diff --git a/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/admin/cluster/node/restart/TransportNodesRestartAction.java b/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/admin/cluster/node/restart/TransportNodesRestartAction.java
index 5aa5c871176..7307a173773 100644
--- a/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/admin/cluster/node/restart/TransportNodesRestartAction.java
+++ b/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/admin/cluster/node/restart/TransportNodesRestartAction.java
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ package org.elasticsearch.action.admin.cluster.node.restart;
 
 import org.elasticsearch.ElasticSearchException;
 import org.elasticsearch.ElasticSearchIllegalStateException;
+import org.elasticsearch.action.ActionListener;
 import org.elasticsearch.action.TransportActions;
 import org.elasticsearch.action.support.nodes.NodeOperationRequest;
 import org.elasticsearch.action.support.nodes.TransportNodesOperationAction;
@@ -63,6 +64,10 @@ public class TransportNodesRestartAction extends TransportNodesOperationAction<N
         disabled = componentSettings.getAsBoolean("disabled", false);
     }
 
+    @Override protected void doExecute(NodesRestartRequest nodesRestartRequest, ActionListener<NodesRestartResponse> listener) {
+        listener.onFailure(new ElasticSearchIllegalStateException("restart is disabled (for now) ...."));
+    }
+
     @Override protected String transportAction() {
         return TransportActions.Admin.Cluster.Node.RESTART;
     }