diff --git a/routers/web/explore/org.go b/routers/web/explore/org.go
index f8fd6ec38e..6724324899 100644
--- a/routers/web/explore/org.go
+++ b/routers/web/explore/org.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/container"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/setting"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/structs"
+	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/util"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/services/context"
 )
 
@@ -33,7 +34,7 @@ func Organizations(ctx *context.Context) {
 	)
 	sortOrder := ctx.FormString("sort")
 	if sortOrder == "" {
-		sortOrder = "newest"
+		sortOrder = util.Iif(supportedSortOrders.Contains(setting.UI.ExploreDefaultSort), setting.UI.ExploreDefaultSort, "newest")
 		ctx.SetFormString("sort", sortOrder)
 	}
 
diff --git a/routers/web/explore/user.go b/routers/web/explore/user.go
index b79a79fb2c..20a17bf3c3 100644
--- a/routers/web/explore/user.go
+++ b/routers/web/explore/user.go
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import (
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/setting"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/sitemap"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/structs"
+	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/util"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/services/context"
 )
 
@@ -147,7 +148,7 @@ func Users(ctx *context.Context) {
 	)
 	sortOrder := ctx.FormString("sort")
 	if sortOrder == "" {
-		sortOrder = "newest"
+		sortOrder = util.Iif(supportedSortOrders.Contains(setting.UI.ExploreDefaultSort), setting.UI.ExploreDefaultSort, "newest")
 		ctx.SetFormString("sort", sortOrder)
 	}