diff --git a/gnu/packages.scm b/gnu/packages.scm
index d22c992bb1..5154d73deb 100644
--- a/gnu/packages.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages.scm
@@ -407,13 +407,25 @@ reducing the memory footprint."
       (_
        result+seen)))
 
+  (define entry-key
+    (match-lambda
+      (#(name version module symbol outputs supported? deprecated?
+              file line column)
+       (string-append name version (or file "")
+                      (if line (number->string line) "")))))
+
+  (define (entry<? a b)
+    (string<? (entry-key a) (entry-key b)))
+
   (define exp
-    (first
-     (fold-module-public-variables* expand-cache
-                                    (cons '() vlist-null)
-                                    (all-modules (%package-module-path)
-                                                 #:warn
-                                                 warn-about-load-error))))
+    (sort
+     (first
+      (fold-module-public-variables* expand-cache
+                                     (cons '() vlist-null)
+                                     (all-modules (%package-module-path)
+                                                  #:warn
+                                                  warn-about-load-error)))
+     entry<?))
 
   (mkdir-p (dirname cache-file))
   (call-with-output-file cache-file