diff --git a/plugins/sortDefsChildren.js b/plugins/sortDefsChildren.js
index ea85a4d3..bf1d1c43 100644
--- a/plugins/sortDefsChildren.js
+++ b/plugins/sortDefsChildren.js
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ exports.fn = function(item) {
                 if (lengthComparison !== 0) {
                     return lengthComparison;
                 }
-                return a.elem > b.elem;
+                return a.elem != b.elem ? a.elem > b.elem ? -1 : 1 : 0;
             });
         }
 
diff --git a/test/plugins/sortDefsChildren.01.svg b/test/plugins/sortDefsChildren.01.svg
index abfd67ed..56c57ae2 100644
--- a/test/plugins/sortDefsChildren.01.svg
+++ b/test/plugins/sortDefsChildren.01.svg
@@ -19,13 +19,13 @@
     <defs>
         <circle id="e" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd" cx="60" cy="60" r="50"/>
         <circle id="f" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd" cx="60" cy="60" r="50"/>
-        <path id="b" d="M0 0zM10 10zM20 20l10 10M30 0c10 0 20 10 20 20M30 30z"/>
-        <path id="d" d="M 30,30 z"/>
         <text id="a">
             referenced text
         </text>
         <text id="c">
             referenced text
         </text>
+        <path id="b" d="M0 0zM10 10zM20 20l10 10M30 0c10 0 20 10 20 20M30 30z"/>
+        <path id="d" d="M 30,30 z"/>
     </defs>
 </svg>