diff --git a/src/hardware/hw_batching.c b/src/hardware/hw_batching.c
index 25595e512..cdcb2cdcb 100644
--- a/src/hardware/hw_batching.c
+++ b/src/hardware/hw_batching.c
@@ -203,9 +203,9 @@ static int comparePolygons(const void *p1, const void *p2)
 	diff = poly1->surf.LightInfo.fade_start - poly2->surf.LightInfo.fade_start;
 	if (diff != 0) return diff;
 	diff = poly1->surf.LightInfo.fade_end - poly2->surf.LightInfo.fade_end;
+	if (diff != 0) return diff;
 
 	diff = poly1->surf.LightInfo.directional - poly2->surf.LightInfo.directional;
-	if (diff != 0) return diff;
 
 	return diff;
 }