diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/__jest__/client_integration/fixtures.ts b/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/__jest__/client_integration/fixtures.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..8dddb2421f03d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/__jest__/client_integration/fixtures.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License;
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License.
+ */
+
+export const nestedProcessorsErrorFixture = {
+  attributes: {
+    error: {
+      root_cause: [
+        {
+          type: 'parse_exception',
+          reason: '[field] required property is missing',
+          property_name: 'field',
+          processor_type: 'circle',
+          suppressed: [
+            {
+              type: 'parse_exception',
+              reason: '[field] required property is missing',
+              property_name: 'field',
+              processor_type: 'circle',
+            },
+            {
+              type: 'parse_exception',
+              reason: '[field] required property is missing',
+              property_name: 'field',
+              processor_type: 'circle',
+              suppressed: [
+                {
+                  type: 'parse_exception',
+                  reason: '[field] required property is missing',
+                  property_name: 'field',
+                  processor_type: 'csv',
+                },
+              ],
+            },
+            {
+              type: 'parse_exception',
+              reason: '[field] required property is missing',
+              property_name: 'field',
+              processor_type: 'circle',
+            },
+            {
+              type: 'parse_exception',
+              reason: '[field] required property is missing',
+              property_name: 'field',
+              processor_type: 'circle',
+            },
+            {
+              type: 'parse_exception',
+              reason: '[field] required property is missing',
+              property_name: 'field',
+              processor_type: 'circle',
+            },
+            {
+              type: 'parse_exception',
+              reason: '[field] required property is missing',
+              property_name: 'field',
+              processor_type: 'circle',
+            },
+          ],
+        },
+      ],
+      type: 'parse_exception',
+      reason: '[field] required property is missing',
+      property_name: 'field',
+      processor_type: 'circle',
+      suppressed: [
+        {
+          type: 'parse_exception',
+          reason: '[field] required property is missing',
+          property_name: 'field',
+          processor_type: 'circle',
+        },
+        {
+          type: 'parse_exception',
+          reason: '[field] required property is missing',
+          property_name: 'field',
+          processor_type: 'circle',
+          suppressed: [
+            {
+              type: 'parse_exception',
+              reason: '[field] required property is missing',
+              property_name: 'field',
+              processor_type: 'csv',
+            },
+          ],
+        },
+        {
+          type: 'parse_exception',
+          reason: '[field] required property is missing',
+          property_name: 'field',
+          processor_type: 'circle',
+        },
+        {
+          type: 'parse_exception',
+          reason: '[field] required property is missing',
+          property_name: 'field',
+          processor_type: 'circle',
+        },
+        {
+          type: 'parse_exception',
+          reason: '[field] required property is missing',
+          property_name: 'field',
+          processor_type: 'circle',
+        },
+        {
+          type: 'parse_exception',
+          reason: '[field] required property is missing',
+          property_name: 'field',
+          processor_type: 'circle',
+        },
+      ],
+    },
+    status: 400,
+  },
+};
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/__jest__/client_integration/helpers/pipeline_form.helpers.ts b/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/__jest__/client_integration/helpers/pipeline_form.helpers.ts
index 8a14ed13f2022..85848b3d2f73c 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/__jest__/client_integration/helpers/pipeline_form.helpers.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/__jest__/client_integration/helpers/pipeline_form.helpers.ts
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ export type PipelineFormTestSubjects =
   | 'submitButton'
   | 'pageTitle'
   | 'savePipelineError'
+  | 'savePipelineError.showErrorsButton'
+  | 'savePipelineError.hideErrorsButton'
   | 'pipelineForm'
   | 'versionToggle'
   | 'versionField'
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/__jest__/client_integration/ingest_pipelines_create.test.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/__jest__/client_integration/ingest_pipelines_create.test.tsx
index 2cfccbdc6d578..813057813f139 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/__jest__/client_integration/ingest_pipelines_create.test.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/__jest__/client_integration/ingest_pipelines_create.test.tsx
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ import { act } from 'react-dom/test-utils';
 import { setupEnvironment, pageHelpers, nextTick } from './helpers';
 import { PipelinesCreateTestBed } from './helpers/pipelines_create.helpers';
 
