diff --git a/src/platform/packages/shared/kbn-esql-language/src/commands/definitions/types.ts b/src/platform/packages/shared/kbn-esql-language/src/commands/definitions/types.ts
index 82b8b1a83bae3..b6e35702a56e6 100644
--- a/src/platform/packages/shared/kbn-esql-language/src/commands/definitions/types.ts
+++ b/src/platform/packages/shared/kbn-esql-language/src/commands/definitions/types.ts
@@ -452,10 +452,6 @@ export interface ValidationErrors {
     message: string;
     type: {};
   };
-  forkTooFewBranches: {
-    message: string;
-    type: {};
-  };
   forkNotAllowedWithSubqueries: {
     message: string;
     type: {};
diff --git a/src/platform/packages/shared/kbn-esql-language/src/commands/definitions/utils/errors.ts b/src/platform/packages/shared/kbn-esql-language/src/commands/definitions/utils/errors.ts
index 505587fd70aab..042a6b8c36acc 100644
--- a/src/platform/packages/shared/kbn-esql-language/src/commands/definitions/utils/errors.ts
+++ b/src/platform/packages/shared/kbn-esql-language/src/commands/definitions/utils/errors.ts
@@ -429,13 +429,6 @@ Expected one of:
         }),
         type: 'error',
       };
-    case 'forkTooFewBranches':
-      return {
-        message: i18n.translate('kbn-esql-language.esql.validation.forkTooFewBranches', {
-          defaultMessage: '[FORK] Must include at least two branches.',
-        }),
-        type: 'error',
-      };
     case 'forkNotAllowedWithSubqueries':
       return {
         message: i18n.translate('kbn-esql-language.esql.validation.forkNotAllowedWithSubqueries', {
@@ -750,9 +743,6 @@ export const errors = {
   forkTooManyBranches: (command: ESQLAstAllCommands): ESQLMessage =>
     errors.byId('forkTooManyBranches', command.location, {}),
 
-  forkTooFewBranches: (command: ESQLAstAllCommands): ESQLMessage =>
-    errors.byId('forkTooFewBranches', command.location, {}),
-
   forkNotAllowedWithSubqueries: (command: ESQLAstAllCommands): ESQLMessage =>
     errors.byId('forkNotAllowedWithSubqueries', command.location, {}),
 
diff --git a/src/platform/packages/shared/kbn-esql-language/src/commands/registry/fork/autocomplete.test.ts b/src/platform/packages/shared/kbn-esql-language/src/commands/registry/fork/autocomplete.test.ts
index 639282528fb21..208d50c27b98b 100644
--- a/src/platform/packages/shared/kbn-esql-language/src/commands/registry/fork/autocomplete.test.ts
+++ b/src/platform/packages/shared/kbn-esql-language/src/commands/registry/fork/autocomplete.test.ts
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ describe('FORK Autocomplete', () => {
     });
 
     test('suggests pipe and new branch after complete branch', async () => {
-      await forkExpectSuggestions('FROM a | FORK (LIMIT 100) ', ['($0)']);
+      await forkExpectSuggestions('FROM a | FORK (LIMIT 100) ', ['($0)', '| ']);
       await forkExpectSuggestions('FROM a | FORK (LIMIT 100) (SORT keywordField ASC) ', [
         '($0)',
         '| ',
diff --git a/src/platform/packages/shared/kbn-esql-language/src/commands/registry/fork/autocomplete.ts b/src/platform/packages/shared/kbn-esql-language/src/commands/registry/fork/autocomplete.ts
index a9c356cc27b96..b768f76a38bf5 100644
--- a/src/platform/packages/shared/kbn-esql-language/src/commands/registry/fork/autocomplete.ts
+++ b/src/platform/packages/shared/kbn-esql-language/src/commands/registry/fork/autocomplete.ts
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ export async function autocomplete(
 
   if (!withinActiveBranch && /\)\s+$/i.test(innerText)) {
     const suggestions = [newBranchSuggestion];
-    if (forkCommand.args.length > 1) {
+    if (forkCommand.args.length > 0) {
       suggestions.push(pipeCompleteItem);
     }
     return suggestions;
diff --git a/src/platform/packages/shared/kbn-esql-language/src/commands/registry/fork/validate.test.ts b/src/platform/packages/shared/kbn-esql-language/src/commands/registry/fork/validate.test.ts
index a35b7a06b5a2f..0ce37228bede5 100644
--- a/src/platform/packages/shared/kbn-esql-language/src/commands/registry/fork/validate.test.ts
+++ b/src/platform/packages/shared/kbn-esql-language/src/commands/registry/fork/validate.test.ts
@@ -38,12 +38,12 @@ describe('FORK Validation', () => {
     );
   });
 
-  test('requires at least two branches', () => {
+  test('Allows FORK with one branch', () => {
     forkExpectErrors(
       `FROM index
 | FORK
     (WHERE keywordField != "")`,
-      [`[FORK] Must include at least two branches.`]
+      []
     );
   });
 
diff --git a/src/platform/packages/shared/kbn-esql-language/src/commands/registry/fork/validate.ts b/src/platform/packages/shared/kbn-esql-language/src/commands/registry/fork/validate.ts
index ddd1e9e1524a1..45f0b66824d45 100644
--- a/src/platform/packages/shared/kbn-esql-language/src/commands/registry/fork/validate.ts
+++ b/src/platform/packages/shared/kbn-esql-language/src/commands/registry/fork/validate.ts
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ import type { ICommandContext, ICommandCallbacks } from '../types';
 import { validateCommandArguments } from '../../definitions/utils/validation';
 import { errors } from '../../definitions/utils';
 
-const MIN_BRANCHES = 2;
 const MAX_BRANCHES = 8;
 
 export const validate = (
@@ -29,10 +28,6 @@ export const validate = (
   const forkCommand = command as ESQLAstForkCommand;
   const messages: ESQLMessage[] = [];
 
-  if (forkCommand.args.length < MIN_BRANCHES) {
-    messages.push(errors.forkTooFewBranches(forkCommand));
-  }
-
   if (forkCommand.args.length > MAX_BRANCHES) {
     messages.push(errors.forkTooManyBranches(forkCommand));
   }
diff --git a/src/platform/plugins/shared/esql/ADD_COMMAND_GUIDE.md b/src/platform/plugins/shared/esql/ADD_COMMAND_GUIDE.md
index 989adeb436f60..a81c7a6518556 100644
--- a/src/platform/plugins/shared/esql/ADD_COMMAND_GUIDE.md
+++ b/src/platform/plugins/shared/esql/ADD_COMMAND_GUIDE.md
@@ -161,11 +161,6 @@ export const validate = (
 ): ESQLMessage[] => {
   const messages: ESQLMessage[] = [];
 
-  // custom check specific to FORK
-  if (command.args.length < MIN_BRANCHES) {
-    messages.push(errors.forkTooFewBranches(command));
-  }
-
   // custom check specific to FORK
   if (command.args.length > MAX_BRANCHES) {
     messages.push(errors.forkTooManyBranches(command));