diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ml/server/routes/indices.ts b/x-pack/plugins/ml/server/routes/indices.ts
index ee817c492dbd4..8a5df1415bde8 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/ml/server/routes/indices.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ml/server/routes/indices.ts
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ export function indicesRoutes({ router, mlLicense }: RouteInitialization) {
           requestFields !== undefined && Array.isArray(requestFields)
             ? requestFields.join(',')
             : '*';
-        const { body } = await client.asInternalUser.fieldCaps({ index, fields });
+        const { body } = await client.asCurrentUser.fieldCaps({ index, fields });
         return response.ok({ body });
       } catch (e) {
         return response.customError(wrapError(e));