+import { nestedProcessorsErrorFixture } from './fixtures';
+
 const { setup } = pageHelpers.pipelinesCreate;
 
 jest.mock('@elastic/eui', () => {
@@ -163,6 +165,25 @@ describe('<PipelinesCreate />', () => {
         expect(exists('savePipelineError')).toBe(true);
         expect(find('savePipelineError').text()).toContain(error.message);
       });
+
+      test('displays nested pipeline errors as a flat list', async () => {
+        const { actions, find, exists, waitFor } = testBed;
+        httpRequestsMockHelpers.setCreatePipelineResponse(undefined, {
+          body: nestedProcessorsErrorFixture,
+        });
+
+        await act(async () => {
+          actions.clickSubmitButton();
+          await waitFor('savePipelineError');
+        });
+
+        expect(exists('savePipelineError')).toBe(true);
+        expect(exists('savePipelineError.showErrorsButton')).toBe(true);
+        find('savePipelineError.showErrorsButton').simulate('click');
+        expect(exists('savePipelineError.hideErrorsButton')).toBe(true);
+        expect(exists('savePipelineError.showErrorsButton')).toBe(false);
+        expect(find('savePipelineError').find('li').length).toBe(8);
+      });
     });
 
     describe('test pipeline', () => {
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/public/application/components/pipeline_form/pipeline_form.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/public/application/components/pipeline_form/pipeline_form.tsx
index 05c9f0a08b0c7..a68e667f4ab43 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/public/application/components/pipeline_form/pipeline_form.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/public/application/components/pipeline_form/pipeline_form.tsx
@@ -11,17 +11,18 @@ import { EuiButton, EuiButtonEmpty, EuiFlexGroup, EuiFlexItem, EuiSpacer } from
 import { useForm, Form, FormConfig } from '../../../shared_imports';
 import { Pipeline } from '../../../../common/types';
 
-import { PipelineRequestFlyout } from './pipeline_request_flyout';
-import { PipelineTestFlyout } from './pipeline_test_flyout';
-import { PipelineFormFields } from './pipeline_form_fields';
-import { PipelineFormError } from './pipeline_form_error';
-import { pipelineFormSchema } from './schema';
 import {
   OnUpdateHandlerArg,
   OnUpdateHandler,
   SerializeResult,
 } from '../pipeline_processors_editor';
 
+import { PipelineRequestFlyout } from './pipeline_request_flyout';
+import { PipelineTestFlyout } from './pipeline_test_flyout';
+import { PipelineFormFields } from './pipeline_form_fields';
+import { PipelineFormError } from './pipeline_form_error';
+import { pipelineFormSchema } from './schema';
+
 export interface PipelineFormProps {
   onSave: (pipeline: Pipeline) => void;
   onCancel: () => void;
@@ -116,7 +117,7 @@ export const PipelineForm: React.FunctionComponent<PipelineFormProps> = ({
         error={form.getErrors()}
       >
         {/* Request error */}
-        {saveError && <PipelineFormError errorMessage={saveError.message} />}
+        {saveError && <PipelineFormError error={saveError} />}
 
         {/* All form fields */}
         <PipelineFormFields
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/public/application/components/pipeline_form/pipeline_form_error.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/public/application/components/pipeline_form/pipeline_form_error.tsx
deleted file mode 100644
index ef0e2737df24d..0000000000000
--- a/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/public/application/components/pipeline_form/pipeline_form_error.tsx
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,34 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
- * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License;
- * you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License.
- */
-
-import React from 'react';
-import { FormattedMessage } from '@kbn/i18n/react';
-import { EuiSpacer, EuiCallOut } from '@elastic/eui';
-
-interface Props {
-  errorMessage: string;
-}
-
-export const PipelineFormError: React.FunctionComponent<Props> = ({ errorMessage }) => {
-  return (
-    <>
-      <EuiCallOut
-        title={
-          <FormattedMessage
-            id="xpack.ingestPipelines.form.savePipelineError"
-            defaultMessage="Unable to create pipeline"
-          />
-        }
-        color="danger"
-        iconType="alert"
-        data-test-subj="savePipelineError"
-      >
-        <p>{errorMessage}</p>
-      </EuiCallOut>
-      <EuiSpacer size="m" />
-    </>
-  );
-};
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/public/application/components/pipeline_form/pipeline_form_error/error_utils.test.ts b/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/public/application/components/pipeline_form/pipeline_form_error/error_utils.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..1739365eb197d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/public/application/components/pipeline_form/pipeline_form_error/error_utils.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License;
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License.
+ */
+
+import { toKnownError } from './error_utils';
+import { nestedProcessorsErrorFixture } from '../../../../../__jest__/client_integration/fixtures';
+
+describe('toKnownError', () => {
+  test('undefined, null, numbers, arrays and bad objects', () => {
+    expect(toKnownError(undefined)).toEqual({ errors: [{ reason: 'An unknown error occurred.' }] });
+    expect(toKnownError(null)).toEqual({ errors: [{ reason: 'An unknown error occurred.' }] });
+    expect(toKnownError(123)).toEqual({ errors: [{ reason: 'An unknown error occurred.' }] });
+    expect(toKnownError([])).toEqual({ errors: [{ reason: 'An unknown error occurred.' }] });
+    expect(toKnownError({})).toEqual({ errors: [{ reason: 'An unknown error occurred.' }] });
+    expect(toKnownError({ attributes: {} })).toEqual({
+      errors: [{ reason: 'An unknown error occurred.' }],
+    });
+  });
+
+  test('non-processors errors', () => {
+    expect(toKnownError(new Error('my error'))).toEqual({ errors: [{ reason: 'my error' }] });
+    expect(toKnownError({ message: 'my error' })).toEqual({ errors: [{ reason: 'my error' }] });
+  });
+
+  test('processors errors', () => {
+    expect(toKnownError(nestedProcessorsErrorFixture)).toMatchInlineSnapshot(`
+      Object {
+        "errors": Array [
+          Object {
+            "processorType": "circle",
+            "reason": "[field] required property is missing",
+          },
+          Object {
+            "processorType": "circle",
+            "reason": "[field] required property is missing",
+          },
+          Object {
+            "processorType": "circle",
+            "reason": "[field] required property is missing",
+          },
+          Object {
+            "processorType": "csv",
+            "reason": "[field] required property is missing",
+          },
+          Object {
+            "processorType": "circle",
+            "reason": "[field] required property is missing",
+          },
+          Object {
+            "processorType": "circle",
+            "reason": "[field] required property is missing",
+          },
+          Object {
+            "processorType": "circle",
+            "reason": "[field] required property is missing",
+          },
+          Object {
+            "processorType": "circle",
+            "reason": "[field] required property is missing",
+          },
+        ],
+      }
+    `);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/public/application/components/pipeline_form/pipeline_form_error/error_utils.ts b/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/public/application/components/pipeline_form/pipeline_form_error/error_utils.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..7f32f962f657c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/public/application/components/pipeline_form/pipeline_form_error/error_utils.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License;
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License.
+ */
+
+import * as t from 'io-ts';
+import { flow } from 'fp-ts/lib/function';
+import { isRight } from 'fp-ts/lib/Either';
+
+import { i18nTexts } from './i18n_texts';
+
+export interface PipelineError {
+  reason: string;
+  processorType?: string;
+}
+interface PipelineErrors {
+  errors: PipelineError[];
+}
+
+interface ErrorNode {
+  reason: string;
+  processor_type?: string;
+  suppressed?: ErrorNode[];
+}
+
+// This is a runtime type (RT) for an error node which is a recursive type
+const errorNodeRT = t.recursion<ErrorNode>('ErrorNode', (ErrorNode) =>
+  t.intersection([
+    t.interface({
+      reason: t.string,
+    }),
+    t.partial({
+      processor_type: t.string,
+      suppressed: t.array(ErrorNode),
+    }),
+  ])
+);
+
+// This is a runtime type for the attributes object we expect to receive from the server
+// for processor errors
+const errorAttributesObjectRT = t.interface({
+  attributes: t.interface({
+    error: t.interface({
+      root_cause: t.array(errorNodeRT),
+    }),
+  }),
+});
+
+const isProcessorsError = flow(errorAttributesObjectRT.decode, isRight);
+
+type ErrorAttributesObject = t.TypeOf<typeof errorAttributesObjectRT>;
+
+const flattenErrorsTree = (node: ErrorNode): PipelineError[] => {
+  const result: PipelineError[] = [];
+  const recurse = (_node: ErrorNode) => {
+    result.push({ reason: _node.reason, processorType: _node.processor_type });
+    if (_node.suppressed && Array.isArray(_node.suppressed)) {
+      _node.suppressed.forEach(recurse);
+    }
+  };
+  recurse(node);
+  return result;
+};
+
+export const toKnownError = (error: unknown): PipelineErrors => {
+  if (typeof error === 'object' && error != null && isProcessorsError(error)) {
+    const errorAttributes = error as ErrorAttributesObject;
+    const rootCause = errorAttributes.attributes.error.root_cause[0];
+    return { errors: flattenErrorsTree(rootCause) };
+  }
+
+  if (typeof error === 'string') {
+    return { errors: [{ reason: error }] };
+  }
+
+  if (
+    error instanceof Error ||
