diff --git a/lib/behat/classes/behat_config_util.php b/lib/behat/classes/behat_config_util.php
index 86f263bd709..baa1ae1ac46 100644
--- a/lib/behat/classes/behat_config_util.php
+++ b/lib/behat/classes/behat_config_util.php
@@ -333,6 +333,34 @@ class behat_config_util {
         return $this->get_component_contexts($component);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Sort the list of components contexts.
+     *
+     * This ensures that contexts are sorted consistently.
+     * Core hooks defined in the behat_hooks class _must_ be defined first.
+     *
+     * @param array $contexts
+     * @return array The sorted context list
+     */
+    protected function sort_component_contexts(array $contexts): array {
+        // Ensure that the lib_tests are first as they include the root of all tests, hooks, and more.
+        uksort($contexts, function($a, $b): int {
+            if ($a === 'behat_hooks') {
+                return -1;
+            }
+            if ($b === 'behat_hooks') {
+                return 1;
+            }
+
+            if ($a == $b) {
+                return 0;
+            }
+            return ($a < $b) ? -1 : 1;
+        });
+
+        return $contexts;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Behat config file specifing the main context class,
      * the required Behat extensions and Moodle test wwwroot.
@@ -1537,8 +1565,9 @@ class behat_config_util {
         }
 
         // Sort the list of contexts.
-        ksort($contexts);
+        $contexts = $this->sort_component_contexts($contexts);
 
+        // Cache it for subsequent fetches.
         $this->themecontexts[$theme] = $contexts;
 
         return $contexts;