diff --git a/lib/galaxy/tools/__init__.py b/lib/galaxy/tools/__init__.py
index b9476a3a225..f39e9a214f0 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/tools/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/tools/__init__.py
@@ -3459,7 +3459,7 @@ class SortTool(DatabaseOperationTool):
         sorttype = incoming["sort_type"]["sort_type"]
         new_elements = {}
         elements = hdca.collection.elements
-        presort_elements = []
+        presort_elements = None
         if sorttype == "alpha":
             presort_elements = [(dce.element_identifier, dce) for dce in elements]
         elif sorttype == "numeric":
@@ -3484,7 +3484,7 @@ class SortTool(DatabaseOperationTool):
         else:
             raise Exception(f"Unknown sort_type '{sorttype}'")
 
-        if presort_elements:
+        if presort_elements is not None:
             sorted_elements = [x[1] for x in sorted(presort_elements, key=lambda x: x[0])]
 
         for dce in sorted_elements:
diff --git a/lib/galaxy_test/api/test_workflows.py b/lib/galaxy_test/api/test_workflows.py
index 4f7f4c82100..de4535a59bd 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy_test/api/test_workflows.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy_test/api/test_workflows.py
@@ -6108,6 +6108,44 @@ input:
         put_response = self._update_workflow(workflow_id, workflow_object)
         assert put_response.status_code == 200
 
+    def test_empty_collection_sort(self, history_id):
+        self._run_workflow(
+            """class: GalaxyWorkflow
+inputs:
+  input: collection
+  filter_file: data
+steps:
+  filter_collection:
+    tool_id: __FILTER_FROM_FILE__
+    in:
+       input: input
+       how|filter_source: filter_file
+  sort_collection_1:
+    tool_id: __SORTLIST__
+    in:
+      input: filter_collection/output_filtered
+  sort_collection_2:
+    tool_id: __SORTLIST__
+    in:
+      input: filter_collection/output_discarded
+  merge_collection:
+    tool_id: __MERGE_COLLECTION__
+    in:
+      inputs_0|input: sort_collection_1/output
+      inputs_1|input: sort_collection_2/output
+test_data:
+  input:
+    collection_type: list
+    elements:
+      - identifier: i1
+        content: "0"
+  filter_file: i1
+""",
+            history_id=history_id,
+            wait=True,
+            assert_ok=True,
+        )
+
     @skip_without_tool("random_lines1")
     def test_run_replace_params_over_default_delayed(self):
         with self.dataset_populator.test_history() as history_id: