diff --git a/search.py b/search.py
index 06377be..d4025b9 100644
--- a/search.py
+++ b/search.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import sqlite3
 from flask import Flask, render_template, request, request, jsonify, session
 import os
+import random
 
 app = Flask(__name__)
 
@@ -39,10 +40,14 @@ def searchcommand():
         sql = "SELECT * FROM files"
         if conditions:
             sql += " WHERE " + " AND ".join(conditions)
-        sql += " ORDER BY hitcount DESC"
+
         cursor.execute(sql, params)
         raw_results = cursor.fetchall()
         results = [dict(row) for row in raw_results]
+        
+        # Randomize the list before sorting to break ties randomly.
+        random.shuffle(results)
+        results.sort(key=lambda x: x["hitcount"], reverse=True)
 
     else:
         # Advanced search: include transcript. Count transcript hits.
@@ -74,9 +79,11 @@ def searchcommand():
             transcript = result.get("transcript") or ""
             total_hits = sum(transcript.lower().count(word.lower()) for word in words)
             result["transcript_hits"] = total_hits
-            result.pop("transcript")
+            result.pop("transcript", None)
             results.append(result)
-        # Sort so that files with more transcript hits appear first
+        
+        # Randomize the list before sorting to break ties randomly.
+        random.shuffle(results)
         results.sort(key=lambda x: x["transcript_hits"], reverse=True)
 
     results = results[:100]