diff --git a/x-pack/elastic-agent/CHANGELOG.next.asciidoc b/x-pack/elastic-agent/CHANGELOG.next.asciidoc
index 51081c2c7a7..4803b1ba4d2 100644
--- a/x-pack/elastic-agent/CHANGELOG.next.asciidoc
+++ b/x-pack/elastic-agent/CHANGELOG.next.asciidoc
@@ -36,5 +36,6 @@
 - Add `elastic.agent.id` and `elastic.agent.version` to published events from filebeat and metricbeat {pull}21543[21543]
 - Add `upgrade` subcommand to perform upgrade of installed Elastic Agent {pull}21425[21425]
 - Update `fleet.yml` and Kibana hosts when a policy change updates the Kibana hosts {pull}21599[21599]
+- Update `install` command to perform enroll before starting Elastic Agent {pull}21772[21772]
 - Update `fleet.kibana.path` from a POLICY_CHANGE {pull}21804[21804]
 - Removed `install-service.ps1` and `uninstall-service.ps1` from Windows .zip packaging {pull}21694[21694]
diff --git a/x-pack/elastic-agent/pkg/agent/cmd/enroll.go b/x-pack/elastic-agent/pkg/agent/cmd/enroll.go
index a92766b9c07..2ae011db291 100644
--- a/x-pack/elastic-agent/pkg/agent/cmd/enroll.go
+++ b/x-pack/elastic-agent/pkg/agent/cmd/enroll.go
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ func newEnrollCommandWithArgs(flags *globalFlags, _ []string, streams *cli.IOStr
 		Args:  cobra.ExactArgs(2),
 		Run: func(c *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 			if err := enroll(streams, c, flags, args); err != nil {
-				fmt.Fprintf(streams.Err, "%v\n", err)
+				fmt.Fprintf(streams.Err, "Error: %v\n", err)
 				os.Exit(1)
 			}
 		},
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ func enroll(streams *cli.IOStreams, cmd *cobra.Command, flags *globalFlags, args
 
 	// skip restarting
 	noRestart, _ := cmd.Flags().GetBool("no-restart")
-	if noRestart {
+	if noRestart || fromInstall {
 		return nil
 	}
 
diff --git a/x-pack/elastic-agent/pkg/agent/cmd/install.go b/x-pack/elastic-agent/pkg/agent/cmd/install.go
index 177f79912c9..583bd2fc5b4 100644
--- a/x-pack/elastic-agent/pkg/agent/cmd/install.go
+++ b/x-pack/elastic-agent/pkg/agent/cmd/install.go
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
 
+	"github.com/elastic/beats/v7/x-pack/elastic-agent/pkg/agent/application"
+	"github.com/elastic/beats/v7/x-pack/elastic-agent/pkg/agent/application/paths"
+
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 
 	c "github.com/elastic/beats/v7/libbeat/common/cli"
@@ -28,7 +31,7 @@ would like the Agent to operate.
 `,
 		Run: func(c *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 			if err := installCmd(streams, c, flags, args); err != nil {
-				fmt.Fprintf(streams.Err, "%v\n", err)
+				fmt.Fprintf(streams.Err, "Error: %v\n", err)
 				os.Exit(1)
 			}
 		},
@@ -43,6 +46,7 @@ would like the Agent to operate.
 }
 
 func installCmd(streams *cli.IOStreams, cmd *cobra.Command, flags *globalFlags, args []string) error {
+	var err error
 	if !install.HasRoot() {
 		return fmt.Errorf("unable to perform install command, not executed with %s permissions", install.PermissionUser)
 	}
@@ -51,6 +55,16 @@ func installCmd(streams *cli.IOStreams, cmd *cobra.Command, flags *globalFlags,
 		return fmt.Errorf("already installed at: %s", install.InstallPath)
 	}
 
