diff --git a/src/Core/Services/Implementations/CollectionService.cs b/src/Core/Services/Implementations/CollectionService.cs
index 2941de2d56..26e59fd4d6 100644
--- a/src/Core/Services/Implementations/CollectionService.cs
+++ b/src/Core/Services/Implementations/CollectionService.cs
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ public class CollectionService : ICollectionService
         var usersList = users?.ToList();
 
         // If using Flexible Collections - a collection should always have someone with Can Manage permissions
-        if (_featureService.IsEnabled(FeatureFlagKeys.FlexibleCollectionsV1))
+        if (org.FlexibleCollections && _featureService.IsEnabled(FeatureFlagKeys.FlexibleCollectionsV1))
         {
             var groupHasManageAccess = groupsList?.Any(g => g.Manage) ?? false;
             var userHasManageAccess = usersList?.Any(u => u.Manage) ?? false;
diff --git a/test/Core.Test/Services/CollectionServiceTests.cs b/test/Core.Test/Services/CollectionServiceTests.cs
index d57acebe3a..1981d681f3 100644
--- a/test/Core.Test/Services/CollectionServiceTests.cs
+++ b/test/Core.Test/Services/CollectionServiceTests.cs
@@ -112,6 +112,7 @@ public class CollectionServiceTest
         [CollectionAccessSelectionCustomize] IEnumerable<CollectionAccessSelection> users, SutProvider<CollectionService> sutProvider)
     {
         collection.Id = default;
+        organization.FlexibleCollections = true;
         sutProvider.GetDependency<IOrganizationRepository>().GetByIdAsync(organization.Id).Returns(organization);
         sutProvider.GetDependency<IFeatureService>()
             .IsEnabled(FeatureFlagKeys.FlexibleCollectionsV1, Arg.Any<bool>())