diff --git a/plugin/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/ml/action/TransportJobTaskAction.java b/plugin/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/ml/action/TransportJobTaskAction.java
index b63682702c6..a72606e40ce 100644
--- a/plugin/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/ml/action/TransportJobTaskAction.java
+++ b/plugin/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/ml/action/TransportJobTaskAction.java
@@ -96,9 +96,9 @@ public abstract class TransportJobTaskAction<OperationTask extends Task, Request
         // the actionlistener's onFailure
         if (tasks.isEmpty()) {
             if (taskOperationFailures.isEmpty() == false) {
-                throw new ElasticsearchException(taskOperationFailures.get(0).getCause());
+                throw wrapThrowable(taskOperationFailures.get(0).getCause());
             } else if (failedNodeExceptions.isEmpty() == false) {
-                throw new ElasticsearchException(failedNodeExceptions.get(0).getCause());
+                throw wrapThrowable(failedNodeExceptions.get(0).getCause());
             } else {
                 throw new IllegalStateException("No errors or response");
             }
@@ -110,6 +110,14 @@ public abstract class TransportJobTaskAction<OperationTask extends Task, Request
         }
     }
 
+    private ElasticsearchException wrapThrowable(Throwable th) {
+        if (th instanceof ElasticsearchException) {
+            return (ElasticsearchException) th;
+        } else {
+            return new ElasticsearchException(th);
+        }
+    }
+
     @Override
     protected boolean accumulateExceptions() {
         return false;