diff --git a/webapi/src/main/scala/org/knora/webapi/responders/admin/UsersResponderADM.scala b/webapi/src/main/scala/org/knora/webapi/responders/admin/UsersResponderADM.scala
index ea9946a0d9..76f064b0b9 100644
--- a/webapi/src/main/scala/org/knora/webapi/responders/admin/UsersResponderADM.scala
+++ b/webapi/src/main/scala/org/knora/webapi/responders/admin/UsersResponderADM.scala
@@ -1556,10 +1556,12 @@ class UsersResponderADM(responderData: ResponderData) extends Responder(responde
       }
 
       _ = if (userUpdatePayload.projects.isDefined) {
-        if (updatedUserADM.projects.map(_.id) != userUpdatePayload.projects.get)
+
+        if (updatedUserADM.projects.map(_.id).sorted != userUpdatePayload.projects.get.sorted) {
           throw UpdateNotPerformedException(
-            "User's 'project' memberships where not updated. Please report this as a possible bug."
+            "User's 'project' memberships were not updated. Please report this as a possible bug."
           )
+        }
       }
 
       _ = if (userUpdatePayload.systemAdmin.isDefined) {
@@ -1570,9 +1572,9 @@ class UsersResponderADM(responderData: ResponderData) extends Responder(responde
       }
 
       _ = if (userUpdatePayload.groups.isDefined) {
-        if (updatedUserADM.groups.map(_.id) != userUpdatePayload.groups.get)
+        if (updatedUserADM.groups.map(_.id).sorted != userUpdatePayload.groups.get.sorted)
           throw UpdateNotPerformedException(
-            "User's 'group' memberships where not updated. Please report this as a possible bug."
+            "User's 'group' memberships were not updated. Please report this as a possible bug."
           )
       }