diff --git a/exercises/practice/word-count/test_word_count.c b/exercises/practice/word-count/test_word_count.c
index 17cf8958a..5c2b3ac44 100644
--- a/exercises/practice/word-count/test_word_count.c
+++ b/exercises/practice/word-count/test_word_count.c
@@ -17,6 +17,13 @@ void tearDown(void)
 {
 }
 
+static int compare_word(const void *a, const void *b)
+{
+   word_count_word_t *w1 = (word_count_word_t *)a;
+   word_count_word_t *w2 = (word_count_word_t *)b;
+   return strcmp(w1->text, w2->text);
+}
+
 static void check_solution(word_count_word_t *expected_solution,
                            int expected_word_count,
                            word_count_word_t *actual_solution,
@@ -25,6 +32,12 @@ static void check_solution(word_count_word_t *expected_solution,
    // All words counted?
    TEST_ASSERT_EQUAL(expected_word_count, actual_word_count);
 
+   // Sort the words before comparing
+   qsort(expected_solution, expected_word_count, sizeof(word_count_word_t),
+         compare_word);
+   qsort(actual_solution, actual_word_count, sizeof(word_count_word_t),
+         compare_word);
+
    // now test the word count for the words...
    for (int index = 0; index < MAX_WORDS; index++) {
       TEST_ASSERT_EQUAL(expected_solution[index].count,