diff --git a/framework/core/src/Flarum/Api/Actions/Base.php b/framework/core/src/Flarum/Api/Actions/Base.php
index 897425488..53a765e91 100644
--- a/framework/core/src/Flarum/Api/Actions/Base.php
+++ b/framework/core/src/Flarum/Api/Actions/Base.php
@@ -104,16 +104,19 @@ abstract class Base extends Controller
     protected function sort($options)
     {
         $criteria = (string) $this->input('sort', '');
+        $order = null;
+
+        if ($criteria && $criteria[0] == '-') {
+            $order = 'desc';
+            $criteria = substr($criteria, 1);
+        }
 
         if (! in_array($criteria, $options)) {
             $criteria = reset($options);
         }
 
-        $order = $criteria ? 'asc' : null;
-
-        if ($criteria && $criteria[0] == '-') {
-            $order = 'desc';
-            $criteria = substr($criteria, 1);
+        if ($criteria && ! $order) {
+            $order = 'asc';
         }
 
         return [