diff --git a/CHANGELOG.next.asciidoc b/CHANGELOG.next.asciidoc
index 275ccc09166..3d48e670c10 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.next.asciidoc
+++ b/CHANGELOG.next.asciidoc
@@ -234,6 +234,8 @@ https://github.com/elastic/beats/compare/v7.0.0-alpha2...master[Check the HEAD d
 - Add FAQ entry for madvdontneed variable {pull}23429[23429]
 - Fix panic due to unhandled DeletedFinalStateUnknown in k8s OnDelete {pull}23419[23419]
 - Fix error loop with runaway CPU use when the Kafka output encounters some connection errors {pull}23484[23484]
+- Fix ILM setup log reporting that a policy or an alias was created, even though the creation of any resource was disabled. {issue}24046[24046] {pull}24480[24480]
+- Fix ILM alias not being created if `setup.ilm.check_exists: false` and `setup.ilm.overwrite: true` has been configured. {pull}24480[24480]
 - Fix issue discovering docker containers and metadata after reconnections {pull}24318[24318]
 - Allow cgroup self-monitoring to see alternate `hostfs` paths {pull}24334[24334]
 
diff --git a/libbeat/idxmgmt/ilm/ilm_test.go b/libbeat/idxmgmt/ilm/ilm_test.go
index e47a9c0d06b..8ca9b9e6c43 100644
--- a/libbeat/idxmgmt/ilm/ilm_test.go
+++ b/libbeat/idxmgmt/ilm/ilm_test.go
@@ -238,6 +238,27 @@ func TestDefaultSupport_Manager_EnsureAlias(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 			fail: ErrRequestFailed,
 		},
+		"overwrite non-existent": {
+			calls: []onCall{
+				onCreateAlias(alias).Return(nil),
+			},
+			fail: nil,
+			cfg:  map[string]interface{}{"check_exists": false, "overwrite": true},
+		},
+		"try overwrite existing": {
+			calls: []onCall{
+				onCreateAlias(alias).Return(errOf(ErrAliasAlreadyExists)),
+			},
+			fail: nil, // we detect that that the alias exists, and call it a day.
+			cfg:  map[string]interface{}{"check_exists": false, "overwrite": true},
+		},
+		"fail to overwrite": {
+			calls: []onCall{
+				onCreateAlias(alias).Return(errOf(ErrAliasCreateFailed)),
+			},
+			fail: ErrAliasCreateFailed,
+			cfg:  map[string]interface{}{"check_exists": false, "overwrite": true},
+		},
 	}
 
 	for name, test := range cases {
@@ -283,12 +304,14 @@ func TestDefaultSupport_Manager_EnsurePolicy(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 		},
 		"policy already exists": {
+			create: false,
 			calls: []onCall{
 				onHasILMPolicy(testPolicy.Name).Return(true, nil),
 			},
 		},
-		"overwrite existing": {
+		"overwrite": {
 			overwrite: true,
+			create:    true,
 			calls: []onCall{
 				onCreateILMPolicy(testPolicy).Return(nil),
 			},
diff --git a/libbeat/idxmgmt/ilm/std.go b/libbeat/idxmgmt/ilm/std.go
index 0e33fc00f3e..1f6a0151afc 100644
--- a/libbeat/idxmgmt/ilm/std.go
+++ b/libbeat/idxmgmt/ilm/std.go
@@ -103,42 +103,77 @@ func (m *stdManager) CheckEnabled() (bool, error) {
 }
 
 func (m *stdManager) EnsureAlias() error {
-	if !m.checkExists {
-		return nil
-	}
+	log := m.log
+	overwrite := m.Overwrite()
+	name := m.alias.Name
 
-	b, err := m.client.HasAlias(m.alias.Name)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
+	var exists bool
+	if m.checkExists && !overwrite {
+		var err error
+		exists, err = m.client.HasAlias(name)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 	}
-	if b {
+
+	switch {
+	case exists && !overwrite:
+		log.Infof("Index Alias %v exists already.", name)
 		return nil
-	}
 
-	// This always assume it's a date pattern by sourrounding it by <...>
-	return m.client.CreateAlias(m.alias)
+	case !exists || overwrite:
+		err := m.client.CreateAlias(m.alias)
+		if err != nil {
+			if ErrReason(err) != ErrAliasAlreadyExists {
+				log.Errorf("Index Alias %v setup failed: %v.", name, err)
+				return err
+			}
+			log.Infof("Index Alias %v exists already.", name)
+			return nil
+		}
+
+		log.Infof("Index Alias %v successfully created.", name)
+		return nil
+
+	default:
+		m.log.Infof("ILM index alias not created: exists=%v, overwrite=%v", exists, overwrite)
+		return nil
+	}
 }
 
 func (m *stdManager) EnsurePolicy(overwrite bool) (bool, error) {
 	log := m.log
 	overwrite = overwrite || m.Overwrite()
+	name := m.policy.Name
 
-	exists := true
+	var exists bool
 	if m.checkExists && !overwrite {
-		b, err := m.client.HasILMPolicy(m.policy.Name)
+		var err error
+		exists, err = m.client.HasILMPolicy(name)
 		if err != nil {
 			return false, err
 		}
-		exists = b
 	}
 
-	if !exists || overwrite {
-		return !exists, m.client.CreateILMPolicy(m.policy)
-	}
+	switch {
+	case exists && !overwrite:
+		log.Infof("ILM policy %v exists already.", name)
+		return false, nil
+
+	case !exists || overwrite:
+		err := m.client.CreateILMPolicy(m.policy)
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Errorf("ILM policy %v creation failed: %v", name, err)
+			return false, err
+		}
 
