diff --git a/engine/rateinterval.go b/engine/rateinterval.go
index 37d5d2f94..5e76e6693 100644
--- a/engine/rateinterval.go
+++ b/engine/rateinterval.go
@@ -376,7 +376,8 @@ func (il RateIntervalList) Swap(i, j int) {
 
 // we need higher weights earlyer in the list
 func (il RateIntervalList) Less(j, i int) bool {
-	return il[i].Weight < il[j].Weight
+	return il[i].Weight < il[j].Weight ||
+		il[i].Timing.StartTime > il[j].Timing.StartTime
 }
 
 func (il RateIntervalList) Sort() {