diff --git a/python/sdist/amici/de_export.py b/python/sdist/amici/de_export.py
index 4e7e0999f2..3f8cb3839c 100644
--- a/python/sdist/amici/de_export.py
+++ b/python/sdist/amici/de_export.py
@@ -1142,6 +1142,7 @@ def get_rate(symbol: sp.Symbol):
             return 0
 
         # replace rateOf-instances in xdot by xdot symbols
+        made_substitutions = False
         for i_state in range(len(self.eq("xdot"))):
             if rate_ofs := self._eqs["xdot"][i_state].find(rate_of_func):
                 self._eqs["xdot"][i_state] = self._eqs["xdot"][i_state].subs(
@@ -1151,9 +1152,13 @@ def get_rate(symbol: sp.Symbol):
                         for rate_of in rate_ofs
                     }
                 )
-        # substitute in topological order
-        subs = toposort_symbols(dict(zip(self.sym("xdot"), self.eq("xdot"))))
-        self._eqs["xdot"] = smart_subs_dict(self.eq("xdot"), subs)
+                made_substitutions = True
+        if made_substitutions:
+            # substitute in topological order
+            subs = toposort_symbols(
+                dict(zip(self.sym("xdot"), self.eq("xdot")))
+            )
+            self._eqs["xdot"] = smart_subs_dict(self.eq("xdot"), subs)
 
         # replace rateOf-instances in x0 by xdot equation
         for i_state in range(len(self.eq("x0"))):
@@ -1165,9 +1170,25 @@ def get_rate(symbol: sp.Symbol):
                     }
                 )
 
+        # replace rateOf-instances in w by xdot equation
+        #  here we may need toposort, as xdot may depend on w
+        made_substitutions = False
+        for i_state in range(len(self.eq("w"))):
+            if rate_ofs := self._eqs["w"][i_state].find(rate_of_func):
+                self._eqs["w"][i_state] = self._eqs["w"][i_state].subs(
+                    {
+                        rate_of: get_rate(rate_of.args[0])
+                        for rate_of in rate_ofs
+                    }
+                )
+                made_substitutions = True
+        if made_substitutions:
+            # sort in topological order
+            subs = toposort_symbols(dict(zip(self.sym("w"), self.eq("w"))))
+            self._eqs["w"] = smart_subs_dict(self.eq("w"), subs)
+
         for component in chain(
             self.observables(),
-            self.expressions(),
             self.events(),
             self._algebraic_equations,
         ):
diff --git a/python/tests/test_sbml_import_special_functions.py b/python/tests/test_sbml_import_special_functions.py
index 9d8f447511..3f8383ce94 100644
--- a/python/tests/test_sbml_import_special_functions.py
+++ b/python/tests/test_sbml_import_special_functions.py
@@ -12,7 +12,11 @@
 from amici.antimony_import import antimony2amici
 from amici.gradient_check import check_derivatives
 from amici.testing import TemporaryDirectoryWinSafe, skip_on_valgrind
-from numpy.testing import assert_approx_equal, assert_array_almost_equal_nulp
+from numpy.testing import (
+    assert_approx_equal,
+    assert_array_almost_equal_nulp,
+    assert_allclose,
+)
 from scipy.special import loggamma
 
 
@@ -222,3 +226,51 @@ def test_rateof():
         assert_array_almost_equal_nulp(
             rdata.by_id("p2"), 1 + rdata.by_id("S1")
         )
+
+
+@skip_on_valgrind
+def test_rateof_with_expression_dependent_rate():
+    """Test rateOf, where the rateOf argument depends on `w` and requires
+    toposorting."""
+    ant_model = """
+    model test_rateof_with_expression_dependent_rate
+        S1 = 0;
+        S2 = 0;
+        S1' = rate;
+        S2' = 2 * rateOf(S1);
+        # the id of the following expression must be alphabetically before
+        #  `rate`, so that toposort is required to evaluate the expressions
+        #  in the correct order
+        e1 := 2 * rateOf(S1);
+        rate := time
+    end
+    """
+    module_name = "test_rateof_with_expression_dependent_rate"
+    with TemporaryDirectoryWinSafe(prefix=module_name) as outdir:
+        antimony2amici(
+            ant_model,
+            model_name=module_name,
+            output_dir=outdir,
+        )
+        model_module = amici.import_model_module(
+            module_name=module_name, module_path=outdir
+        )
+        amici_model = model_module.getModel()
+        t = np.linspace(0, 10, 11)
+        amici_model.setTimepoints(t)
+        amici_solver = amici_model.getSolver()
+        rdata = amici.runAmiciSimulation(amici_model, amici_solver)
+
+        state_ids_solver = amici_model.getStateIdsSolver()
+
+        assert_array_almost_equal_nulp(rdata.by_id("e1"), 2 * t, 1)
+
+        i_S1 = state_ids_solver.index("S1")
+        i_S2 = state_ids_solver.index("S2")
+        assert_approx_equal(rdata["xdot"][i_S1], t[-1])
+        assert_approx_equal(rdata["xdot"][i_S2], 2 * t[-1])
+
+        assert_allclose(np.diff(rdata.by_id("S1")), t[:-1] + 0.5, atol=1e-9)
+        assert_array_almost_equal_nulp(
+            rdata.by_id("S2"), 2 * rdata.by_id("S1"), 10
+        )