diff --git a/packages/db-sqlite/src/countDistinct.ts b/packages/db-sqlite/src/countDistinct.ts
index 84a08b779..14b26d9ac 100644
--- a/packages/db-sqlite/src/countDistinct.ts
+++ b/packages/db-sqlite/src/countDistinct.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import type { ChainedMethods } from '@payloadcms/drizzle/types'
 
 import { chainMethods } from '@payloadcms/drizzle'
-import { count, sql } from 'drizzle-orm'
+import { count } from 'drizzle-orm'
 
 import type { CountDistinct, SQLiteAdapter } from './types.js'
 
@@ -22,11 +22,7 @@ export const countDistinct: CountDistinct = async function countDistinct(
     methods: chainedMethods,
     query: db
       .select({
-        count:
-          joins.length > 0
-            ? sql`count
-    (DISTINCT ${this.tables[tableName].id})`.mapWith(Number)
-            : count(),
+        count: count(),
       })
       .from(this.tables[tableName])
       .where(where),
diff --git a/packages/drizzle/src/postgres/countDistinct.ts b/packages/drizzle/src/postgres/countDistinct.ts
index 302820ee3..bea19daaf 100644
--- a/packages/drizzle/src/postgres/countDistinct.ts
+++ b/packages/drizzle/src/postgres/countDistinct.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { count, sql } from 'drizzle-orm'
+import { count } from 'drizzle-orm'
 
 import type { ChainedMethods, TransactionPg } from '../types.js'
 import type { BasePostgresAdapter, CountDistinct } from './types.js'
@@ -22,11 +22,7 @@ export const countDistinct: CountDistinct = async function countDistinct(
     methods: chainedMethods,
     query: (db as TransactionPg)
       .select({
-        count:
-          joins.length > 0
-            ? sql`count
-      (DISTINCT ${this.tables[tableName].id})`.mapWith(Number)
-            : count(),
+        count: count(),
       })
       .from(this.tables[tableName])
       .where(where),
diff --git a/packages/drizzle/src/queries/getTableColumnFromPath.ts b/packages/drizzle/src/queries/getTableColumnFromPath.ts
index c2102d938..6ec9103d3 100644
--- a/packages/drizzle/src/queries/getTableColumnFromPath.ts
+++ b/packages/drizzle/src/queries/getTableColumnFromPath.ts
@@ -186,18 +186,17 @@ export const getTableColumnFromPath = ({
         if (locale && field.localized && adapter.payload.config.localization) {
           newTableName = `${tableName}${adapter.localesSuffix}`
 
+          let condition = eq(adapter.tables[tableName].id, adapter.tables[newTableName]._parentID)
+
+          if (locale !== 'all') {
+            condition = and(condition, eq(adapter.tables[newTableName]._locale, locale))
+          }
+
           addJoinTable({
-            condition: eq(adapter.tables[tableName].id, adapter.tables[newTableName]._parentID),
+            condition,
             joins,
             table: adapter.tables[newTableName],
           })
-          if (locale !== 'all') {
-            constraints.push({
-              columnName: '_locale',
-              table: adapter.tables[newTableName],
-              value: locale,
-            })
-          }
         }
         return getTableColumnFromPath({
           adapter,
@@ -225,21 +224,20 @@ export const getTableColumnFromPath = ({
           )
 
           if (locale && field.localized && adapter.payload.config.localization) {
+            const conditions = [
+              eq(adapter.tables[tableName].id, adapter.tables[newTableName].parent),
+              eq(adapter.tables[newTableName]._locale, locale),
+            ]
+
+            if (locale !== 'all') {
+              conditions.push(eq(adapter.tables[newTableName]._locale, locale))
+            }
+
             addJoinTable({
-              condition: and(
-                eq(adapter.tables[tableName].id, adapter.tables[newTableName].parent),
-                eq(adapter.tables[newTableName]._locale, locale),
-              ),
+              condition: and(...conditions),
               joins,
               table: adapter.tables[newTableName],
             })
-            if (locale !== 'all') {
-              constraints.push({
-                columnName: '_locale',
-                table: adapter.tables[newTableName],
-                value: locale,
-              })
-            }
           } else {
             addJoinTable({
               condition: eq(adapter.tables[tableName].id, adapter.tables[newTableName].parent),
@@ -274,18 +272,16 @@ export const getTableColumnFromPath = ({
           ]
 
