diff --git a/sys/include/net/gcoap.h b/sys/include/net/gcoap.h
index 92006c045a52..b9d4794d1b60 100644
--- a/sys/include/net/gcoap.h
+++ b/sys/include/net/gcoap.h
@@ -750,8 +750,7 @@ typedef struct {
  * @brief   A modular collection of resources for a server
  */
 struct gcoap_listener {
-    const coap_resource_t *resources;   /**< First element in the array of
-                                         *   resources; must order alphabetically */
+    const coap_resource_t *resources;   /**< First element in the array of resources */
     size_t resources_len;               /**< Length of array */
     /**
      * @brief   Transport type for the listener
diff --git a/sys/net/application_layer/gcoap/gcoap.c b/sys/net/application_layer/gcoap/gcoap.c
index 381735199b95..8d79ee2c014b 100644
--- a/sys/net/application_layer/gcoap/gcoap.c
+++ b/sys/net/application_layer/gcoap/gcoap.c
@@ -744,13 +744,9 @@ static int _request_matcher_default(gcoap_listener_t *listener,
         int res = coap_match_path(*resource, uri);
 
         /* URI mismatch */
-        if (res > 0) {
+        if (res != 0) {
             continue;
         }
-        /* resources expected in alphabetical order */
-        else if (res < 0) {
-            break;
-        }
 
         /* potential match, check for method */
         if (! ((*resource)->methods & method_flag)) {
diff --git a/sys/net/application_layer/nanocoap/nanocoap.c b/sys/net/application_layer/nanocoap/nanocoap.c
index 78d14bb6b1ba..2fb397e34a0c 100644
--- a/sys/net/application_layer/nanocoap/nanocoap.c
+++ b/sys/net/application_layer/nanocoap/nanocoap.c
@@ -454,18 +454,14 @@ ssize_t coap_tree_handler(coap_pkt_t *pkt, uint8_t *resp_buf,
         }
 
         int res = coap_match_path(resource, uri);
-        if (res > 0) {
+        if (res != 0) {
             continue;
         }
-        else if (res < 0) {
-            break;
-        }
-        else {
-            coap_request_ctx_t ctx = {
-                .resource = resource,
-            };
-            return resource->handler(pkt, resp_buf, resp_buf_len, &ctx);
-        }
+
+        coap_request_ctx_t ctx = {
+            .resource = resource,
+        };
+        return resource->handler(pkt, resp_buf, resp_buf_len, &ctx);
     }
 
     return coap_build_reply(pkt, COAP_CODE_404, resp_buf, resp_buf_len, 0);