diff --git a/includes/api/ApiQueryExtLinksUsage.php b/includes/api/ApiQueryExtLinksUsage.php
index f4f6273e53d..e59fe055aeb 100644
--- a/includes/api/ApiQueryExtLinksUsage.php
+++ b/includes/api/ApiQueryExtLinksUsage.php
@@ -123,7 +123,12 @@ class ApiQueryExtLinksUsage extends ApiQueryGeneratorBase {
 			}
 		}
 
-		$orderBy[] = 'el_id';
+		if ( $migrationStage & SCHEMA_COMPAT_READ_OLD ) {
+			$orderBy[] = 'el_id';
+		} else {
+			// READ NEW doesn't need this complex continuation
+			$orderBy = [ 'el_id' ];
+		}
 
 		$this->addOption( 'ORDER BY', $orderBy );
 		$this->addFields( $orderBy ); // Make sure
diff --git a/includes/api/ApiQueryExternalLinks.php b/includes/api/ApiQueryExternalLinks.php
index d7893ae4e3f..2374db914d3 100644
--- a/includes/api/ApiQueryExternalLinks.php
+++ b/includes/api/ApiQueryExternalLinks.php
@@ -114,7 +114,12 @@ class ApiQueryExternalLinks extends ApiQueryBase {
 			}
 		}
 
-		$orderBy[] = 'el_id';
+		if ( $migrationStage & SCHEMA_COMPAT_READ_OLD ) {
+			$orderBy[] = 'el_id';
+		} else {
+			// READ NEW doesn't need this complex continuation
+			$orderBy = [ 'el_id' ];
+		}
 
 		$this->addOption( 'ORDER BY', $orderBy );
 		$this->addFields( $orderBy ); // Make sure
diff --git a/includes/specials/SpecialLinkSearch.php b/includes/specials/SpecialLinkSearch.php
index f7218db440c..f1a3987e059 100644
--- a/includes/specials/SpecialLinkSearch.php
+++ b/includes/specials/SpecialLinkSearch.php
@@ -217,7 +217,12 @@ class SpecialLinkSearch extends QueryPage {
 			$orderBy[] = $field;
 		}
 
-		$orderBy[] = 'el_id';
+		if ( $migrationStage & SCHEMA_COMPAT_READ_OLD ) {
+			$orderBy[] = 'el_id';
+		} else {
+			// READ NEW doesn't need this complex continuation
+			$orderBy = [ 'el_id' ];
+		}
 
 		$retval = [
 			'tables' => [ 'page', 'externallinks' ],