           if (locale && field.localized && adapter.payload.config.localization) {
+            const conditions = [...joinConstraints]
+
+            if (locale !== 'all') {
+              conditions.push(eq(adapter.tables[newTableName]._locale, locale))
+            }
             addJoinTable({
-              condition: and(...joinConstraints, eq(adapter.tables[newTableName]._locale, locale)),
+              condition: and(...conditions),
               joins,
               table: adapter.tables[newTableName],
             })
-            if (locale !== 'all') {
-              constraints.push({
-                columnName: 'locale',
-                table: adapter.tables[newTableName],
-                value: locale,
-              })
-            }
           } else {
             addJoinTable({
               condition: and(...joinConstraints),
@@ -313,21 +309,16 @@ export const getTableColumnFromPath = ({
 
         constraintPath = `${constraintPath}${field.name}.%.`
         if (locale && field.localized && adapter.payload.config.localization) {
+          const conditions = [eq(arrayParentTable.id, adapter.tables[newTableName]._parentID)]
+
+          if (locale !== 'all') {
+            conditions.push(eq(adapter.tables[newTableName]._locale, locale))
+          }
           addJoinTable({
-            condition: and(
-              eq(arrayParentTable.id, adapter.tables[newTableName]._parentID),
-              eq(adapter.tables[newTableName]._locale, locale),
-            ),
+            condition: and(...conditions),
             joins,
             table: adapter.tables[newTableName],
           })
-          if (locale !== 'all') {
-            constraints.push({
-              columnName: '_locale',
-              table: adapter.tables[newTableName],
-              value: locale,
-            })
-          }
         } else {
           addJoinTable({
             condition: eq(arrayParentTable.id, adapter.tables[newTableName]._parentID),
@@ -417,23 +408,21 @@ export const getTableColumnFromPath = ({
           constraints = constraints.concat(blockConstraints)
           selectFields = { ...selectFields, ...blockSelectFields }
           if (field.localized && adapter.payload.config.localization) {
-            joins.push({
-              condition: and(
-                eq(
-                  (aliasTable || adapter.tables[tableName]).id,
-                  adapter.tables[newTableName]._parentID,
-                ),
-                eq(adapter.tables[newTableName]._locale, locale),
+            const conditions = [
+              eq(
+                (aliasTable || adapter.tables[tableName]).id,
+                adapter.tables[newTableName]._parentID,
               ),
+            ]
+
+            if (locale !== 'all') {
+              conditions.push(eq(adapter.tables[newTableName]._locale, locale))
+            }
+
+            joins.push({
+              condition: and(...conditions),
               table: adapter.tables[newTableName],
             })
-            if (locale) {
-              constraints.push({
-                columnName: '_locale',
-                table: adapter.tables[newTableName],
-                value: locale,
-              })
-            }
           } else {
             joins.push({
               condition: eq(
@@ -471,21 +460,18 @@ export const getTableColumnFromPath = ({
 
