diff --git a/pkg/releaseutil/kind_sorter.go b/pkg/releaseutil/kind_sorter.go
index a5110a100..41eeae722 100644
--- a/pkg/releaseutil/kind_sorter.go
+++ b/pkg/releaseutil/kind_sorter.go
@@ -134,13 +134,13 @@ func (k *kindSorter) Less(i, j int) bool {
 	b := k.manifests[j]
 	first, aok := k.ordering[a.Head.Kind]
 	second, bok := k.ordering[b.Head.Kind]
-	// if same kind (including unknown) sub sort alphanumeric
-	if first == second {
-		// if both are unknown and of different kind sort by kind alphabetically
-		if !aok && !bok && a.Head.Kind != b.Head.Kind {
+
+	if !aok && !bok {
+		// if both are unknown then sort alphabetically by kind, keep original order if same kind
+		if a.Head.Kind != b.Head.Kind {
 			return a.Head.Kind < b.Head.Kind
 		}
-		return a.Name < b.Name
+		return first < second
 	}
 	// unknown kind is last
 	if !aok {
diff --git a/pkg/releaseutil/kind_sorter_test.go b/pkg/releaseutil/kind_sorter_test.go
index 93d8ae782..dcc5b847b 100644
--- a/pkg/releaseutil/kind_sorter_test.go
+++ b/pkg/releaseutil/kind_sorter_test.go
@@ -245,3 +245,24 @@ func TestKindSorterSubSort(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+func TestKindSorterNamespaceAgainstUnknown(t *testing.T) {
+	unknown := Manifest{
+		Name: "a",
+		Head: &SimpleHead{Kind: "Unknown"},
+	}
+	namespace := Manifest{
+		Name: "b",
+		Head: &SimpleHead{Kind: "Namespace"},
+	}
+
+	manifests := []Manifest{unknown, namespace}
+	sortByKind(manifests, InstallOrder)
+
+	expectedOrder := []Manifest{namespace, unknown}
+	for i, manifest := range manifests {
+		if expectedOrder[i].Name != manifest.Name {
+			t.Errorf("Expected %s, got %s", expectedOrder[i].Name, manifest.Name)
+		}
+	}
+}