diff --git a/quickwit/quickwit-config/src/node_config/mod.rs b/quickwit/quickwit-config/src/node_config/mod.rs
index bb8a17daaeb..eb1edfce889 100644
--- a/quickwit/quickwit-config/src/node_config/mod.rs
+++ b/quickwit/quickwit-config/src/node_config/mod.rs
@@ -268,6 +268,7 @@ pub struct SearcherConfig {
     pub split_footer_cache_capacity: ByteSize,
     pub partial_request_cache_capacity: ByteSize,
     pub max_num_concurrent_split_searches: usize,
+    pub max_splits_per_search: Option<usize>,
     // Deprecated: stream search requests are no longer supported.
     #[serde(alias = "max_num_concurrent_split_streams", default, skip_serializing)]
     pub _max_num_concurrent_split_streams: Option<serde::de::IgnoredAny>,
@@ -325,6 +326,7 @@ impl Default for SearcherConfig {
             split_footer_cache_capacity: ByteSize::mb(500),
             partial_request_cache_capacity: ByteSize::mb(64),
             max_num_concurrent_split_searches: 100,
+            max_splits_per_search: None,
             _max_num_concurrent_split_streams: None,
             aggregation_memory_limit: ByteSize::mb(500),
             aggregation_bucket_limit: 65000,
diff --git a/quickwit/quickwit-config/src/node_config/serialize.rs b/quickwit/quickwit-config/src/node_config/serialize.rs
index b5f39ceb0ac..74af6b07201 100644
--- a/quickwit/quickwit-config/src/node_config/serialize.rs
+++ b/quickwit/quickwit-config/src/node_config/serialize.rs
@@ -662,6 +662,7 @@ mod tests {
                 split_footer_cache_capacity: ByteSize::gb(1),
                 partial_request_cache_capacity: ByteSize::mb(64),
                 max_num_concurrent_split_searches: 150,
+                max_splits_per_search: None,
                 _max_num_concurrent_split_streams: Some(serde::de::IgnoredAny),
                 split_cache: None,
                 request_timeout_secs: NonZeroU64::new(30).unwrap(),
diff --git a/quickwit/quickwit-search/src/root.rs b/quickwit/quickwit-search/src/root.rs
index c2225b7524e..218758cbdc4 100644
--- a/quickwit/quickwit-search/src/root.rs
+++ b/quickwit/quickwit-search/src/root.rs
@@ -1224,6 +1224,21 @@ pub async fn root_search(
         "root_search"
     );
 
+    if let Some(max_total_split_searches) = searcher_context.searcher_config.max_splits_per_search
+        && max_total_split_searches < num_splits
+    {
+        tracing::error!(
+            num_splits,
+            max_total_split_searches,
+            index=?search_request.index_id_patterns,
+            query=%search_request.query_ast,
+            "max total splits exceeded"
+        );
+        return Err(SearchError::InvalidArgument(format!(
+            "Number of targeted splits {num_splits} exceeds the limit {max_total_split_searches}"
+        )));
+    }
+
     let mut search_response_result = RootSearchMetricsFuture {
         start: start_instant,
         tracked: root_search_aux(
@@ -5228,4 +5243,55 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(search_response.failed_splits.len(), 1);
         Ok(())
     }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_root_search_too_many_splits() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+        let search_request = quickwit_proto::search::SearchRequest {
+            index_id_patterns: vec!["test-index".to_string()],
+            query_ast: qast_json_helper("test", &["body"]),
+            max_hits: 10,
+            ..Default::default()
+        };
+        let mut mock_metastore = MockMetastoreService::new();
+        let index_metadata = IndexMetadata::for_test("test-index", "ram:///test-index");
+        let index_uid = index_metadata.index_uid.clone();
+        mock_metastore
+            .expect_list_indexes_metadata()
+            .returning(move |_index_ids_query| {
+                Ok(ListIndexesMetadataResponse::for_test(vec![
+                    index_metadata.clone(),
+                ]))
+            });
+        mock_metastore
+            .expect_list_splits()
+            .returning(move |_filter| {
+                let splits = vec![
+                    MockSplitBuilder::new("split1")
+                        .with_index_uid(&index_uid)
+                        .build(),
+                    MockSplitBuilder::new("split2")
+                        .with_index_uid(&index_uid)
+                        .build(),
+                ];
+                let splits_response = ListSplitsResponse::try_from_splits(splits).unwrap();
+                Ok(ServiceStream::from(vec![Ok(splits_response)]))
+            });
+        let mock_search_service = MockSearchService::new();
+        let searcher_pool = searcher_pool_for_test([("127.0.0.1:1001", mock_search_service)]);
+        let search_job_placer = SearchJobPlacer::new(searcher_pool);
+        let cluster_client = ClusterClient::new(search_job_placer.clone());
+
+        let mut searcher_context = SearcherContext::for_test();
+        searcher_context.searcher_config.max_splits_per_search = Some(1);
+        let search_error = root_search(
+            &searcher_context,
+            search_request,
+            MetastoreServiceClient::from_mock(mock_metastore),
+            &cluster_client,
+        )
+        .await
+        .unwrap_err();
+        assert!(matches!(search_error, SearchError::InvalidArgument { .. }));
+        Ok(())
+    }
 }