+	// check the lock to ensure that elastic-agent is not already running in this directory
+	locker := application.NewAppLocker(paths.Data())
+	if err := locker.TryLock(); err != nil {
+		if err == application.ErrAppAlreadyRunning {
+			return fmt.Errorf("cannot perform installation as Elastic Agent is already running from this directory")
+		}
+		return err
+	}
+	locker.Unlock()
+
 	warn.PrintNotGA(streams.Out)
 	force, _ := cmd.Flags().GetBool("force")
 	if status == install.Broken {
@@ -58,7 +72,7 @@ func installCmd(streams *cli.IOStreams, cmd *cobra.Command, flags *globalFlags,
 			fmt.Fprintf(streams.Out, "Elastic Agent is installed but currently broken: %s\n", reason)
 			confirm, err := c.Confirm(fmt.Sprintf("Continuing will re-install Elastic Agent over the current installation at %s. Do you want to continue?", install.InstallPath), true)
 			if err != nil {
-				return fmt.Errorf("Error: problem reading prompt response")
+				return fmt.Errorf("problem reading prompt response")
 			}
 			if !confirm {
 				return fmt.Errorf("installation was cancelled by the user")
@@ -68,7 +82,7 @@ func installCmd(streams *cli.IOStreams, cmd *cobra.Command, flags *globalFlags,
 		if !force {
 			confirm, err := c.Confirm(fmt.Sprintf("Elastic Agent will be installed at %s and will run as a service. Do you want to continue?", install.InstallPath), true)
 			if err != nil {
-				return fmt.Errorf("Error: problem reading prompt response")
+				return fmt.Errorf("problem reading prompt response")
 			}
 			if !confirm {
 				return fmt.Errorf("installation was cancelled by the user")
@@ -76,17 +90,7 @@ func installCmd(streams *cli.IOStreams, cmd *cobra.Command, flags *globalFlags,
 		}
 	}
 
-	err := install.Install()
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("Error: %s", err)
-	}
-	err = install.StartService()
-	if err != nil {
-		fmt.Fprintf(streams.Out, "Installation of required system files was successful, but starting of the service failed.\n")
-		return err
-	}
-	fmt.Fprintf(streams.Out, "Installation was successful and Elastic Agent is running.\n")
-
+	enroll := true
 	askEnroll := true
 	kibana, _ := cmd.Flags().GetString("kibana-url")
 	token, _ := cmd.Flags().GetString("enrollment-token")
@@ -102,53 +106,71 @@ func installCmd(streams *cli.IOStreams, cmd *cobra.Command, flags *globalFlags,
 			return fmt.Errorf("problem reading prompt response")
 		}
 		if !confirm {
-			// not enrolling, all done (standalone mode)
-			return nil
+			// not enrolling
+			enroll = false
 		}
 	}
 	if !askEnroll && (kibana == "" || token == "") {
 		// force was performed without required enrollment arguments, all done (standalone mode)
-		return nil
+		enroll = false
 	}
 
-	if kibana == "" {
-		kibana, err = c.ReadInput("Kibana URL you want to enroll this Agent into:")
-		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("problem reading prompt response")
-		}
+	if enroll {
 		if kibana == "" {
-			fmt.Fprintf(streams.Out, "Enrollment cancelled because no URL was provided.\n")
-			return nil
-		}
-	}
-	if token == "" {
-		token, err = c.ReadInput("Fleet enrollment token:")
-		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("problem reading prompt response")
+			kibana, err = c.ReadInput("Kibana URL you want to enroll this Agent into:")
+			if err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("problem reading prompt response")
+			}
+			if kibana == "" {
+				fmt.Fprintf(streams.Out, "Enrollment cancelled because no URL was provided.\n")
+				return nil
+			}
 		}
 		if token == "" {
-			fmt.Fprintf(streams.Out, "Enrollment cancelled because no enrollment token was provided.\n")
-			return nil
+			token, err = c.ReadInput("Fleet enrollment token:")
+			if err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("problem reading prompt response")
+			}
+			if token == "" {
+				fmt.Fprintf(streams.Out, "Enrollment cancelled because no enrollment token was provided.\n")
+				return nil
+			}
 		}
 	}
 
