diff --git a/pinot-query-planner/src/main/java/org/apache/pinot/query/planner/physical/DispatchablePlanVisitor.java b/pinot-query-planner/src/main/java/org/apache/pinot/query/planner/physical/DispatchablePlanVisitor.java
index d89e18f7ff31..8f7578c8ad4a 100644
--- a/pinot-query-planner/src/main/java/org/apache/pinot/query/planner/physical/DispatchablePlanVisitor.java
+++ b/pinot-query-planner/src/main/java/org/apache/pinot/query/planner/physical/DispatchablePlanVisitor.java
@@ -140,7 +140,9 @@ public Void visitProject(ProjectNode node, DispatchablePlanContext context) {
   public Void visitSort(SortNode node, DispatchablePlanContext context) {
     node.getInputs().get(0).visit(this, context);
     DispatchablePlanMetadata dispatchablePlanMetadata = getOrCreateDispatchablePlanMetadata(node, context);
-    dispatchablePlanMetadata.setRequireSingleton(!node.getCollations().isEmpty() && node.getOffset() != -1);
+    // Final sort (receives from sort exchange) needs singleton worker
+    boolean isFinalSort = node.getInputs().get(0) instanceof MailboxReceiveNode;
+    dispatchablePlanMetadata.setRequireSingleton(isFinalSort);
     return null;
   }
 
diff --git a/pinot-query-planner/src/test/java/org/apache/pinot/query/QueryCompilationTest.java b/pinot-query-planner/src/test/java/org/apache/pinot/query/QueryCompilationTest.java
index 6f204f9b7eec..71cea3923e0b 100644
--- a/pinot-query-planner/src/test/java/org/apache/pinot/query/QueryCompilationTest.java
+++ b/pinot-query-planner/src/test/java/org/apache/pinot/query/QueryCompilationTest.java
@@ -687,6 +687,45 @@ public void testLargeIn() {
     _queryEnvironment.planQuery(query);
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Tests that queries with ORDER BY / LIMIT use singleton worker for the intermediate sort stage.
+   */
+  @Test
+  public void testSingletonWorkerForLimitAndOrderByQueries() {
+    String[] queries =
+        new String[]{"SELECT * FROM a LIMIT 10", "SELECT * FROM a OFFSET 10", "SELECT * FROM a ORDER BY col1",
+            "SELECT * FROM a LIMIT 10 OFFSET 5", "SELECT * FROM a ORDER BY col1 LIMIT 10", "SELECT * FROM a ORDER BY "
+            + "col1 OFFSET 10", "SELECT * FROM a ORDER BY col1 LIMIT 10 OFFSET 5"};
+
+    for (String query : queries) {
+      DispatchableSubPlan dispatchableSubPlan = _queryEnvironment.planQuery(query);
+
+      // Find the intermediate stage (non-leaf, non-root)
+      DispatchablePlanFragment intermediateStage = findIntermediateStage(dispatchableSubPlan);
+      assertNotNull(intermediateStage, "Should have an intermediate stage");
+
+      // Should use singleton worker (1 server, 1 worker)
+      assertEquals(intermediateStage.getServerInstanceToWorkerIdMap().size(), 1,
+          "LIMIT / ORDER BY query should use singleton worker for intermediate stage");
+      assertEquals(intermediateStage.getWorkerMetadataList().size(), 1,
+          "LIMIT / ORDER BY query should use singleton worker for intermediate stage");
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Helper method to find an intermediate stage (non-leaf, non-root).
+   */
+  private DispatchablePlanFragment findIntermediateStage(DispatchableSubPlan dispatchableSubPlan) {
+    for (DispatchablePlanFragment fragment : dispatchableSubPlan.getQueryStages()) {
+      int stageId = fragment.getPlanFragment().getFragmentId();
+      // Skip stage 0 (broker/root) and leaf stages (have table names)
+      if (stageId > 0 && fragment.getTableName() == null) {
+        return fragment;
+      }
+    }
+    return null;
+  }
+
   // --------------------------------------------------------------------------
   // Test Utils.
   // --------------------------------------------------------------------------