diff --git a/src/api/sorting/plugin_sort.cpp b/src/api/sorting/plugin_sort.cpp
index e300ee73..4a9bacd5 100644
--- a/src/api/sorting/plugin_sort.cpp
+++ b/src/api/sorting/plugin_sort.cpp
@@ -38,6 +38,13 @@ std::vector<PluginSortingData> GetPluginsSortingData(
   std::vector<PluginSortingData> pluginsSortingData;
   pluginsSortingData.reserve(loadedPluginInterfaces.size());
 
+#ifdef _WIN32
+  std::vector<std::wstring> wideLoadOrder;
+  for (const auto& pluginName : loadOrder) {
+    wideLoadOrder.push_back(ToWinWide(pluginName));
+  }
+#endif
+
   for (const auto& pluginInterface : loadedPluginInterfaces) {
     if (!pluginInterface) {
       continue;
@@ -56,8 +63,13 @@ std::vector<PluginSortingData> GetPluginsSortingData(
     const auto userMetadata = db.GetPluginUserMetadata(plugin->GetName(), true)
                                   .value_or(PluginMetadata(plugin->GetName()));
 
+#ifdef _WIN32
+    const auto pluginSortingData = PluginSortingData(
+        plugin, masterlistMetadata, userMetadata, wideLoadOrder);
+#else
     const auto pluginSortingData =
         PluginSortingData(plugin, masterlistMetadata, userMetadata, loadOrder);
+#endif
 
     pluginsSortingData.push_back(pluginSortingData);
   }
diff --git a/src/api/sorting/plugin_sorting_data.cpp b/src/api/sorting/plugin_sorting_data.cpp
index 0475ba16..b0d53393 100644
--- a/src/api/sorting/plugin_sorting_data.cpp
+++ b/src/api/sorting/plugin_sorting_data.cpp
@@ -53,7 +53,11 @@ PluginSortingData::PluginSortingData(
     const PluginSortingInterface* plugin,
     const PluginMetadata& masterlistMetadata,
     const PluginMetadata& userMetadata,
+#ifdef _WIN32
+    const std::vector<std::wstring>& loadOrder) :
+#else
     const std::vector<std::string>& loadOrder) :
+#endif
     plugin_(plugin),
     group_(userMetadata.GetGroup().value_or(
         masterlistMetadata.GetGroup().value_or(Group::DEFAULT_NAME))),
@@ -66,8 +70,17 @@ PluginSortingData::PluginSortingData(
     return;
   }
 
+#ifdef _WIN32
+  auto wideName = ToWinWide(GetName());
+#endif
+
   for (size_t i = 0; i < loadOrder.size(); i++) {
-    if (CompareFilenames(plugin->GetName(), loadOrder.at(i)) == 0) {
+#ifdef _WIN32
+    int comparison = CompareFilenames(wideName, loadOrder.at(i));
+#else
+    int comparison = CompareFilenames(GetName(), loadOrder.at(i));
+#endif
+    if (comparison == 0) {
       loadOrderIndex_ = i;
       break;
     }
diff --git a/src/api/sorting/plugin_sorting_data.h b/src/api/sorting/plugin_sorting_data.h
index db4ac1f6..2a8d06fe 100644
--- a/src/api/sorting/plugin_sorting_data.h
+++ b/src/api/sorting/plugin_sorting_data.h
@@ -43,7 +43,11 @@ public:
   explicit PluginSortingData(const PluginSortingInterface* plugin,
                              const PluginMetadata& masterlistMetadata,
                              const PluginMetadata& userMetadata,
+#ifdef _WIN32
+                             const std::vector<std::wstring>& loadOrder);
+#else
                              const std::vector<std::string>& loadOrder);
+#endif
 
   std::string GetName() const;
   bool IsMaster() const;
diff --git a/src/tests/api/internals/sorting/plugin_sort_test.h b/src/tests/api/internals/sorting/plugin_sort_test.h
index aaadd432..955263f4 100644
--- a/src/tests/api/internals/sorting/plugin_sort_test.h
+++ b/src/tests/api/internals/sorting/plugin_sort_test.h
@@ -83,8 +83,18 @@ protected:
       const std::vector<std::string>& loadOrder = {}) {
     const auto plugin = GetPlugin(name);
 
+#ifdef _WIN32
+    std::vector<std::wstring> wideLoadOrder;
+    for (const auto& pluginName : loadOrder) {
+      wideLoadOrder.push_back(ToWinWide(pluginName));
+    }
+
+    return PluginSortingData(
+        plugin, PluginMetadata(), PluginMetadata(), wideLoadOrder);
+#else
     return PluginSortingData(
         plugin, PluginMetadata(), PluginMetadata(), loadOrder);
+#endif
   }
 
   plugingraph::TestPlugin* GetPlugin(const std::string& name) {
diff --git a/src/tests/api/internals/sorting/plugin_sorting_data_test.h b/src/tests/api/internals/sorting/plugin_sorting_data_test.h
index cc580561..c86c46e8 100644
--- a/src/tests/api/internals/sorting/plugin_sorting_data_test.h
+++ b/src/tests/api/internals/sorting/plugin_sorting_data_test.h
@@ -63,6 +63,19 @@ protected:
     return loadedPluginInterfaces;
   }
 
