diff --git a/packages/web/src/lib/runes/media_view_rune.svelte.ts b/packages/web/src/lib/runes/media_view_rune.svelte.ts
index 3950ea90..b0b56bc3 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/lib/runes/media_view_rune.svelte.ts
+++ b/packages/web/src/lib/runes/media_view_rune.svelte.ts
@@ -164,8 +164,10 @@ export class MediaGroupRune extends MediaViewRune {
           : []
       const tag = `${group_by.tag_group}:${media_response.group.value}`
       merged_search_params.query.tags.push(tag)
+      // 'count' sorting only exists on group_by searches, so fall back to the default media search sort
       if (merged_search_params.sort_by === 'count') {
-        merged_search_params.sort_by = 'created_at'
+        delete merged_search_params.sort_by
+        delete merged_search_params.order
       }
       merged_search_params.limit = 1 // TODO until we implement a filmstrip render, we only need one image
     } else {
diff --git a/packages/web/src/routes/browse/runes/queryparams.svelte.ts b/packages/web/src/routes/browse/runes/queryparams.svelte.ts
index ae68822d..6908c590 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/routes/browse/runes/queryparams.svelte.ts
+++ b/packages/web/src/routes/browse/runes/queryparams.svelte.ts
@@ -304,9 +304,11 @@ export class QueryParamsManager extends Rune {
         // Clear group_by only params if switching away from group_by mode
         if (val !== 'group_by') {
           params.group_by = undefined
-          // 'count' sorting only exists on group_by searches, core rejects it elsewhere
+          // 'count' sorting only exists on group_by searches, core rejects it elsewhere.
+          // The order was chosen for the count sort, so drop it along with the sort
           if (params.sort === 'count') {
             params.sort = DEFAULTS.sort
+            params.order = DEFAULTS.order
           }
         }
       } else {