diff --git a/dp3/api/routers/entity.py b/dp3/api/routers/entity.py
index ccddcc27..1c33ac35 100644
--- a/dp3/api/routers/entity.py
+++ b/dp3/api/routers/entity.py
@@ -432,8 +432,14 @@ async def get_entity_type_eids(
 
         # Apply sorting if specified
         if sort_criteria:
-            # Prepare sort specification with 'last.' prefix for snapshot data
-            sort_spec = [("last." + attr, direction) for attr, direction in sort_criteria]
+            # 'eid' uses snapshot _id storage order so standalone EID sorts can use
+            # the _id index. This intentionally differs from natural EID order for
+            # some strings (bucket suffixes) and signed integers (binary encoding).
+            # Other attributes live under 'last.'
+            sort_spec = [
+                ("_id" if attr == "eid" else "last." + attr, direction)
+                for attr, direction in sort_criteria
+            ]
             cursor = cursor.sort(sort_spec)
 
         cursor_page = cursor.skip(skip).limit(limit)