039eef5fa2 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/admin/indices/stats/RestIndicesStatsAction.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/admin/indices/stats/RestIndicesStatsAction.java
@@ -83,7 +83,9 @@ public class RestIndicesStatsAction extends BaseRestHandler {
     public void handleRequest(final RestRequest request, final RestChannel channel) {
         IndicesStatsRequest indicesStatsRequest = new IndicesStatsRequest();
         indicesStatsRequest.listenerThreaded(false);
-        indicesStatsRequest.ignoreIndices(IgnoreIndices.fromString(request.param("ignore_indices")));
+        if (request.hasParam("ignore_indices")) {
+            indicesStatsRequest.ignoreIndices(IgnoreIndices.fromString(request.param("ignore_indices")));
+        }
         boolean clear = request.paramAsBoolean("clear", false);
         if (clear) {
             indicesStatsRequest.clear();
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/admin/indices/status/RestIndicesStatusAction.java b/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/admin/indices/status/RestIndicesStatusAction.java
index d09e1a04259..3314ed1f051 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/admin/indices/status/RestIndicesStatusAction.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/admin/indices/status/RestIndicesStatusAction.java
@@ -60,7 +60,9 @@ public class RestIndicesStatusAction extends BaseRestHandler {
     public void handleRequest(final RestRequest request, final RestChannel channel) {
         IndicesStatusRequest indicesStatusRequest = new IndicesStatusRequest(splitIndices(request.param("index")));
         indicesStatusRequest.listenerThreaded(false);
-        indicesStatusRequest.ignoreIndices(IgnoreIndices.fromString(request.param("ignore_indices")));
+        if (request.hasParam("ignore_indices")) {
+            indicesStatusRequest.ignoreIndices(IgnoreIndices.fromString(request.param("ignore_indices")));
+        }
         indicesStatusRequest.recovery(request.paramAsBoolean("recovery", indicesStatusRequest.recovery()));
         indicesStatusRequest.snapshot(request.paramAsBoolean("snapshot", indicesStatusRequest.snapshot()));
         BroadcastOperationThreading operationThreading = BroadcastOperationThreading.fromString(request.param("operation_threading"), BroadcastOperationThreading.SINGLE_THREAD);
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/admin/indices/validate/query/RestValidateQueryAction.java b/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/admin/indices/validate/query/RestValidateQueryAction.java
index db713ca605e..c89d9145354 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/admin/indices/validate/query/RestValidateQueryAction.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/admin/indices/validate/query/RestValidateQueryAction.java
@@ -63,7 +63,9 @@ public class RestValidateQueryAction extends BaseRestHandler {
     public void handleRequest(final RestRequest request, final RestChannel channel) {
         ValidateQueryRequest validateQueryRequest = new ValidateQueryRequest(RestActions.splitIndices(request.param("index")));
         validateQueryRequest.listenerThreaded(false);
-        validateQueryRequest.ignoreIndices(IgnoreIndices.fromString(request.param("ignore_indices")));
+        if (request.hasParam("ignore_indices")) {
+            validateQueryRequest.ignoreIndices(IgnoreIndices.fromString(request.param("ignore_indices")));
+        }
         try {
             BroadcastOperationThreading operationThreading = BroadcastOperationThreading.fromString(request.param("operation_threading"), BroadcastOperationThreading.SINGLE_THREAD);
             if (operationThreading == BroadcastOperationThreading.NO_THREADS) {
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/count/RestCountAction.java b/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/count/RestCountAction.java
index 0dfc6a6dae7..5d3aa8099f5 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/count/RestCountAction.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/count/RestCountAction.java
@@ -62,7 +62,9 @@ public class RestCountAction extends BaseRestHandler {
     @Override
     public void handleRequest(final RestRequest request, final RestChannel channel) {
         CountRequest countRequest = new CountRequest(RestActions.splitIndices(request.param("index")));
-        countRequest.ignoreIndices(IgnoreIndices.fromString(request.param("ignore_indices")));
+        if (request.hasParam("ignore_indices")) {
+            countRequest.ignoreIndices(IgnoreIndices.fromString(request.param("ignore_indices")));
+        }
         countRequest.listenerThreaded(false);
         try {
             BroadcastOperationThreading operationThreading = BroadcastOperationThreading.fromString(request.param("operation_threading"), BroadcastOperationThreading.SINGLE_THREAD);
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/search/RestMultiSearchAction.java b/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/search/RestMultiSearchAction.java
index 22614e2812c..889fbbffa43 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/search/RestMultiSearchAction.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/search/RestMultiSearchAction.java
@@ -61,7 +61,10 @@ public class RestMultiSearchAction extends BaseRestHandler {
 
         String[] indices = RestActions.splitIndices(request.param("index"));
         String[] types = RestActions.splitTypes(request.param("type"));
-        IgnoreIndices ignoreIndices = IgnoreIndices.fromString(request.param("ignore_indices"));
+        IgnoreIndices ignoreIndices = null;
+        if (request.hasParam("ignore_indices")) {
+            IgnoreIndices.fromString(request.param("ignore_indices"));
+        }
 
         try {
             multiSearchRequest.add(request.content(), request.contentUnsafe(), indices, types, request.param("search_type"), ignoreIndices);
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/search/RestSearchAction.java b/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/search/RestSearchAction.java
index a2a74b4cb1b..ac3aede4a41 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/search/RestSearchAction.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/search/RestSearchAction.java
@@ -142,7 +142,9 @@ public class RestSearchAction extends BaseRestHandler {
         searchRequest.queryHint(request.param("query_hint"));
         searchRequest.routing(request.param("routing"));
         searchRequest.preference(request.param("preference"));
-        searchRequest.ignoreIndices(IgnoreIndices.fromString(request.param("ignore_indices")));
+        if (request.hasParam("ignore_indices")) {
+            searchRequest.ignoreIndices(IgnoreIndices.fromString(request.param("ignore_indices")));
+        }
 
         return searchRequest;
     }