diff --git a/salt/elasticsearch/config.map.jinja b/salt/elasticsearch/config.map.jinja
index ed6a0d927..ccd977129 100644
--- a/salt/elasticsearch/config.map.jinja
+++ b/salt/elasticsearch/config.map.jinja
@@ -28,6 +28,9 @@
     {% do ESCONFIG.elasticsearch.config.node.attr.update({'box_type': 'hot'}) %}
     {% do ESCONFIG.elasticsearch.config.update({'discovery': {'seed_hosts': [grains.master]}}) %}
   {% endif %}
+    {% if HIGHLANDER %}
+          {% do ESCONFIG.elasticsearch.config.xpack.ml.enabled.update('True') %}
+    {% endif %}
 {% endif %}
 
 {% set ESCONFIG = salt['pillar.get']('elasticsearch:config', default=ESCONFIG.elasticsearch.config, merge=True) %}