-	log.Infof("do not generate ilm policy: exists=%v, overwrite=%v",
-		exists, overwrite)
-	return false, nil
+		log.Infof("ILM policy %v successfully created.", name)
+		return true, err
+
+	default:
+		log.Infof("ILM policy not created: exists=%v, overwrite=%v.", exists, overwrite)
+		return false, nil
+	}
 }
 
 func (c *infoCache) Valid() bool {
diff --git a/libbeat/idxmgmt/std.go b/libbeat/idxmgmt/std.go
index 538fc7d2262..99cf5890353 100644
--- a/libbeat/idxmgmt/std.go
+++ b/libbeat/idxmgmt/std.go
@@ -271,7 +271,6 @@ func (m *indexManager) Setup(loadTemplate, loadILM LoadMode) error {
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-		log.Info("ILM policy successfully loaded.")
 
 		// The template should be updated if a new policy is created.
 		if policyCreated && templateComponent.enabled {
@@ -299,14 +298,9 @@ func (m *indexManager) Setup(loadTemplate, loadILM LoadMode) error {
 	}
 
 	if ilmComponent.load {
-		// ensure alias is created after the template is created
-		if err := m.ilm.EnsureAlias(); err != nil {
-			if ilm.ErrReason(err) != ilm.ErrAliasAlreadyExists {
-				return err
-			}
-			log.Info("Write alias exists already")
-		} else {
-			log.Info("Write alias successfully generated.")
+		err := m.ilm.EnsureAlias()
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/libbeat/tests/system/test_ilm.py b/libbeat/tests/system/test_ilm.py
index 2913893e11c..12c79fad61d 100644
--- a/libbeat/tests/system/test_ilm.py
+++ b/libbeat/tests/system/test_ilm.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 import logging
 import os
 import pytest
+import re
 import shutil
 import unittest
 
@@ -12,6 +13,9 @@
 INTEGRATION_TESTS = os.environ.get('INTEGRATION_TESTS', False)
 
 
+MSG_ILM_POLICY_LOADED = re.compile('ILM policy .* successfully created.')
+
+
 class TestRunILM(BaseTest):
 
     def setUp(self):
@@ -46,7 +50,7 @@ def test_ilm_default(self):
         self.render_config()
         proc = self.start_beat()
         self.wait_until(lambda: self.log_contains("mockbeat start running."))
-        self.wait_until(lambda: self.log_contains("ILM policy successfully loaded"))
+        self.wait_until(lambda: self.log_contains(MSG_ILM_POLICY_LOADED))
         self.wait_until(lambda: self.log_contains("PublishEvents: 1 events have been published"))
         proc.check_kill_and_wait()
 
@@ -84,7 +88,7 @@ def test_policy_name(self):
 
         proc = self.start_beat()
         self.wait_until(lambda: self.log_contains("mockbeat start running."))
-        self.wait_until(lambda: self.log_contains("ILM policy successfully loaded"))
+        self.wait_until(lambda: self.log_contains(MSG_ILM_POLICY_LOADED))
         self.wait_until(lambda: self.log_contains("PublishEvents: 1 events have been published"))
         proc.check_kill_and_wait()
 
@@ -103,7 +107,7 @@ def test_rollover_alias(self):
 
         proc = self.start_beat()
         self.wait_until(lambda: self.log_contains("mockbeat start running."))
-        self.wait_until(lambda: self.log_contains("ILM policy successfully loaded"))
+        self.wait_until(lambda: self.log_contains(MSG_ILM_POLICY_LOADED))
         self.wait_until(lambda: self.log_contains("PublishEvents: 1 events have been published"))
         proc.check_kill_and_wait()
 
@@ -123,7 +127,7 @@ def test_pattern(self):
 
         proc = self.start_beat()
         self.wait_until(lambda: self.log_contains("mockbeat start running."))
-        self.wait_until(lambda: self.log_contains("ILM policy successfully loaded"))
+        self.wait_until(lambda: self.log_contains(MSG_ILM_POLICY_LOADED))
         self.wait_until(lambda: self.log_contains("PublishEvents: 1 events have been published"))
         proc.check_kill_and_wait()
 
@@ -143,7 +147,7 @@ def test_pattern_date(self):
 
         proc = self.start_beat()
         self.wait_until(lambda: self.log_contains("mockbeat start running."))
-        self.wait_until(lambda: self.log_contains("ILM policy successfully loaded"))
+        self.wait_until(lambda: self.log_contains(MSG_ILM_POLICY_LOADED))
         self.wait_until(lambda: self.log_contains("PublishEvents: 1 events have been published"))
         proc.check_kill_and_wait()
 
@@ -286,12 +290,12 @@ def setUp(self):
         self.cmd = "ilm-policy"
 
     def assert_log_contains_policy(self):
-        assert self.log_contains('ILM policy successfully loaded.')
+        assert self.log_contains(MSG_ILM_POLICY_LOADED)
         assert self.log_contains('"max_age": "30d"')
         assert self.log_contains('"max_size": "50gb"')
 
     def assert_log_contains_write_alias(self):
-        assert self.log_contains('Write alias successfully generated.')
+        assert self.log_contains(re.compile('Index Alias .* successfully created.'))
 
     def test_default(self):
         """