diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/ml/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/ml/job/persistence/ScheduledEventsQueryBuilder.java b/x-pack/plugin/ml/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/ml/job/persistence/ScheduledEventsQueryBuilder.java
index b065ec9383482..618e680b0a658 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/ml/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/ml/job/persistence/ScheduledEventsQueryBuilder.java
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/ml/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/ml/job/persistence/ScheduledEventsQueryBuilder.java
@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@ public SearchSourceBuilder build() {
 
         SearchSourceBuilder searchSourceBuilder = new SearchSourceBuilder();
         searchSourceBuilder.sort(ScheduledEvent.START_TIME.getPreferredName());
+        searchSourceBuilder.sort(ScheduledEvent.DESCRIPTION.getPreferredName());
         if (from != null) {
             searchSourceBuilder.from(from);
         }