diff --git a/mfer/builder.go b/mfer/builder.go
index 7864897..2f58ea9 100644
--- a/mfer/builder.go
+++ b/mfer/builder.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
+	"sort"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
@@ -222,6 +223,11 @@ func (b *Builder) Build(w io.Writer) error {
 	b.mu.Lock()
 	defer b.mu.Unlock()
 
+	// Sort files by path for deterministic output (#23)
+	sort.Slice(b.files, func(i, j int) bool {
+		return b.files[i].Path < b.files[j].Path
+	})
+
 	// Create inner manifest
 	inner := &MFFile{
 		Version:   MFFile_VERSION_ONE,
diff --git a/mfer/builder_test.go b/mfer/builder_test.go
index 761b2d5..c9297a4 100644
--- a/mfer/builder_test.go
+++ b/mfer/builder_test.go
@@ -115,6 +115,53 @@ func TestNewTimestampFromTimeExtremeDate(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestBuilderBuildDeterministicOrder(t *testing.T) {
+	// Regression test for #23: files should be sorted by path in the manifest
+	// to ensure deterministic output regardless of insertion order.
+	buildManifest := func(paths []string) []byte {
+		b := NewBuilder()
+		for _, p := range paths {
+			content := []byte("content of " + p)
+			reader := bytes.NewReader(content)
+			_, err := b.AddFile(RelFilePath(p), FileSize(len(content)), ModTime(time.Now()), reader, nil)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+		}
+		var buf bytes.Buffer
+		require.NoError(t, b.Build(&buf))
+		return buf.Bytes()
+	}
+
+	// Build with files in two different orders
+	order1 := []string{"z.txt", "a.txt", "m/b.txt", "m/a.txt", "b.txt"}
+	order2 := []string{"b.txt", "m/a.txt", "a.txt", "z.txt", "m/b.txt"}
+
+	manifest1 := buildManifest(order1)
+	manifest2 := buildManifest(order2)
+
+	// Parse both and verify file order is sorted
+	m1, err := NewManifestFromReader(bytes.NewReader(manifest1))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	m2, err := NewManifestFromReader(bytes.NewReader(manifest2))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	files1 := m1.Files()
+	files2 := m2.Files()
+	require.Len(t, files1, 5)
+	require.Len(t, files2, 5)
+
+	// Both should have same order
+	for i := range files1 {
+		assert.Equal(t, files1[i].Path, files2[i].Path, "file %d path mismatch", i)
+	}
+
+	// Verify the order is lexicographic
+	assert.Equal(t, "a.txt", files1[0].Path)
+	assert.Equal(t, "b.txt", files1[1].Path)
+	assert.Equal(t, "m/a.txt", files1[2].Path)
+	assert.Equal(t, "m/b.txt", files1[3].Path)
+	assert.Equal(t, "z.txt", files1[4].Path)
+}
+
 func TestBuilderBuildEmpty(t *testing.T) {
 	b := NewBuilder()