diff --git a/test/sorting.test.js b/test/sorting.test.js
index 64946e5..97483fd 100644
--- a/test/sorting.test.js
+++ b/test/sorting.test.js
@@ -402,6 +402,29 @@ describe('openapi-format CLI sorting tests', () => {
       fromEntriesSpy.mockRestore();
     });
 
+    it('sortPathsByAlphabet - should order a path before its trailing-slash variant regardless of input order', () => {
+      // A path and its trailing-slash variant differ only by an empty
+      // segment. The comparator must return the same result no matter which
+      // order they appear in the input, otherwise they swap between runs.
+      const expected = ['/pets', '/pets/'];
+
+      const sortedA = sortPathsByAlphabet({'/pets/': {get: {}}, '/pets': {get: {}}});
+      const sortedB = sortPathsByAlphabet({'/pets': {get: {}}, '/pets/': {get: {}}});
+
+      expect(Object.keys(sortedA)).toEqual(expected);
+      expect(Object.keys(sortedB)).toEqual(expected);
+    });
+
+    it('sortPathsByAlphabet - should keep a shorter path before its trailing-slash variant and deeper children', () => {
+      const sorted = sortPathsByAlphabet({
+        '/pets/{id}': {get: {}},
+        '/pets/': {get: {}},
+        '/pets': {get: {}}
+      });
+
+      expect(Object.keys(sorted)).toEqual(['/pets', '/pets/', '/pets/{id}']);
+    });
+
     it('pathToRegExp and matchPath - should support named params in strict matching', () => {
       const regex = pathToRegExp('/messages/:id');
       expect(regex).toBeInstanceOf(RegExp);
diff --git a/utils/sorting.js b/utils/sorting.js
index cd9b9d2..704dda8 100644
--- a/utils/sorting.js
+++ b/utils/sorting.js
@@ -99,8 +99,15 @@ function sortPathsByAlphabet(paths) {
     const pathB = b[0].split('/');
 
     for (let i = 1; i < Math.max(pathA.length, pathB.length); i++) {
-      if (!pathA[i]) return -1;
-      if (!pathB[i]) return 1;
+      // Use a strict `undefined` check so a missing segment (the path has
+      // ended) is treated differently from an empty segment produced by a
+      // trailing slash. A truthy `!segment` test conflates the two, which
+      // makes the comparator inconsistent for paths that differ only by a
+      // trailing slash (e.g. `/pets` vs `/pets/`): both `compare(a, b)` and
+      // `compare(b, a)` would return -1, so their order depends on the input
+      // order and flips between runs.
+      if (pathA[i] === undefined) return -1;
+      if (pathB[i] === undefined) return 1;
       if (pathA[i] < pathB[i]) return -1;
       if (pathA[i] > pathB[i]) return 1;
     }