diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/security/public/management/roles/edit_role/privileges/es/index_privilege_form.test.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/security/public/management/roles/edit_role/privileges/es/index_privilege_form.test.tsx
index 8ed57e646326f..09160ce3b6967 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/security/public/management/roles/edit_role/privileges/es/index_privilege_form.test.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/security/public/management/roles/edit_role/privileges/es/index_privilege_form.test.tsx
@@ -416,6 +416,26 @@ describe('field level security', () => {
     expect(testProps.indicesAPIClient.getFields).toHaveBeenCalledWith('newPattern');
   });
 
+  test('does not query availble fields for remote cluster indices', async () => {
+    const testProps = {
+      ...props,
+      indexType: 'remote_indices' as const,
+      indexPrivilege: {
+        ...props.indexPrivilege,
+        clusters: ['test-cluster'],
+        names: ['foo', 'bar-*'],
+      },
+      indicesAPIClient: indicesAPIClientMock.create(),
+      allowFieldLevelSecurity: true,
+    };
+
+    testProps.indicesAPIClient.getFields.mockResolvedValue(['a', 'b', 'c']);
+
+    mountWithIntl(<IndexPrivilegeForm {...testProps} />);
+    await nextTick();
+    expect(testProps.indicesAPIClient.getFields).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
   test('it displays a warning when no fields are granted', () => {
     const testProps = {
       ...props,
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/security/public/management/roles/edit_role/privileges/es/index_privilege_form.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/security/public/management/roles/edit_role/privileges/es/index_privilege_form.tsx
index 58d1bd8061bf8..2540316caac89 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/security/public/management/roles/edit_role/privileges/es/index_privilege_form.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/security/public/management/roles/edit_role/privileges/es/index_privilege_form.tsx
@@ -227,7 +227,12 @@ export class IndexPrivilegeForm extends Component<Props, State> {
   };
 
   private loadFLSOptions = (indexNames: string[], force = false) => {
-    if (!force && (this.isFieldListLoading || indexNames.length === 0)) return;
+    if (
+      this.props.indexType === 'remote_indices' ||
+      (!force && (this.isFieldListLoading || indexNames.length === 0))
+    ) {
+      return;
+    }
 
     this.isFieldListLoading = true;
     this.setState({