diff --git a/routers/web/explore/repo.go b/routers/web/explore/repo.go
index ab487dff5fcbc..62090e5bf4dba 100644
--- a/routers/web/explore/repo.go
+++ b/routers/web/explore/repo.go
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ package explore
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"net/http"
-	"strings"
 
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/models/db"
 	repo_model "code.gitea.io/gitea/models/repo"
@@ -58,7 +57,7 @@ func RenderRepoSearch(ctx *context.Context, opts *RepoSearchOptions) {
 		orderBy db.SearchOrderBy
 	)
 
-	sortOrder := strings.ToLower(ctx.FormString("sort"))
+	sortOrder := ctx.FormString("sort")
 	if sortOrder == "" {
 		sortOrder = setting.UI.ExploreDefaultSort
 	}