diff --git a/src/Client.test.ts b/src/Client.test.ts
index e62385b4..bbfec20e 100644
--- a/src/Client.test.ts
+++ b/src/Client.test.ts
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ describe('Client', () => {
             });
             const result = await prezlySdk.coverage.getByExternalReferenceId(externalReferenceId);
 
-            const search = `?include_deleted=on&query=%7B%22external_reference_id%22%3A%7B%22%24in%22%3A%5B%22${externalReferenceId}%22%5D%7D%7D`;
+            const search = `?include_deleted=on&query=%7B%22external_reference_id%22%3A%7B%22%24in%22%3A%5B%22${externalReferenceId}%22%5D%7D%7D&sort=deleted_at`;
             expect(fetch).toHaveBeenCalledWith(`${defaultCoverageApiUrl}${search}`, {
                 ...DEFAULT_REQUEST_PROPS,
                 method: Method.GET,
diff --git a/src/endpoints/Coverage/Client.ts b/src/endpoints/Coverage/Client.ts
index 8ec24fd7..95b11717 100644
--- a/src/endpoints/Coverage/Client.ts
+++ b/src/endpoints/Coverage/Client.ts
@@ -66,11 +66,13 @@ export function createClient(api: DeferredJobsApiClient) {
 
     async function getByExternalReferenceId(
         externalReferenceId: string,
+        options: { includeDeleted?: boolean } = {},
     ): Promise<CoverageEntry | null> {
         const query = JSON.stringify({ external_reference_id: { $in: [externalReferenceId] } });
         const { coverage } = await search({
-            includeDeleted: true,
+            includeDeleted: options.includeDeleted ?? true,
             query,
+            sortOrder: 'deleted_at', // Prefer non-deleted records first
         });
         return coverage[0] || null;
     }