diff --git a/src/controllers/admin.js b/src/controllers/admin.js
index f0c2e7a549..e39c966767 100644
--- a/src/controllers/admin.js
+++ b/src/controllers/admin.js
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ api.getMember = function(req, res) {
 }
 
 api.listMembers = function(req, res) {
-  User.find({'contributor.level':{$exists:true}})
+  User.find({'contributor.level':{$ne:null}})// {$exists:true} causes terrible performance http://goo.gl/GCxzC9
     .select('contributor balance profile.name')
     .sort('contributor.text')
     .exec(function(err, users){