--- src/sort.c
+++ src/sort.c
@@ -2341,7 +2341,10 @@ keycompare_mb (const struct line *a, con
       size_t lenb = limb <= textb ? 0 : limb - textb;
 
       /* Actually compare the fields. */
-      if (key->numeric | key->general_numeric)
+
+      if (key->random)
+	diff = compare_random (texta, lena, textb, lenb);
+      else if (key->numeric | key->general_numeric)
 	{
 	  char savea = *lima, saveb = *limb;