+#ifdef _WIN32
+  std::vector<std::wstring> getNativeLoadOrder() {
+    std::vector<std::wstring> wideLoadOrder;
+    for (const auto &pluginName : getLoadOrder()) {
+      wideLoadOrder.push_back(ToWinWide(pluginName));
+    }
+
+    return wideLoadOrder;
+  }
+#else
+  std::vector<std::string> getNativeLoadOrder() { return getLoadOrder(); }
+#endif
+
   Game game_;
   const std::string blankEslEsp;
 };
@@ -89,14 +102,14 @@ TEST_P(PluginSortingDataTest, lightFlaggedEspFilesShouldNotBeTreatedAsMasters) {
       dynamic_cast<const PluginSortingInterface *>(game_.GetPlugin(blankEsp)),
       PluginMetadata(),
       PluginMetadata(),
-      getLoadOrder());
+      getNativeLoadOrder());
   EXPECT_FALSE(esp.IsMaster());
 
   auto master = PluginSortingData(
       dynamic_cast<const PluginSortingInterface *>(game_.GetPlugin(blankEsm)),
       PluginMetadata(),
       PluginMetadata(),
-      getLoadOrder());
+      getNativeLoadOrder());
   EXPECT_TRUE(master.IsMaster());
 
   if (GetParam() == GameType::fo4 || GetParam() == GameType::tes5se) {
@@ -104,7 +117,7 @@ TEST_P(PluginSortingDataTest, lightFlaggedEspFilesShouldNotBeTreatedAsMasters) {
         dynamic_cast<const PluginSortingInterface *>(game_.GetPlugin(blankEsl)),
         PluginMetadata(),
         PluginMetadata(),
-        getLoadOrder());
+        getNativeLoadOrder());
     EXPECT_TRUE(lightMaster.IsMaster());
 
     auto lightPlugin =
@@ -112,7 +125,7 @@ TEST_P(PluginSortingDataTest, lightFlaggedEspFilesShouldNotBeTreatedAsMasters) {
                               game_.GetPlugin(blankEslEsp)),
                           PluginMetadata(),
                           PluginMetadata(),
-                          getLoadOrder());
+                          getNativeLoadOrder());
     EXPECT_FALSE(lightPlugin.IsMaster());
   }
 }
@@ -125,7 +138,7 @@ TEST_P(PluginSortingDataTest,
       dynamic_cast<const Plugin *>(game_.GetPlugin(blankMasterDependentEsm)),
       PluginMetadata(),
       PluginMetadata(),
-      getLoadOrder());
+      getNativeLoadOrder());
   if (GetParam() == GameType::starfield) {
     EXPECT_EQ(1, plugin.GetOverrideRecordCount());
   } else {
@@ -140,11 +153,11 @@ TEST_P(PluginSortingDataTest,
 
   ASSERT_NO_THROW(loadInstalledPlugins(game_, false));
 
-  auto plugin = PluginSortingData(
-      dynamic_cast<const Plugin *>(game_.GetPlugin(blankEsm)),
-      PluginMetadata(),
-      PluginMetadata(),
-                        getLoadOrder());
+  auto plugin =
+      PluginSortingData(dynamic_cast<const Plugin *>(game_.GetPlugin(blankEsm)),
+                        PluginMetadata(),
+                        PluginMetadata(),
+                        getNativeLoadOrder());
   if (GetParam() == GameType::starfield) {
     EXPECT_TRUE(plugin.IsBlueprintMaster());
   } else {
@@ -155,20 +168,21 @@ TEST_P(PluginSortingDataTest,
       dynamic_cast<const Plugin *>(game_.GetPlugin(blankDifferentEsm)),
       PluginMetadata(),
       PluginMetadata(),
-      getLoadOrder());
+      getNativeLoadOrder());
   EXPECT_FALSE(plugin.IsBlueprintMaster());
 
-  plugin = PluginSortingData(dynamic_cast<const Plugin *>(game_.GetPlugin(blankEsp)),
-      PluginMetadata(),
-      PluginMetadata(),
-      getLoadOrder());
+  plugin =
+      PluginSortingData(dynamic_cast<const Plugin *>(game_.GetPlugin(blankEsp)),
+                        PluginMetadata(),
+                        PluginMetadata(),
+                        getNativeLoadOrder());
   EXPECT_FALSE(plugin.IsBlueprintMaster());
 
   plugin = PluginSortingData(
       dynamic_cast<const Plugin *>(game_.GetPlugin(blankDifferentEsp)),
       PluginMetadata(),
       PluginMetadata(),
-      getLoadOrder());
+      getNativeLoadOrder());
   EXPECT_FALSE(plugin.IsBlueprintMaster());
 }
 }