diff --git a/src/__tests__/scale.spec.ts b/src/__tests__/scale.spec.ts
index 69f7d18..3b81a36 100644
--- a/src/__tests__/scale.spec.ts
+++ b/src/__tests__/scale.spec.ts
@@ -95,6 +95,19 @@ describe('Scale', () => {
     expect(scale.getFrequency(3)).toBeCloseTo(1875);
     expect(scale.getFrequency(4)).toBeCloseTo(2000);
   });
+  it('can be sorted (subunity lines)', () => {
+    const intervals = [
+      new Interval(ExtendedMonzo.fromFraction(new Fraction(2, 3), 3), 'ratio'),
+      new Interval(ExtendedMonzo.fromFraction(new Fraction(3, 2), 3), 'ratio'),
+      new Interval(ExtendedMonzo.fromFraction(new Fraction(5, 3), 3), 'ratio'),
+      new Interval(ExtendedMonzo.fromFraction(new Fraction(2, 1), 3), 'ratio'),
+      new Interval(ExtendedMonzo.fromFraction(new Fraction(5, 2), 3), 'ratio'),
+      new Interval(ExtendedMonzo.fromFraction(new Fraction(9, 5), 3), 'ratio'),
+    ];
+    const baseFrequency = 1000;
+    const scale = Scale.fromIntervalArray(intervals, baseFrequency).sorted();
+    expect(scale.getFrequency(0)).toBeCloseTo(baseFrequency);
+  });
   it('can be octave reduced', () => {
     const intervals = [
       new Interval(ExtendedMonzo.fromFraction(new Fraction(3, 5), 3), 'ratio'),
diff --git a/src/scale.ts b/src/scale.ts
index d342417..459f187 100644
--- a/src/scale.ts
+++ b/src/scale.ts
@@ -670,10 +670,27 @@ export class Scale {
 
   /**
    * Sort the scale in-place.
+   * @param preserveUnity Keep the first entry in place and verify that it's 0 cents.
    * @returns The scale with intervals sorted from smallest to largest without touching the equave.
    */
-  sortInPlace() {
+  sortInPlace(preserveUnity = true) {
+    let unity: Interval | undefined;
+    if (preserveUnity) {
+      unity = this.intervals.shift();
+      if (!unity) {
+        // Seems like an empty scale.
+        return this;
+      }
+      if (unity.totalCents()) {
+        throw new Error(
+          'Unrooted scales cannot be sorted while preserving unity.'
+        );
+      }
+    }
     this.intervals.sort((a, b) => a.compare(b));
+    if (unity) {
+      this.intervals.unshift(unity);
+    }
     return this;
   }
 
@@ -689,16 +706,33 @@ export class Scale {
   /**
    * Construct a sorted copy of the scale. scale in-place.
    * @param deep Create new copies of the intervals instead just a new array with the old instances.
+   * @param preserveUnity Keep the first entry in place and verify that it's 0 cents.
    * @returns The scale with intervals sorted from smallest to largest without touching the equave.
    */
-  sorted(deep = false) {
+  sorted(deep = false, preserveUnity = true) {
     let intervals: Interval[];
     if (deep) {
       intervals = this.intervals.map(interval => interval.clone());
     } else {
       intervals = [...this.intervals];
     }
+    let unity: Interval | undefined;
+    if (preserveUnity) {
+      unity = intervals.shift();
+      if (!unity) {
+        // Seems like an empty scale.
+        return this.variant(intervals);
+      }
+      if (unity.totalCents()) {
+        throw new Error(
+          'Unrooted scales cannot be sorted while preserving unity.'
+        );
+      }
+    }
     intervals.sort((a, b) => a.compare(b));
+    if (unity) {
+      intervals.unshift(unity);
+    }
     return this.variant(intervals);
   }
 
@@ -939,7 +973,7 @@ export class Scale {
    * @returns A new scale with intervals from both without duplicates.
    */
   merge(other: Scale) {
-    return this.concat(other).removeDuplicatesInPlace().sortInPlace();
+    return this.concat(other).removeDuplicatesInPlace().sortInPlace(false);
   }
 
   /**