diff --git a/mmdebstrap b/mmdebstrap
index 2b87918..93fbb52 100755
--- a/mmdebstrap
+++ b/mmdebstrap
@@ -2150,9 +2150,6 @@ sub run_download() {
         }
     }
 
-    # Unpack order matters for e.g. timestamps on directories
-    @essential_pkgs = sort @essential_pkgs;
-
     return (\@essential_pkgs, \@cached_debs);
 }