diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/painless_lab/server/routes/api/execute.ts b/x-pack/plugins/painless_lab/server/routes/api/execute.ts
index 67da80b51e72d..f8bac0392fc12 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/painless_lab/server/routes/api/execute.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/painless_lab/server/routes/api/execute.ts
@@ -37,17 +37,13 @@ export function registerExecuteRoute({ router, license }: RouteDependencies) {
           body: response,
         });
       } catch (e) {
-        // Invalid painless script was submitted
-        // Return 200 with error object
-        if (e.body) {
+        if (isEsError(e)) {
+          // Assume invalid painless script was submitted
+          // Return 200 with error object
           return res.ok({
             body: e.body,
           });
         }
-
-        if (isEsError(e)) {
-          return res.customError({ statusCode: e.statusCode, body: e });
-        }
         return res.internalError({ body: e });
       }
     })