diff --git a/framework/core/src/Flarum/Api/Actions/Base.php b/framework/core/src/Flarum/Api/Actions/Base.php
index df43dc5d4..897425488 100644
--- a/framework/core/src/Flarum/Api/Actions/Base.php
+++ b/framework/core/src/Flarum/Api/Actions/Base.php
@@ -104,6 +104,11 @@ abstract class Base extends Controller
     protected function sort($options)
     {
         $criteria = (string) $this->input('sort', '');
+
+        if (! in_array($criteria, $options)) {
+            $criteria = reset($options);
+        }
+
         $order = $criteria ? 'asc' : null;
 
         if ($criteria && $criteria[0] == '-') {
@@ -111,10 +116,6 @@ abstract class Base extends Controller
             $criteria = substr($criteria, 1);
         }
 
-        if (! in_array($criteria, $options)) {
-            $criteria = reset($options);
-        }
-
         return [
             'by' => $criteria,
             'order' => $order,