diff --git a/docarray/array/storage/elastic/backend.py b/docarray/array/storage/elastic/backend.py
index 1513987a4a5..c3e89fb46f8 100644
--- a/docarray/array/storage/elastic/backend.py
+++ b/docarray/array/storage/elastic/backend.py
@@ -126,7 +126,9 @@ def _ensure_unique_config(
         return config_joined
 
     def _build_offset2id_index(self):
-        if not self._client.indices.exists(index=self._index_name_offset2id):
+        if self._list_like and not self._client.indices.exists(
+            index=self._index_name_offset2id
+        ):
             self._client.indices.create(index=self._index_name_offset2id, ignore=[404])
 
     def _build_schema_from_elastic_config(self, elastic_config):