diff --git a/src/core/unit.c b/src/core/unit.c
index f6c9891aad6..ac29353299d 100644
--- a/src/core/unit.c
+++ b/src/core/unit.c
@@ -3365,7 +3365,6 @@ int unit_write_drop_in(Unit *u, UnitSetPropertiesMode mode, const char *name, co
         if (r < 0)
                 return r;
 
-        strv_sort(u->dropin_paths);
         strv_uniq(u->dropin_paths);
 
         u->dropin_mtime = now(CLOCK_REALTIME);