diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/rule_registry/common/assets/lifecycle_policies/default_lifecycle_policy.ts b/x-pack/plugins/rule_registry/common/assets/lifecycle_policies/default_lifecycle_policy.ts
index 24653dbf07d2d..449a425ad3aa6 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/rule_registry/common/assets/lifecycle_policies/default_lifecycle_policy.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/rule_registry/common/assets/lifecycle_policies/default_lifecycle_policy.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,9 @@
 
 export const defaultLifecyclePolicy = {
   policy: {
+    _meta: {
+      managed: true,
+    },
     phases: {
       hot: {
         actions: {
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/rule_registry/server/rule_data_plugin_service/resource_installer.ts b/x-pack/plugins/rule_registry/server/rule_data_plugin_service/resource_installer.ts
index 97812d53c9f37..638a6461a4163 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/rule_registry/server/rule_data_plugin_service/resource_installer.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/rule_registry/server/rule_data_plugin_service/resource_installer.ts
@@ -159,11 +159,26 @@ export class ResourceInstaller {
   private async updateAliasWriteIndexMapping({ index, alias }: ConcreteIndexInfo) {
     const { logger, getClusterClient } = this.options;
     const clusterClient = await getClusterClient();
-    const simulatedIndexMapping = await clusterClient.indices.simulateIndexTemplate({
-      name: index,
-    });
+
+    let simulatedIndexMapping: estypes.IndicesSimulateIndexTemplateResponse;
+    try {
+      simulatedIndexMapping = await clusterClient.indices.simulateIndexTemplate({
+        name: index,
+      });
+    } catch (err) {
+      logger.error(
+        `Ignored PUT mappings for alias ${alias}; error generating simulated mappings: ${err.message}`
+      );
+      return;
+    }
+
     const simulatedMapping = get(simulatedIndexMapping, ['body', 'template', 'mappings']);
 
+    if (simulatedMapping == null) {
+      logger.error(`Ignored PUT mappings for alias ${alias}; simulated mappings were empty`);
+      return;
+    }
+
     try {
       await clusterClient.indices.putMapping({
         index,