           // Join in the relationships table
           if (locale && field.localized && adapter.payload.config.localization) {
+            const conditions = [
+              eq((aliasTable || adapter.tables[rootTableName]).id, aliasRelationshipTable.parent),
+              like(aliasRelationshipTable.path, `${constraintPath}${field.name}`),
+            ]
+
+            if (locale !== 'all') {
+              conditions.push(eq(aliasRelationshipTable.locale, locale))
+            }
             joins.push({
-              condition: and(
-                eq((aliasTable || adapter.tables[rootTableName]).id, aliasRelationshipTable.parent),
-                eq(aliasRelationshipTable.locale, locale),
-                like(aliasRelationshipTable.path, `${constraintPath}${field.name}`),
-              ),
+              condition: and(...conditions),
               table: aliasRelationshipTable,
             })
-            if (locale !== 'all') {
-              constraints.push({
-                columnName: 'locale',
-                table: aliasRelationshipTable,
-                value: locale,
-              })
-            }
           } else {
             // Join in the relationships table
             joins.push({
@@ -660,15 +646,22 @@ export const getTableColumnFromPath = ({
               tableName: `${rootTableName}${adapter.localesSuffix}`,
             })
 
-            joins.push({
-              condition: and(
-                eq(aliasLocaleTable._parentID, adapter.tables[rootTableName].id),
-                eq(aliasLocaleTable._locale, locale),
-              ),
-              table: aliasLocaleTable,
+            const condtions = [eq(aliasLocaleTable._parentID, adapter.tables[rootTableName].id)]
+
+            if (locale !== 'all') {
+              condtions.push(eq(aliasLocaleTable._locale, locale))
+            }
+
+            const localesTable = adapter.tables[`${rootTableName}${adapter.localesSuffix}`]
+
+            addJoinTable({
+              condition: and(...condtions),
+              joins,
+              table: localesTable,
             })
+
             joins.push({
-              condition: eq(aliasLocaleTable[columnName], newAliasTable.id),
+              condition: eq(localesTable[columnName], newAliasTable.id),
               table: newAliasTable,
             })
           } else {
@@ -716,21 +709,19 @@ export const getTableColumnFromPath = ({
 
         newTable = adapter.tables[newTableName]
 
+        let condition = eq(parentTable.id, newTable._parentID)
+
+        if (locale !== 'all') {
+          condition = and(condition, eq(newTable._locale, locale))
+        }
+
         addJoinTable({
-          condition: eq(parentTable.id, newTable._parentID),
+          condition,
           joins,
           table: newTable,
         })
 
         aliasTable = undefined
-
-        if (locale !== 'all') {
-          constraints.push({
-            columnName: '_locale',
-            table: newTable,
-            value: locale,
-          })
-        }
       }
 
       const targetTable = aliasTable || newTable
diff --git a/test/dev.ts b/test/dev.ts
index b84f5b320..e221b212f 100644
--- a/test/dev.ts
+++ b/test/dev.ts
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ if (args.o) {
 
 const port = process.env.PORT ? Number(process.env.PORT) : 3000
 
+// @ts-expect-error the same as in test/helpers/initPayloadE2E.ts
 const app = nextImport({
   dev: true,
   hostname: 'localhost',
diff --git a/test/localization/int.spec.ts b/test/localization/int.spec.ts
index 459895266..3fa5437de 100644
--- a/test/localization/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/localization/int.spec.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { type Payload, type Where } from 'payload'
 import { fileURLToPath } from 'url'
 
 import type { NextRESTClient } from '../helpers/NextRESTClient.js'
-import type { LocalizedPost, WithLocalizedRelationship } from './payload-types.js'
+import type { LocalizedPost, LocalizedSort, WithLocalizedRelationship } from './payload-types.js'
 
 import { idToString } from '../helpers/idToString.js'
 import { initPayloadInt } from '../helpers/initPayloadInt.js'
@@ -369,6 +369,7 @@ describe('Localization', () => {
 
   describe('Localized Sort Count', () => {
     const expectedTotalDocs = 5
+    const posts: LocalizedSort[] = []
     beforeAll(async () => {
       for (let i = 1; i <= expectedTotalDocs; i++) {
         const post = await payload.create({
@@ -380,6 +381,8 @@ describe('Localization', () => {
           locale: englishLocale,
         })
 
