diff --git a/administrator/components/com_fields/src/Model/FieldModel.php b/administrator/components/com_fields/src/Model/FieldModel.php
index 9b1a84afb4121..4f3ebf3ba9561 100644
--- a/administrator/components/com_fields/src/Model/FieldModel.php
+++ b/administrator/components/com_fields/src/Model/FieldModel.php
@@ -117,13 +117,17 @@ public function save($data)
             $field = $this->getItem($data['id']);
         }
 
-        if (
-            isset($data['params']['searchindex'])
-            && ((\is_null($field) && $data['params']['searchindex'] > 0)
-                || ($field->params['searchindex'] != $data['params']['searchindex'])
-                || ($data['params']['searchindex'] > 0 && ($field->state != $data['state'] || $field->access != $data['access'])))
-        ) {
-            Factory::getApplication()->enqueueMessage(Text::_('COM_FIELDS_SEARCHINDEX_MIGHT_REQUIRE_REINDEXING'), 'notice');
+        if (isset($data['params']['searchindex'])) {
+            if (\is_null($field)) {
+                if ($data['params']['searchindex'] > 0) {
+                    Factory::getApplication()->enqueueMessage(Text::_('COM_FIELDS_SEARCHINDEX_MIGHT_REQUIRE_REINDEXING'), 'notice');
+                }
+            } elseif (
+                $field->params['searchindex'] != $data['params']['searchindex']
+                || ($data['params']['searchindex'] > 0 && ($field->state != $data['state'] || $field->access != $data['access']))
+            ) {
+                Factory::getApplication()->enqueueMessage(Text::_('COM_FIELDS_SEARCHINDEX_MIGHT_REQUIRE_REINDEXING'), 'notice');
+            }
         }
 
         if (!isset($data['label']) && isset($data['params']['label'])) {