diff --git a/src/custom-sort/custom-sort.spec.ts b/src/custom-sort/custom-sort.spec.ts
index 5a2bc6b..db974c3 100644
--- a/src/custom-sort/custom-sort.spec.ts
+++ b/src/custom-sort/custom-sort.spec.ts
@@ -2276,7 +2276,7 @@ describe('CustomSortOrder.byMetadataFieldAlphabetical', () => {
 		expect(result1).toBe(SORT_FIRST_GOES_EARLIER)
 		expect(result2).toBe(SORT_FIRST_GOES_LATER)
 	})
-	it('should correctly fallback to alphabetical by name when metadata on both items is present and equal', () => {
+	it('should correctly compare when metadata on both items is present and equal', () => {
 		// given
 		const itemA: Partial<FolderItemForSorting> = {
 			metadataFieldValue: 'Aaa',
@@ -2294,9 +2294,9 @@ describe('CustomSortOrder.byMetadataFieldAlphabetical', () => {
 		const result3: number = sorter(itemB as FolderItemForSorting, itemB as FolderItemForSorting)
 
 		// then
-		expect(result1).toBe(SORT_FIRST_GOES_LATER)
-		expect(result2).toBe(SORT_FIRST_GOES_EARLIER)
-		expect(result3).toBe(SORT_ITEMS_ARE_EQUAL)
+		expect(result1).toBe(EQUAL_OR_UNCOMPARABLE)
+		expect(result2).toBe(EQUAL_OR_UNCOMPARABLE)
+		expect(result3).toBe(EQUAL_OR_UNCOMPARABLE)
 	})
 	it('should put the item with metadata earlier if the second one has no metadata ', () => {
 		// given
@@ -2358,7 +2358,7 @@ describe('CustomSortOrder.byMetadataFieldAlphabeticalReverse', () => {
 		expect(result1).toBe(SORT_FIRST_GOES_LATER)
 		expect(result2).toBe(SORT_FIRST_GOES_EARLIER)
 	})
-	it('should correctly fallback to alphabetical reverse by name when metadata on both items is present and equal', () => {
+	it('should correctly compare when metadata on both items is present and equal', () => {
 		// given
 		const itemA: Partial<FolderItemForSorting> = {
 			metadataFieldValue: 'Aaa',
@@ -2376,9 +2376,9 @@ describe('CustomSortOrder.byMetadataFieldAlphabeticalReverse', () => {
 		const result3: number = sorter(itemB as FolderItemForSorting, itemB as FolderItemForSorting)
 
 		// then
-		expect(result1).toBe(SORT_FIRST_GOES_EARLIER)
-		expect(result2).toBe(SORT_FIRST_GOES_LATER)
-		expect(result3).toBe(SORT_ITEMS_ARE_EQUAL)
+		expect(result1).toBe(EQUAL_OR_UNCOMPARABLE)
+		expect(result2).toBe(EQUAL_OR_UNCOMPARABLE)
+		expect(result3).toBe(EQUAL_OR_UNCOMPARABLE)
 	})
 	it('should put the item with metadata later if the second one has no metadata (reverse order)', () => {
 		// given
@@ -2425,9 +2425,9 @@ describe('sorterByMetadataField', () => {
 	it.each([
 		[true,'abc','def',-1, 'a', 'a'],
 		[true,'xyz','klm',1, 'b', 'b'],
-		[true,'mmm','mmm',0, 'c', 'c'],
-		[true,'mmm','mmm',-1, 'd', 'e'],
-		[true,'mmm','mmm',1, 'e', 'd'],
+		[true,'mmm','mmm',EQUAL_OR_UNCOMPARABLE, 'c', 'c'],
+		[true,'mmm','mmm',EQUAL_OR_UNCOMPARABLE, 'd', 'e'],
+		[true,'mmm','mmm',EQUAL_OR_UNCOMPARABLE, 'e', 'd'],
 		[true,'abc',undefined,-1, 'a','a'],
 		[true,undefined,'klm',1, 'b','b'],
 		[true,undefined,undefined,EQUAL_OR_UNCOMPARABLE, 'a','a'],
@@ -2435,9 +2435,9 @@ describe('sorterByMetadataField', () => {
 		[true,undefined,undefined,EQUAL_OR_UNCOMPARABLE, 'd','c'],
 		[false,'abc','def',1, 'a', 'a'],
 		[false,'xyz','klm',-1, 'b', 'b'],
-		[false,'mmm','mmm',0, 'c', 'c'],
-		[false,'mmm','mmm',1, 'd', 'e'],
-		[false,'mmm','mmm',-1, 'e', 'd'],
+		[false,'mmm','mmm',EQUAL_OR_UNCOMPARABLE, 'c', 'c'],
+		[false,'mmm','mmm',EQUAL_OR_UNCOMPARABLE, 'd', 'e'],
+		[false,'mmm','mmm',EQUAL_OR_UNCOMPARABLE, 'e', 'd'],
 		[false,'abc',undefined,1, 'a','a'],
 		[false,undefined,'klm',-1, 'b','b'],
 		[false,undefined,undefined,EQUAL_OR_UNCOMPARABLE, 'a','a'],
diff --git a/src/custom-sort/custom-sort.ts b/src/custom-sort/custom-sort.ts
index 8ec2429..074cc9d 100644
--- a/src/custom-sort/custom-sort.ts
+++ b/src/custom-sort/custom-sort.ts
@@ -5,7 +5,8 @@ import {
 	requireApiVersion,
 	TAbstractFile,
 	TFile,
-	TFolder} from 'obsidian';
+	TFolder
+} from 'obsidian';
 import {
 	determineStarredStatusOf,
 	Starred_PluginInstance
@@ -86,12 +87,7 @@ export const sorterByMetadataField:(reverseOrder?: boolean, trueAlphabetical?: b
 		}
 		if (a.metadataFieldValue && b.metadataFieldValue) {
 			const sortResult: number = collatorCompareFn(a.metadataFieldValue, b.metadataFieldValue)
-			if (sortResult === 0) {
-				// Fallback -> requested sort by metadata and both items have the same metadata value
-				return collatorCompareFn(a.sortString, b.sortString)    // switch to alphabetical sort by note/folder titles
-			} else {
-				return sortResult
-			}
+			return sortResult
 		}
 		// Item with metadata goes before the w/o metadata
 		if (a.metadataFieldValue) return -1