+        posts.push(post)
+
         await payload.update({
           id: post.id,
           collection: localizedSortSlug,
@@ -419,6 +422,118 @@ describe('Localization', () => {
       expect(sortByTitleQuery.totalDocs).toEqual(expectedTotalDocs)
       expect(sortByDateQuery.totalDocs).toEqual(expectedTotalDocs)
     })
+
+    it('should return correct order when sorted by localized fields', async () => {
+      const { docs: docsAsc } = await payload.find({ collection: localizedSortSlug, sort: 'title' })
+      docsAsc.forEach((doc, i) => {
+        expect(posts[i].id).toBe(doc.id)
+      })
+
+      const { docs: docsDesc } = await payload.find({
+        collection: localizedSortSlug,
+        sort: '-title',
+      })
+      docsDesc.forEach((doc, i) => {
+        expect(posts.at(posts.length - i - 1).id).toBe(doc.id)
+      })
+
+      // Test with words
+      const randomWords = [
+        'sunset',
+        'whisper',
+        'lighthouse',
+        'harmony',
+        'crystal',
+        'thunder',
+        'meadow',
+        'voyage',
+        'echo',
+        'quicksand',
+      ]
+
+      const randomWordsSpanish = [
+        'atardecer',
+        'susurro',
+        'faro',
+        'armonía',
+        'cristal',
+        'trueno',
+        'pradera',
+        'viaje',
+        'eco',
+        'arenas movedizas',
+      ]
+
+      expect(randomWords).toHaveLength(randomWordsSpanish.length)
+
+      const randomWordsPosts: (number | string)[] = []
+
+      for (let i = 0; i < randomWords.length; i++) {
+        const en = randomWords[i]
+        const post = await payload.create({ collection: 'localized-sort', data: { title: en } })
+        const es = randomWordsSpanish[i]
+        await payload.update({
+          collection: 'localized-sort',
+          data: { title: es },
+          id: post.id,
+          locale: 'es',
+        })
+
+        randomWordsPosts.push(post.id)
+      }
+
+      const ascSortedWordsEn = randomWords.toSorted((a, b) => a.localeCompare(b))
+      const descSortedWordsEn = randomWords.toSorted((a, b) => b.localeCompare(a))
+
+      const q = { id: { in: randomWordsPosts } }
+
+      const { docs: randomWordsEnAsc } = await payload.find({
+        collection: localizedSortSlug,
+        sort: 'title',
+        where: q,
+      })
+      randomWordsEnAsc.forEach((doc, i) => {
+        expect(ascSortedWordsEn[i]).toBe(doc.title)
+      })
+
+      const { docs: randomWordsEnDesc } = await payload.find({
+        collection: localizedSortSlug,
+        sort: '-title',
+        where: q,
+      })
+
+      randomWordsEnDesc.forEach((doc, i) => {
+        expect(descSortedWordsEn[i]).toBe(doc.title)
+      })
+
+      // Test sorting for Spanish locale
+      const ascSortedWordsEs = randomWordsSpanish.toSorted((a, b) => a.localeCompare(b))
+      const descSortedWordsEs = randomWordsSpanish.toSorted((a, b) => b.localeCompare(a))
+
+      // Fetch sorted words in Spanish (ascending)
+      const { docs: randomWordsEsAsc } = await payload.find({
+        collection: localizedSortSlug,
+        sort: 'title',
+        where: q,
+        locale: 'es',
+      })
+
+      randomWordsEsAsc.forEach((doc, i) => {
+        expect(ascSortedWordsEs[i]).toBe(doc.title)
+      })
+
+      // Fetch sorted words in Spanish (descending)
+      const { docs: randomWordsEsDesc } = await payload.find({
+        collection: localizedSortSlug,
+        sort: '-title',
+        where: q,
+        locale: 'es',
+      })
+
+      randomWordsEsDesc.forEach((doc, i) => {
+        expect(descSortedWordsEs[i]).toBe(doc.title)
+      })
+    })
   })
 
   describe('Localized Relationship', () => {