diff --git a/internal/apply/home_links.go b/internal/apply/home_links.go
index 7c359c9..414076c 100644
--- a/internal/apply/home_links.go
+++ b/internal/apply/home_links.go
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ var homes = func() []string {
 	for home := range accountsOfHomes() {
 		out = append(out, home)
 	}
+	// In one order: the user database is read into a map, and a map's order is not one.
+	sort.Strings(out)
 	return out
 }
 
diff --git a/internal/apply/home_links_test.go b/internal/apply/home_links_test.go
index 041500b..97a47e3 100644
--- a/internal/apply/home_links_test.go
+++ b/internal/apply/home_links_test.go
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ func TestHomesAreAPersonsOrAnAgentsNotAServicesOrRoots(t *testing.T) {
 	passwdFile = passwd
 	t.Cleanup(func() { passwdFile = was })
 	got := strings.Join(homes(), ",")
-	if got != "/home/operator,/home/agent,/home/svc" {
+	if got != "/home/agent,/home/operator,/home/svc" {
 		t.Fatalf("homes %s", got)
 	}
 	if homeAbove("/home/agent/.claude") != "/home/agent" || homeAbove("/home/agent") != "" ||