diff --git a/pyerrors/input/openQCD.py b/pyerrors/input/openQCD.py
index c77cb92f..6b11fb0b 100644
--- a/pyerrors/input/openQCD.py
+++ b/pyerrors/input/openQCD.py
@@ -48,10 +48,39 @@ def _find_files(path, prefix, postfix, ext, known_files=[]):
     if files == []:
         raise Exception("No files found after pattern filter!")
 
-    files.sort(key=lambda x: int(re.findall(r'\d+', x[len(prefix):])[0]))
+    files = _sort_names(files)
     return files
 
 
+def _sort_names(ll):
+    r_pattern = r'r(\d+)'
+    id_pattern = r'id(\d+)'
+
+    # sort list by id first
+    if all([re.search(id_pattern, entry) for entry in ll]):
+        ll.sort(key=lambda x: int(re.findall(id_pattern, x)[0]))
+    # then by replikum
+    if all([re.search(r_pattern, entry) for entry in ll]):
+        ll.sort(key=lambda x: int(re.findall(r_pattern, x)[0]))
+    # as the rearrangements by one key let the other key untouched, the list is sorted now
+
+    else:
+        # fallback
+        sames = ''
+        if len(ll) > 1:
+            for i in range(len(ll[0])):
+                checking = ll[0][i]
+                for rn in ll[1:]:
+                    is_same = (rn[i] == checking)
+                if is_same:
+                    sames += checking
+                else:
+                    break
+            print(ll[0][len(sames):])
+        ll.sort(key=lambda x: int(re.findall(r'\d+', x[len(sames):])[0]))
+    return ll
+
+
 def read_rwms(path, prefix, version='2.0', names=None, **kwargs):
     """Read rwms format from given folder structure. Returns a list of length nrw
 
@@ -142,6 +171,8 @@ def read_rwms(path, prefix, version='2.0', names=None, **kwargs):
     else:
         rep_names = names
 
+    rep_names = _sort_names(rep_names)
+
     print_err = 0
     if 'print_err' in kwargs:
         print_err = 1
@@ -936,12 +967,15 @@ def _read_flow_obs(path, prefix, c, dtr_cnfg=1, version="openQCD", obspos=0, sum
                 if "names" not in kwargs:
                     raise Exception("Automatic recognition of replicum failed, please enter the key word 'names'.")
             ens_name = truncated_file[:idx]
-            rep_names.append(ens_name + '|' + truncated_file[idx:])
+            rep_names.append(ens_name + '|' + truncated_file[idx:].split(".")[0])
         else:
             names = kwargs.get("names")
             rep_names = names
+
         deltas.append(Q_top)
 
+    rep_names = _sort_names(rep_names)
+
     idl = [range(int(configlist[rep][r_start_index[rep]]), int(configlist[rep][r_stop_index[rep]]) + 1, 1) for rep in range(len(deltas))]
     deltas = [deltas[nrep][r_start_index[nrep]:r_stop_index[nrep] + 1] for nrep in range(len(deltas))]
     result = Obs(deltas, rep_names, idl=idl)
diff --git a/tests/openQCD_in_test.py b/tests/openQCD_in_test.py
index 57f7c8a5..22ac514a 100644
--- a/tests/openQCD_in_test.py
+++ b/tests/openQCD_in_test.py
@@ -165,3 +165,11 @@ def test_find_files():
     fpre = "tune62"
     with pytest.raises(Exception):
         pe.input.openQCD._find_files(path, fpre, "ms5_xsf_" + qc, "dat")
+
+
+def test_sort_names():
+    my_list = ['sfqcd_r1_id5', 'sfqcd_r10_id5', 'sfqcd_r7_id5', 'sfqcd_r2_id5', 'sfqcd_r2_id9', 'sfqcd_r10_id4']
+    presorted_list = ['sfqcd_r1_id5', 'sfqcd_r2_id5', 'sfqcd_r2_id9', 'sfqcd_r7_id5', 'sfqcd_r10_id4', 'sfqcd_r10_id5']
+
+    sorted_list = pe.input.openQCD._sort_names(my_list)
+    assert (all([sorted_list[i] == presorted_list[i] for i in range(len(sorted_list))]))