+    (typeof error === 'object' && error != null && (error as any).message)
+  ) {
+    return { errors: [{ reason: (error as any).message }] };
+  }
+
+  return { errors: [{ reason: i18nTexts.errors.unknownError }] };
+};
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/public/application/components/pipeline_form/pipeline_form_error/i18n_texts.ts b/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/public/application/components/pipeline_form/pipeline_form_error/i18n_texts.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..e354541db8e7b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/public/application/components/pipeline_form/pipeline_form_error/i18n_texts.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License;
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License.
+ */
+
+import { i18n } from '@kbn/i18n';
+
+export const i18nTexts = {
+  title: i18n.translate('xpack.ingestPipelines.form.savePipelineError', {
+    defaultMessage: 'Unable to create pipeline',
+  }),
+  errors: {
+    processor: (processorType: string) =>
+      i18n.translate('xpack.ingestPipelines.form.savePipelineError.processorLabel', {
+        defaultMessage: '{type} processor',
+        values: { type: processorType },
+      }),
+    showErrors: (hiddenErrorsCount: number) =>
+      i18n.translate('xpack.ingestPipelines.form.savePipelineError.showAllButton', {
+        defaultMessage:
+          'Show {hiddenErrorsCount, plural, one {# more error} other {# more errors}}',
+        values: {
+          hiddenErrorsCount,
+        },
+      }),
+    hideErrors: (hiddenErrorsCount: number) =>
+      i18n.translate('xpack.ingestPipelines.form.savePip10mbelineError.showFewerButton', {
+        defaultMessage: 'Hide {hiddenErrorsCount, plural, one {# error} other {# errors}}',
+        values: {
+          hiddenErrorsCount,
+        },
+      }),
+    unknownError: i18n.translate('xpack.ingestPipelines.form.unknownError', {
+      defaultMessage: 'An unknown error occurred.',
+    }),
+  },
+};
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/public/application/components/pipeline_form/pipeline_form_error/index.ts b/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/public/application/components/pipeline_form/pipeline_form_error/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..656691f639498
--- /dev/null
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/public/application/components/pipeline_form/pipeline_form_error/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License;
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License.
+ */
+
+export { PipelineFormError } from './pipeline_form_error';
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/public/application/components/pipeline_form/pipeline_form_error/pipeline_form_error.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/public/application/components/pipeline_form/pipeline_form_error/pipeline_form_error.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..23fb9a1648434
--- /dev/null
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/public/application/components/pipeline_form/pipeline_form_error/pipeline_form_error.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License;
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License.
+ */
+
+import React, { useState, useEffect } from 'react';
+
+import { EuiSpacer, EuiCallOut, EuiFlexGroup, EuiFlexItem, EuiButtonEmpty } from '@elastic/eui';
+import { useKibana } from '../../../../shared_imports';
+
+import { i18nTexts } from './i18n_texts';
+import { toKnownError, PipelineError } from './error_utils';
+
+interface Props {
+  error: unknown;
+}
+
+const numberOfErrorsToDisplay = 5;
+
+export const PipelineFormError: React.FunctionComponent<Props> = ({ error }) => {
+  const { services } = useKibana();
+  const [isShowingAllErrors, setIsShowingAllErrors] = useState<boolean>(false);
+  const safeErrorResult = toKnownError(error);
+  const hasMoreErrors = safeErrorResult.errors.length > numberOfErrorsToDisplay;
+  const hiddenErrorsCount = safeErrorResult.errors.length - numberOfErrorsToDisplay;
+  const results = isShowingAllErrors
+    ? safeErrorResult.errors
+    : safeErrorResult.errors.slice(0, numberOfErrorsToDisplay);
+
+  const renderErrorListItem = ({ processorType, reason }: PipelineError) => {
+    return (
+      <>
+        {processorType ? <>{i18nTexts.errors.processor(processorType) + ':'}&nbsp;</> : undefined}
+        {reason}
+      </>
+    );
+  };
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    services.notifications.toasts.addDanger({ title: i18nTexts.title });
+  }, [services, error]);
+  return (
+    <>
+      <EuiCallOut
+        title={i18nTexts.title}
+        color="danger"
+        iconType="alert"
+        data-test-subj="savePipelineError"
+      >
+        {results.length > 1 ? (
+          <ul>
+            {results.map((e, idx) => (
+              <li key={idx}>{renderErrorListItem(e)}</li>
+            ))}
+          </ul>
+        ) : (
+          renderErrorListItem(results[0])
+        )}
+        {hasMoreErrors ? (
+          <EuiFlexGroup
+            direction="column"
+            responsive={false}
+            gutterSize="xs"
+            justifyContent="center"
+            alignItems="flexStart"
+          >
+            <EuiFlexItem grow={false}>
+              {isShowingAllErrors ? (
+                <EuiButtonEmpty
+                  size="s"
+                  onClick={() => setIsShowingAllErrors(false)}
+                  color="danger"
+                  iconSide="right"
+                  iconType="arrowUp"
+                  data-test-subj="hideErrorsButton"
+                >
+                  {i18nTexts.errors.hideErrors(hiddenErrorsCount)}
+                </EuiButtonEmpty>
+              ) : (
+                <EuiButtonEmpty
+                  size="s"
+                  onClick={() => setIsShowingAllErrors(true)}
+                  color="danger"
+                  iconSide="right"
+                  iconType="arrowDown"
+                  data-test-subj="showErrorsButton"
+                >
+                  {i18nTexts.errors.showErrors(hiddenErrorsCount)}
+                </EuiButtonEmpty>
+              )}
+            </EuiFlexItem>
+          </EuiFlexGroup>
+        ) : undefined}
+      </EuiCallOut>
+      <EuiSpacer size="m" />
+    </>
+  );
+};
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/server/routes/api/create.ts b/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/server/routes/api/create.ts
index c1ab3852ee784..c2328bcc9d0ab 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/server/routes/api/create.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/server/routes/api/create.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import { Pipeline } from '../../../common/types';
 import { API_BASE_PATH } from '../../../common/constants';
 import { RouteDependencies } from '../../types';
 import { pipelineSchema } from './pipeline_schema';
+import { isObjectWithKeys } from './shared';
 
