diff --git a/app/models/hyrax/collection_type.rb b/app/models/hyrax/collection_type.rb
index 78119b7d71..6bb6a144e5 100644
--- a/app/models/hyrax/collection_type.rb
+++ b/app/models/hyrax/collection_type.rb
@@ -153,8 +153,15 @@ def assign_machine_id
       self.machine_id ||= title.parameterize.underscore.to_sym if title.present?
     end
 
+    # Query solr to see if any collections of this type exist
+    # This should be much more performant for certain adapters than calling collections.any?
+    def any_collections?
+      return false unless id
+      Hyrax::SolrQueryService.new.with_field_pairs(field_pairs: { Hyrax.config.collection_type_index_field.to_sym => to_global_id.to_s }).with_model(model: Hyrax.config.collection_class).count > 0
+    end
+
     def ensure_no_collections
-      return true unless collections.any?
+      return true unless any_collections?
       errors[:base] << I18n.t('hyrax.admin.collection_types.errors.not_empty')
       throw :abort
     end
@@ -172,7 +179,7 @@ def ensure_no_settings_changes_for_user_collection_type
     end
 
     def ensure_no_settings_changes_if_collections_exist
-      return true unless collections.any?
+      return true unless any_collections?
       return true unless collection_type_settings_changed?
       errors[:base] << I18n.t('hyrax.admin.collection_types.errors.no_settings_change_if_not_empty')
       throw :abort