diff --git a/launcher/java/JavaMetadata.cpp b/launcher/java/JavaMetadata.cpp
index e721947a7..2272470a8 100644
--- a/launcher/java/JavaMetadata.cpp
+++ b/launcher/java/JavaMetadata.cpp
@@ -83,6 +83,13 @@ bool Metadata::operator<(const Metadata& rhs)
     if (id > rhs.version) {
         return false;
     }
+    auto date = releaseTime;
+    if (date < rhs.releaseTime) {
+        return true;
+    }
+    if (date > rhs.releaseTime) {
+        return false;
+    }
     return StringUtils::naturalCompare(m_name, rhs.m_name, Qt::CaseInsensitive) < 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/launcher/java/JavaVersion.cpp b/launcher/java/JavaVersion.cpp
index 2dc23472e..5e9700012 100644
--- a/launcher/java/JavaVersion.cpp
+++ b/launcher/java/JavaVersion.cpp
@@ -59,12 +59,6 @@ bool JavaVersion::operator<(const JavaVersion& rhs)
         auto major = m_major;
         auto rmajor = rhs.m_major;
 
-        // HACK: discourage using java 9
-        if (major > 8)
-            major = -major;
-        if (rmajor > 8)
-            rmajor = -rmajor;
-
         if (major < rmajor)
             return true;
         if (major > rmajor)