diff --git a/django/db/models/sql/query.py b/django/db/models/sql/query.py
index 9a19a9ea95..ffc9d3b13f 100644
--- a/django/db/models/sql/query.py
+++ b/django/db/models/sql/query.py
@@ -377,10 +377,13 @@ class Query(object):
     def has_results(self, using):
         q = self.clone()
         q.add_extra({'a': 1}, None, None, None, None, None)
-        q.add_fields(())
+        q.select = []
+        q.select_fields = []
+        q.default_cols = False
+        q.select_related = False
         q.set_extra_mask(('a',))
         q.set_aggregate_mask(())
-        q.clear_ordering()
+        q.clear_ordering(True)
         q.set_limits(high=1)
         compiler = q.get_compiler(using=using)
         return bool(compiler.execute_sql(SINGLE))
diff --git a/tests/regressiontests/queries/models.py b/tests/regressiontests/queries/models.py
index 43c843756c..06c4524d9d 100644
--- a/tests/regressiontests/queries/models.py
+++ b/tests/regressiontests/queries/models.py
@@ -277,6 +277,16 @@ class Plaything(models.Model):
 
 
 __test__ = {'API_TESTS':"""
+>>> # Regression for #13156 -- exists() queries have minimal SQL
+>>> from django.db import connection
+>>> settings.DEBUG = True
+>>> Tag.objects.exists()
+False
+>>> # Ok - so the exist query worked - but did it include too many columns?
+>>> "id" not in connection.queries[-1]['sql'] and "name" not in connection.queries[-1]['sql']
+True
+>>> settings.DEBUG = False
+
 >>> generic = NamedCategory.objects.create(name="Generic")
 >>> t1 = Tag.objects.create(name='t1', category=generic)
 >>> t2 = Tag.objects.create(name='t2', parent=t1, category=generic)