diff --git a/lib/codecept.js b/lib/codecept.js
index 3efbab82d..4c28afc6d 100644
--- a/lib/codecept.js
+++ b/lib/codecept.js
@@ -289,8 +289,11 @@ class Codecept {
       // Ignore if gherkin module not available
     }
 
-    // Sort test files alphabetically for consistent execution order
-    this.testFiles.sort()
+    // Sort test files alphabetically for consistent execution order,
+    // but skip sorting when --shuffle is active so the randomised order is preserved.
+    if (!this.opts.shuffle) {
+      this.testFiles.sort()
+    }
 
     return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
       const mocha = container.mocha()