diff --git a/src/lib/bounty-query.test.ts b/src/lib/bounty-query.test.ts
index 9288c63..eb580e0 100644
--- a/src/lib/bounty-query.test.ts
+++ b/src/lib/bounty-query.test.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import {
   filterBounties,
   isFilterActive,
   parseBountyQuery,
+  SORT_LABELS,
 } from "./bounty-query";
 import type { Bounty } from "@/types";
 
@@ -124,6 +125,15 @@ describe("filterBounties", () => {
   });
 });
 
+describe("SORT_LABELS", () => {
+  it("doesn't label the unordered default sort as a real chronological sort (#702)", () => {
+    // `sortBounties`'s "default" case leaves the array unchanged, and Bounty
+    // has no createdAt (or equivalent) field to sort by — the label must not
+    // claim an ordering ("Newest", "Oldest", ...) that doesn't exist.
+    expect(SORT_LABELS.default.toLowerCase()).not.toMatch(/newest|oldest|recent/);
+  });
+});
+
 describe("applyBountyQuery", () => {
   const bounties = Array.from({ length: 25 }, (_, i) =>
     bounty({ id: `b${i}`, reward: i, deadline: null }),
diff --git a/src/lib/bounty-query.ts b/src/lib/bounty-query.ts
index 8551bb7..24eff9a 100644
--- a/src/lib/bounty-query.ts
+++ b/src/lib/bounty-query.ts
@@ -36,7 +36,15 @@ export const SORT_VALUES = ["default", "reward-desc", "reward-asc", "deadline-as
 export type SortOption = (typeof SORT_VALUES)[number];
 
 export const SORT_LABELS: Record<SortOption, string> = {
-  default: "Newest",
+  // Labelled "Newest" despite sortBounties leaving "default" unordered: there
+  // is no `createdAt` (or equivalent) field anywhere on `Bounty`, and the
+  // backend's listing query has no ORDER BY, so order is whatever Postgres's
+  // heap happens to return and can change between requests (#702). Fixing
+  // the label alone rather than sorting by a field that doesn't exist on
+  // this type — introducing one would be guessing at a backend contract this
+  // repo doesn't control. A real "Newest" sort needs a `createdAt` field
+  // exposed end-to-end first.
+  default: "Default order",
   "reward-desc": "Reward: high to low",
   "reward-asc": "Reward: low to high",
   "deadline-asc": "Deadline: soonest",