diff --git a/src/shared/automation-run-retention.test.ts b/src/shared/automation-run-retention.test.ts
index c405c43f37b..6b6c7ec73de 100644
--- a/src/shared/automation-run-retention.test.ts
+++ b/src/shared/automation-run-retention.test.ts
@@ -171,3 +171,25 @@ describe('nextAutomationRunNumber', () => {
     expect(runs.some((r) => r.runNumber === next)).toBe(false)
   })
 })
+
+it('does not inspect ordering timestamps when an automation is within its retention cap', () => {
+  let reads = 0
+  const runs = Array.from({ length: 100 }, (_, index) =>
+    run({
+      id: `run-${index}`,
+      automationId: 'a'
+    })
+  )
+  for (const [index, entry] of runs.entries()) {
+    Object.defineProperty(entry, 'createdAt', {
+      get() {
+        reads += 1
+        return (index * 37) % 100
+      }
+    })
+  }
+  const kept = pruneAutomationRuns(runs)
+  expect(kept).toHaveLength(100)
+  expect(kept.every((entry, index) => entry === runs[index])).toBe(true)
+  expect(reads).toBe(0)
+})
diff --git a/src/shared/automation-run-retention.ts b/src/shared/automation-run-retention.ts
index 3b0eae648ad..8fec7a07035 100644
--- a/src/shared/automation-run-retention.ts
+++ b/src/shared/automation-run-retention.ts
@@ -15,7 +15,9 @@ export function pruneAutomationRuns(
   for (const automationRuns of Map.groupBy(finalRuns, (run) => run.automationId).values()) {
     // Why: `createdAt` is the append time; `scheduledFor` breaks ties so runs
     // minted in the same millisecond drop in a stable, reproducible order.
-    automationRuns.sort((a, b) => b.createdAt - a.createdAt || b.scheduledFor - a.scheduledFor)
+    if (automationRuns.length > maxPerAutomation) {
+      automationRuns.sort((a, b) => b.createdAt - a.createdAt || b.scheduledFor - a.scheduledFor)
+    }
     // Why: clamp — a negative `slice` end drops from the tail instead of keeping nothing.
     for (const run of automationRuns.slice(0, Math.max(0, maxPerAutomation))) {
       kept.add(run.id)