diff --git a/src/uu/sort/src/sort.rs b/src/uu/sort/src/sort.rs
index 34a5bd6118..ebc68eac00 100644
--- a/src/uu/sort/src/sort.rs
+++ b/src/uu/sort/src/sort.rs
@@ -2278,7 +2278,8 @@ pub fn uumain(args: impl uucore::Args) -> UResult<()> {
     }
 
     settings.dictionary_order = dictionary_order;
-    settings.ignore_non_printing = ignore_non_printing;
+    // -i has no effect when -d is also given, as for key options
+    settings.ignore_non_printing = ignore_non_printing && !dictionary_order;
     settings.ignore_case = ignore_case;
 
     let threads = match matches.get_one::<String>(options::PARALLEL) {
diff --git a/tests/by-util/test_sort.rs b/tests/by-util/test_sort.rs
index c309ad5b29..e0e6554fef 100644
--- a/tests/by-util/test_sort.rs
+++ b/tests/by-util/test_sort.rs
@@ -574,6 +574,24 @@ fn test_non_printing_chars() {
         .stdout_only("a👦🏻aa\naaaa\n"); // spell-checker:disable-line
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn test_dictionary_order_overrides_non_printing() {
+    // -i has no effect with -d, so the tab is kept as a blank
+    for args in [
+        &["-d", "-i"][..],
+        &["-i", "-d"],
+        &["-di"],
+        &["-id"],
+        &["-di", "-k1"],
+    ] {
+        new_ucmd!()
+            .args(args)
+            .pipe_in("\tK\n7\n")
+            .succeeds()
+            .stdout_only("\tK\n7\n");
+    }
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn test_exponents_positive_general() {
     new_ucmd!()