diff --git a/erpnext/controllers/draft_links.py b/erpnext/controllers/draft_links.py
index 020045e8852..a4af1370ddf 100644
--- a/erpnext/controllers/draft_links.py
+++ b/erpnext/controllers/draft_links.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ class DraftLinkFinder:
 
 		names: set[str] = set()
 		for filters in self._link_filters():
-			names.update(frappe.get_list(self.target_doctype, filters=filters, pluck="name"))
+			names.update(frappe.get_list(self.target_doctype, filters=filters, pluck="name", limit=0))
 		return sorted(names)
 
 	def _link_filters(self) -> Iterator[list]:
diff --git a/erpnext/controllers/tests/test_draft_links.py b/erpnext/controllers/tests/test_draft_links.py
index 4c4c3ea3a22..303c96e5a38 100644
--- a/erpnext/controllers/tests/test_draft_links.py
+++ b/erpnext/controllers/tests/test_draft_links.py
@@ -36,7 +36,10 @@ class TestDraftLinks(ERPNextTestSuite):
 
 		self.assertIn(packing_slip.name, get_existing_drafts("Delivery Note", dn.name, "Packing Slip"))
 
-	def test_nonexistent_target_doctype_returns_empty_for_non_admin(self):
+	def test_nonexistent_target_doctype_does_not_raise_for_non_admin(self):
+		# guards check ordering: for non-Administrator users has_permission()
+		# raises DoesNotExistError on unknown doctypes, so existence must be
+		# checked first (Administrator short-circuits and would not catch this)
 		with self.set_user("test@example.com"):
 			drafts = get_existing_drafts("Sales Order", "SO-0001", "Inter Company Purchase Order")
 		self.assertEqual(drafts, [])