diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/enterprise_search/server/routes/enterprise_search/indices.ts b/x-pack/plugins/enterprise_search/server/routes/enterprise_search/indices.ts
index 78d7d2076438e..70b46205c5e88 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/enterprise_search/server/routes/enterprise_search/indices.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/enterprise_search/server/routes/enterprise_search/indices.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,12 @@ import { schema } from '@kbn/config-schema';
 
 import { i18n } from '@kbn/i18n';
 
-import { deleteConnectorSecret, updateConnectorIndexName } from '@kbn/search-connectors';
+import {
+  CRAWLER_SERVICE_TYPE,
+  deleteConnectorSecret,
+  deleteConnectorById,
+  updateConnectorIndexName,
+} from '@kbn/search-connectors';
 import {
   fetchConnectorByIndexName,
   fetchConnectors,
@@ -207,13 +212,17 @@ export function registerIndexRoutes({
         }
 
         if (connector) {
-          // detach the deleted index without removing the connector
-          await updateConnectorIndexName(client.asCurrentUser, connector.id, null);
-          if (connector.api_key_id) {
-            await client.asCurrentUser.security.invalidateApiKey({ ids: [connector.api_key_id] });
-          }
-          if (connector.api_key_secret_id) {
-            await deleteConnectorSecret(client.asCurrentUser, connector.api_key_secret_id);
+          if (connector.service_type === CRAWLER_SERVICE_TYPE) {
+            await deleteConnectorById(client.asCurrentUser, connector.id);
+          } else {
+            // detach the deleted index without removing the connector
+            await updateConnectorIndexName(client.asCurrentUser, connector.id, null);
+            if (connector.api_key_id) {
+              await client.asCurrentUser.security.invalidateApiKey({ ids: [connector.api_key_id] });
+            }
+            if (connector.api_key_secret_id) {
+              await deleteConnectorSecret(client.asCurrentUser, connector.api_key_secret_id);
+            }
           }
         }