diff --git a/src/fields/BaseRelationField.php b/src/fields/BaseRelationField.php
index 4347bcf03ab..64e4cc012a1 100644
--- a/src/fields/BaseRelationField.php
+++ b/src/fields/BaseRelationField.php
@@ -652,7 +652,9 @@ public function normalizeValue(mixed $value, ?ElementInterface $element): mixed
                         CancelableEvent $event,
                         ElementQuery $query,
                     ) use ($relationsAlias) {
-                        $query->orderBy(["$relationsAlias.sortOrder" => SORT_ASC]);
+                        if ($query->orderBy === '') {
+                            $query->orderBy(["$relationsAlias.sortOrder" => SORT_ASC]);
+                        }
                     },
                 ]));
             }