 const bodySchema = schema.object({
   name: schema.string(),
@@ -70,7 +71,12 @@ export const registerCreateRoute = ({
         if (isEsError(error)) {
           return res.customError({
             statusCode: error.statusCode,
-            body: error,
+            body: isObjectWithKeys(error.body)
+              ? {
+                  message: error.message,
+                  attributes: error.body,
+                }
+              : error,
           });
         }
 
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/server/routes/api/shared/index.ts b/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/server/routes/api/shared/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..1fa794a4fb996
--- /dev/null
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/server/routes/api/shared/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License;
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License.
+ */
+
+export { isObjectWithKeys } from './is_object_with_keys';
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/server/routes/api/shared/is_object_with_keys.ts b/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/server/routes/api/shared/is_object_with_keys.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..0617bde26cfb6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/server/routes/api/shared/is_object_with_keys.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License;
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License.
+ */
+
+export const isObjectWithKeys = (value: unknown) => {
+  return typeof value === 'object' && !!value && Object.keys(value).length > 0;
+};
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/server/routes/api/update.ts b/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/server/routes/api/update.ts
index 214b293a43c6c..cd0e3568f0f60 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/server/routes/api/update.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ingest_pipelines/server/routes/api/update.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { schema } from '@kbn/config-schema';
 import { API_BASE_PATH } from '../../../common/constants';
 import { RouteDependencies } from '../../types';
 import { pipelineSchema } from './pipeline_schema';
+import { isObjectWithKeys } from './shared';
 
 const bodySchema = schema.object(pipelineSchema);
 
@@ -52,7 +53,12 @@ export const registerUpdateRoute = ({
         if (isEsError(error)) {
           return res.customError({
             statusCode: error.statusCode,
-            body: error,
+            body: isObjectWithKeys(error.body)
+              ? {
+                  message: error.message,
+                  attributes: error.body,
+                }
+              : error,
           });
         }