diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/verapdf/pdfa/validation/profiles/Profiles.java b/core/src/main/java/org/verapdf/pdfa/validation/profiles/Profiles.java
index 254bfe198..66b5b1a2f 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/verapdf/pdfa/validation/profiles/Profiles.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/verapdf/pdfa/validation/profiles/Profiles.java
@@ -559,6 +559,9 @@ public static String getValidationProfileSchema() throws JAXBException, IOExcept
 	public static class RuleIdComparator implements Comparator<RuleId> {
 		@Override
 		public int compare(RuleId firstId, RuleId secondId) {
+			if (!firstId.getSpecification().equals(secondId.getSpecification())) {
+				return firstId.getSpecification().compareTo(secondId.getSpecification());
+			}
 			if (firstId.getClause().equals(secondId.getClause())) {
 				return firstId.getTestNumber() - secondId.getTestNumber();
 			}