diff --git a/src/v/redpanda/admin_server.cc b/src/v/redpanda/admin_server.cc
index 3f7cfc05e06e..b7c625ec2127 100644
--- a/src/v/redpanda/admin_server.cc
+++ b/src/v/redpanda/admin_server.cc
@@ -1078,6 +1078,7 @@ ss::future<> admin_server::throw_on_error(
         case rpc::errc::disconnected_endpoint:
         case rpc::errc::exponential_backoff:
         case rpc::errc::shutting_down:
+        case rpc::errc::missing_node_rpc_client:
             throw ss::httpd::base_exception(
               fmt::format("Not ready: {}", ec.message()),
               ss::http::reply::status_type::service_unavailable);
@@ -1087,7 +1088,6 @@ ss::future<> admin_server::throw_on_error(
               fmt::format("Timeout: {}", ec.message()),
               ss::http::reply::status_type::gateway_timeout);
         case rpc::errc::service_error:
-        case rpc::errc::missing_node_rpc_client:
         case rpc::errc::method_not_found:
         case rpc::errc::version_not_supported:
         case rpc::errc::unknown: