diff --git a/src/mpl2/test/macro_only.defok b/src/mpl2/test/macro_only.defok
index d1f0ee2305b..8083f8a540a 100644
--- a/src/mpl2/test/macro_only.defok
+++ b/src/mpl2/test/macro_only.defok
@@ -339,16 +339,16 @@ TRACKS Y 140 DO 282 STEP 3200 LAYER metal9 ;
 TRACKS X 190 DO 282 STEP 3200 LAYER metal10 ;
 TRACKS Y 140 DO 282 STEP 3200 LAYER metal10 ;
 COMPONENTS 10 ;
-    - U1 HM_100x400_4x4 + FIXED ( 665880 16610 ) S ;
-    - U10 HM_100x100_1x1 + FIXED ( 233880 16270 ) FN ;
-    - U2 HM_100x100_1x1 + FIXED ( 449880 664610 ) S ;
+    - U1 HM_100x400_4x4 + FIXED ( 665880 16310 ) FN ;
+    - U10 HM_100x100_1x1 + FIXED ( 233880 232430 ) FN ;
+    - U2 HM_100x100_1x1 + FIXED ( 449880 16270 ) FN ;
     - U3 HM_100x100_1x1 + FIXED ( 449880 448450 ) S ;
-    - U4 HM_100x100_1x1 + FIXED ( 449880 232430 ) FN ;
-    - U5 HM_100x100_1x1 + FIXED ( 449880 16270 ) FN ;
-    - U6 HM_100x400_4x4 + FIXED ( 17880 16610 ) S ;
-    - U7 HM_100x100_1x1 + FIXED ( 233880 664610 ) S ;
+    - U4 HM_100x100_1x1 + FIXED ( 449880 664610 ) S ;
+    - U5 HM_100x100_1x1 + FIXED ( 449880 232430 ) FN ;
+    - U6 HM_100x400_4x4 + FIXED ( 17880 16310 ) FN ;
+    - U7 HM_100x100_1x1 + FIXED ( 233880 16270 ) FN ;
     - U8 HM_100x100_1x1 + FIXED ( 233880 448450 ) S ;
-    - U9 HM_100x100_1x1 + FIXED ( 233880 232430 ) FN ;
+    - U9 HM_100x100_1x1 + FIXED ( 233880 664610 ) S ;
 END COMPONENTS
 NETS 12 ;
     - w1 ( U2 I1 ) ( U1 O1 ) + USE SIGNAL ;
diff --git a/src/odb/src/defin/definReader.cpp b/src/odb/src/defin/definReader.cpp
index 43ce7d39d36..8eb750cb094 100644
--- a/src/odb/src/defin/definReader.cpp
+++ b/src/odb/src/defin/definReader.cpp
@@ -2140,10 +2140,15 @@ bool definReader::createBlock(const char* file)
 
   dbModule* top_module = _block->getTopModule();
 
-  if (top_module->getChildren().size() > 0) {
+  // sort the mod inst order so that in hierarchical
+  // mode we don't see distracting regression failures
+  // from order difference between dbVector and dbSet
+  // traversals for modinsts.
+
+  if (top_module->getChildren().size() > 1) {
     top_module->getChildren().reverse();
   }
-  if (top_module->getInsts().size() > 0) {
+  if (top_module->getInsts().size() > 1) {
     top_module->getInsts().reverse();
   }
   return true;