diff --git a/packages/workspace/src/core/file-utils.ts b/packages/workspace/src/core/file-utils.ts
index fada7dc0bdcd2..799085fc58f91 100644
--- a/packages/workspace/src/core/file-utils.ts
+++ b/packages/workspace/src/core/file-utils.ts
@@ -228,18 +228,19 @@ export function readWorkspaceFiles(): FileData[] {
       'read workspace files:start',
       'read workspace files:end'
     );
+    r.sort((x, y) => x.file.localeCompare(y.file));
     return r;
   } else {
-    const files = [];
-    files.push(...rootWorkspaceFileData());
+    const r = [];
+    r.push(...rootWorkspaceFileData());
 
     // Add known workspace files and directories
-    files.push(...allFilesInDir(appRootPath, false));
-    files.push(...allFilesInDir(`${appRootPath}/tools`));
+    r.push(...allFilesInDir(appRootPath, false));
+    r.push(...allFilesInDir(`${appRootPath}/tools`));
     const wl = workspaceLayout();
-    files.push(...allFilesInDir(`${appRootPath}/${wl.appsDir}`));
+    r.push(...allFilesInDir(`${appRootPath}/${wl.appsDir}`));
     if (wl.appsDir !== wl.libsDir) {
-      files.push(...allFilesInDir(`${appRootPath}/${wl.libsDir}`));
+      r.push(...allFilesInDir(`${appRootPath}/${wl.libsDir}`));
     }
     performance.mark('read workspace files:end');
     performance.measure(
@@ -247,7 +248,8 @@ export function readWorkspaceFiles(): FileData[] {
       'read workspace files:start',
       'read workspace files:end'
     );
-    return files;
+    r.sort((x, y) => x.file.localeCompare(y.file));
+    return r;
   }
 }
 
@@ -277,12 +279,10 @@ export function normalizedProjectRoot(p: ProjectGraphNode): string {
 
 export function filesChanged(a: FileData[], b: FileData[]) {
   if (a.length !== b.length) return true;
-  const sortedA = a.sort((x, y) => x.file.localeCompare(y.file));
-  const sortedB = b.sort((x, y) => x.file.localeCompare(y.file));
 
-  for (let i = 0; i < sortedA.length; ++i) {
-    if (sortedA[i].file !== sortedB[i].file) return true;
-    if (sortedA[i].hash !== sortedB[i].hash) return true;
+  for (let i = 0; i < a.length; ++i) {
+    if (a[i].file !== b[i].file) return true;
+    if (a[i].hash !== b[i].hash) return true;
   }
   return false;
 }