diff --git a/scripts/generators/es_template.py b/scripts/generators/es_template.py
index fb45800dce..386fd6e49b 100644
--- a/scripts/generators/es_template.py
+++ b/scripts/generators/es_template.py
@@ -198,17 +198,23 @@ def template_settings(es_version, ecs_version, mappings_section, template_settin
         es6_type_fallback(mappings_section['properties'])
 
         # error.stack_trace needs special handling to set
-        # index: false and doc_values: false
-        error_stack_trace_mappings = mappings_section['properties']['error']['properties']['stack_trace']
-        error_stack_trace_mappings.setdefault('index', False)
-        error_stack_trace_mappings.setdefault('doc_values', False)
+        # index: false and doc_values: false if the field
+        # is present in the mappings
+        try:
+            error_stack_trace_mappings = mappings_section['properties']['error']['properties']['stack_trace']
+            error_stack_trace_mappings.setdefault('index', False)
+            error_stack_trace_mappings.setdefault('doc_values', False)
+        except KeyError:
+            pass
 
         template['mappings'] = {'_doc': mappings_section}
     else:
         template['mappings'] = mappings_section
 
     # _meta can't be at template root in legacy templates, so moving back to mappings section
-    mappings_section['_meta'] = template.pop('_meta')
+    # if present
+    if '_meta' in template:
+        mappings_section['_meta'] = template.pop('_meta')
 
     return template