diff --git a/docs/changelog/119516.yaml b/docs/changelog/119516.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..06dd5168a082
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/changelog/119516.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+pr: 119516
+summary: "Fix: do not let `_resolve/cluster` hang if remote is unresponsive"
+area: Search
+type: bug
+issues: []
diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/admin/indices/resolve/TransportResolveClusterAction.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/admin/indices/resolve/TransportResolveClusterAction.java
index c30a2a44274a..e3e737595cac 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/admin/indices/resolve/TransportResolveClusterAction.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/admin/indices/resolve/TransportResolveClusterAction.java
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ public class TransportResolveClusterAction extends HandledTransportAction<Resolv
                 RemoteClusterClient remoteClusterClient = remoteClusterService.getRemoteClusterClient(
                     clusterAlias,
                     searchCoordinationExecutor,
-                    RemoteClusterService.DisconnectedStrategy.RECONNECT_IF_DISCONNECTED
+                    RemoteClusterService.DisconnectedStrategy.FAIL_IF_DISCONNECTED
                 );
                 var remoteRequest = new ResolveClusterActionRequest(originalIndices.indices(), request.indicesOptions());
                 // allow cancellation requests to propagate to remote clusters