diff --git a/packages/kbn-unified-data-table/src/components/data_table.tsx b/packages/kbn-unified-data-table/src/components/data_table.tsx
index 1262619401ab60..07755e0e65769b 100644
--- a/packages/kbn-unified-data-table/src/components/data_table.tsx
+++ b/packages/kbn-unified-data-table/src/components/data_table.tsx
@@ -828,6 +828,12 @@ export const UnifiedDataTable = ({
 
   const sorting = useMemo(() => {
     if (isSortEnabled) {
+      // in ES|QL mode, sorting is disabled when in Document view
+      // ideally we want the @timestamp column to be sortable server side
+      // but it needs discussion before moving forward like this
+      if (isPlainRecord && !columns.length) {
+        return undefined;
+      }
       return {
         columns: sortingColumns,
         onSort: onTableSort,
@@ -837,7 +843,7 @@ export const UnifiedDataTable = ({
       columns: sortingColumns,
       onSort: () => {},
     };
-  }, [isSortEnabled, sortingColumns, onTableSort]);
+  }, [isSortEnabled, sortingColumns, isPlainRecord, columns.length, onTableSort]);
 
   const canSetExpandedDoc = Boolean(setExpandedDoc && !!renderDocumentView);
 
diff --git a/test/functional/apps/discover/esql/_esql_view.ts b/test/functional/apps/discover/esql/_esql_view.ts
index cea3b6ecce0445..4bd351febc66c4 100644
--- a/test/functional/apps/discover/esql/_esql_view.ts
+++ b/test/functional/apps/discover/esql/_esql_view.ts
@@ -85,7 +85,8 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
         expect(await testSubjects.exists('discoverQueryHits')).to.be(true);
         expect(await testSubjects.exists('discoverAlertsButton')).to.be(true);
         expect(await testSubjects.exists('shareTopNavButton')).to.be(true);
-        expect(await testSubjects.exists('dataGridColumnSortingButton')).to.be(true);
+        // we don't sort for the Document view
+        expect(await testSubjects.exists('dataGridColumnSortingButton')).to.be(false);
         expect(await testSubjects.exists('docTableExpandToggleColumn')).to.be(true);
         expect(await testSubjects.exists('fieldListFiltersFieldTypeFilterToggle')).to.be(true);
         await testSubjects.click('field-@message-showDetails');
diff --git a/x-pack/test_serverless/functional/test_suites/common/discover/esql/_esql_view.ts b/x-pack/test_serverless/functional/test_suites/common/discover/esql/_esql_view.ts
index 600ce61167c746..561f8903ba94e1 100644
--- a/x-pack/test_serverless/functional/test_suites/common/discover/esql/_esql_view.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test_serverless/functional/test_suites/common/discover/esql/_esql_view.ts
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
         await testSubjects.existOrFail('discoverQueryHits');
         await testSubjects.existOrFail('discoverAlertsButton');
         await testSubjects.existOrFail('shareTopNavButton');
-        await testSubjects.existOrFail('dataGridColumnSortingButton');
+        await testSubjects.missingOrFail('dataGridColumnSortingButton');
         await testSubjects.existOrFail('docTableExpandToggleColumn');
         await testSubjects.existOrFail('fieldListFiltersFieldTypeFilterToggle');
         await testSubjects.click('field-@message-showDetails');