diff --git a/lib/sparql/sparql.js b/lib/sparql/sparql.js
index 3c31ed128..79bba63d3 100644
--- a/lib/sparql/sparql.js
+++ b/lib/sparql/sparql.js
@@ -127,7 +127,11 @@ function query (sparql, graphUri, accept, explorer = false) {
 function queryJson (sparql, graphUri, explorer = false) {
 // const timer = Timer('sparql query')
 
-  return query(sparql, graphUri, 'application/sparql-results+json', explorer).then(parseResult, handleError)
+  if (sparql.includes('LIMIT')) {
+    return query(sparql, graphUri, 'application/sparql-results+json', explorer).then(parseResult, handleError)
+  } else {
+    return queryJsonStaggered(sparql, graphUri, explorer)
+  }
 
   function parseResult (res) {
     // timer()
@@ -154,18 +158,25 @@ function queryJson (sparql, graphUri, explorer = false) {
   }
 }
 
-function queryJsonStaggered (sparql, graphUri) {
+function queryJsonStaggered (sparql, graphUri, explorer = false) {
   var offset = 0
   var limit = config.get('staggeredQueryLimit')
 
   var resultsUnion = []
+  if (!sparql.includes('ORDER BY')) {
+    let bound = sparql.match(/\?[A-Za-z0-9_]+/)
+    if (bound !== null) {
+      let term = bound[0]
+      sparql = sparql + ' ORDER BY ' + term
+    }
+  }
 
   return performQuery()
 
   function performQuery () {
     console.log('queryJsonStaggered: offset ' + offset + ', limit ' + limit + ', ' + resultsUnion.length + ' results so far')
 
-    return queryJson(sparql + ' OFFSET ' + offset + ' LIMIT ' + limit, graphUri).then((results) => {
+    return queryJson(sparql + ' OFFSET ' + offset + ' LIMIT ' + limit, graphUri, explorer).then((results) => {
       // console.log('qj results')
       // console.log(JSON.stringify(results))