diff --git a/ref-filter.c b/ref-filter.c
index 1194f10ed6..e205dd2f68 100644
--- a/ref-filter.c
+++ b/ref-filter.c
@@ -1457,7 +1457,7 @@ static int cmp_ref_sorting(struct ref_sorting *s, struct ref_array_item *a, stru
 		if (va->ul < vb->ul)
 			cmp = -1;
 		else if (va->ul == vb->ul)
-			cmp = 0;
+			cmp = strcmp(a->refname, b->refname);
 		else
 			cmp = 1;
 	}
diff --git a/t/t3203-branch-output.sh b/t/t3203-branch-output.sh
index 9454423ca0..d3913f9088 100755
--- a/t/t3203-branch-output.sh
+++ b/t/t3203-branch-output.sh
@@ -158,8 +158,8 @@ EOF
 
 test_expect_success 'git branch `--sort` option' '
 	cat >expect <<-\EOF &&
-	  branch-two
 	* (HEAD detached from fromtag)
+	  branch-two
 	  branch-one
 	  master
 	EOF