-	enrollArgs := []string{"enroll", kibana, token, "--from-install"}
-	enrollArgs = append(enrollArgs, buildEnrollmentFlags(cmd)...)
-	enrollCmd := exec.Command(install.ExecutablePath(), enrollArgs...)
-	enrollCmd.Stdin = os.Stdin
-	enrollCmd.Stdout = os.Stdout
-	enrollCmd.Stderr = os.Stderr
-	err = enrollCmd.Start()
+	err = install.Install()
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to execute enroll command: %s", err)
+		return err
 	}
-	err = enrollCmd.Wait()
-	if err == nil {
-		return nil
+
+	if enroll {
+		enrollArgs := []string{"enroll", kibana, token, "--from-install"}
+		enrollArgs = append(enrollArgs, buildEnrollmentFlags(cmd)...)
+		enrollCmd := exec.Command(install.ExecutablePath(), enrollArgs...)
+		enrollCmd.Stdin = os.Stdin
+		enrollCmd.Stdout = os.Stdout
+		enrollCmd.Stderr = os.Stderr
+		err = enrollCmd.Start()
+		if err != nil {
+			install.Uninstall()
+			return fmt.Errorf("failed to execute enroll command: %s", err)
+		}
+		err = enrollCmd.Wait()
+		if err != nil {
+			install.Uninstall()
+			exitErr, ok := err.(*exec.ExitError)
+			if ok {
+				return fmt.Errorf("enroll command failed with exit code: %d", exitErr.ExitCode())
+			}
+			return fmt.Errorf("enroll command failed for unknown reason: %s", err)
+		}
 	}
-	exitErr, ok := err.(*exec.ExitError)
-	if ok {
-		return fmt.Errorf("enroll command failed with exit code: %d", exitErr.ExitCode())
+
+	err = install.StartService()
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(streams.Out, "Installation of required system files was successful, but starting of the service failed.\n")
+		return err
 	}
-	return fmt.Errorf("enroll command failed for unknown reason: %s", err)
+	fmt.Fprintf(streams.Out, "Installation was successful and Elastic Agent is running.\n")
+	return nil
 }
diff --git a/x-pack/elastic-agent/pkg/agent/cmd/uninstall.go b/x-pack/elastic-agent/pkg/agent/cmd/uninstall.go
index d215a15e337..ecb42d72b77 100644
--- a/x-pack/elastic-agent/pkg/agent/cmd/uninstall.go
+++ b/x-pack/elastic-agent/pkg/agent/cmd/uninstall.go
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ Unless -f is used this command will ask confirmation before performing removal.
 `,
 		Run: func(c *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 			if err := uninstallCmd(streams, c, flags, args); err != nil {
-				fmt.Fprintf(streams.Err, "%v\n", err)
+				fmt.Fprintf(streams.Err, "Error: %v\n", err)
 				os.Exit(1)
 			}
 		},
diff --git a/x-pack/elastic-agent/pkg/agent/install/uninstall.go b/x-pack/elastic-agent/pkg/agent/install/uninstall.go
index 381427eb8c7..a83681cfb80 100644
--- a/x-pack/elastic-agent/pkg/agent/install/uninstall.go
+++ b/x-pack/elastic-agent/pkg/agent/install/uninstall.go
@@ -32,15 +32,7 @@ func Uninstall() error {
 		}
 		status = service.StatusStopped
 	}
-	if status == service.StatusStopped {
-		err := svc.Uninstall()
-		if err != nil {
-			return errors.New(
-				err,
-				fmt.Sprintf("failed to uninstall service (%s)", ServiceName),
-				errors.M("service", ServiceName))
-		}
-	}
+	_ = svc.Uninstall()
 
 	// remove, if present on platform
 	if ShellWrapperPath != "" {