diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/search/SearchPhaseController.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/search/SearchPhaseController.java
index 418d95b2077..8fada8938f8 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/search/SearchPhaseController.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/search/SearchPhaseController.java
@@ -760,7 +760,13 @@ public final class SearchPhaseController {
             if (trackTotalHitsUpTo == SearchContext.TRACK_TOTAL_HITS_DISABLED) {
                 return null;
             } else if (trackTotalHitsUpTo == SearchContext.TRACK_TOTAL_HITS_ACCURATE) {
-                assert totalHitsRelation == Relation.EQUAL_TO;
+                // NORELEASE The assertion below has been replaced by a runtime exception in order to debug
+                // https://github.com/elastic/elasticsearch/issues/37179.
+                // The assertion should be restored and the exception removed when this issue is solved.
+                // assert totalHitsRelation == Relation.EQUAL_TO;
+                if (totalHitsRelation != Relation.EQUAL_TO) {
+                    throw new IllegalStateException("Expected accurate total hits but got " + new TotalHits(totalHits, totalHitsRelation));
+                }
                 return new TotalHits(totalHits, totalHitsRelation);
             } else {
                 if (totalHits < trackTotalHitsUpTo) {