diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 2c51d2644f..2c76dcd70f 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ retest: git-annex
 # hothasktags chokes on some template haskell etc, so ignore errors
 tags:
 	grep -v '/\*' dist/build/autogen/cabal_macros.h > dist/build/autogen/cabal_macros.h.munged
-	(for f in $$(find . | grep -v /.git/ | grep -v /tmp/ | grep -v /dist/ | grep -v /doc/ | egrep '\.hs$$'); do hothasktags -c --include=dist/build/autogen/cabal_macros.h.munged $$f; done) > tags 2>/dev/null
+	(for f in $$(find . | grep -v /.git/ | grep -v /tmp/ | grep -v /dist/ | grep -v /doc/ | egrep '\.hs$$'); do hothasktags -c --include=dist/build/autogen/cabal_macros.h.munged $$f; done) 2>/dev/null | sort > tags
 
 # If ikiwiki is available, build static html docs suitable for being
 # shipped in the software package.