diff --git a/src/Composer/Package/Version/VersionSelector.php b/src/Composer/Package/Version/VersionSelector.php
index 817d5ed48..8e225d803 100644
--- a/src/Composer/Package/Version/VersionSelector.php
+++ b/src/Composer/Package/Version/VersionSelector.php
@@ -71,11 +71,21 @@ class VersionSelector
             $candidatePriority = $candidate->getStabilityPriority();
             $currentPriority = $package->getStabilityPriority();
 
-            // candidate is less stable than our preferred stability, and we have a package that is more stable than it, so we skip it
+            // candidate is less stable than our preferred stability,
+            // and current package is more stable than candidate, skip it
             if ($minPriority < $candidatePriority && $currentPriority < $candidatePriority) {
                 continue;
             }
-            // candidate is more stable than our preferred stability, and current package is less stable than preferred stability, then we select the candidate always
+
+            // candidate is less stable than our preferred stability,
+            // and current package is less stable than candidate, select candidate
+            if ($minPriority < $candidatePriority && $candidatePriority < $currentPriority) {
+                $package = $candidate;
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            // candidate is more stable than our preferred stability,
+            // and current package is less stable than preferred stability, select candidate
             if ($minPriority >= $candidatePriority && $minPriority < $currentPriority) {
                 $package = $candidate;
                 continue;
diff --git a/tests/Composer/Test/Package/Version/VersionSelectorTest.php b/tests/Composer/Test/Package/Version/VersionSelectorTest.php
index f8f292f3d..c28ac3c17 100644
--- a/tests/Composer/Test/Package/Version/VersionSelectorTest.php
+++ b/tests/Composer/Test/Package/Version/VersionSelectorTest.php
@@ -88,6 +88,33 @@ class VersionSelectorTest extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
         $this->assertSame($package1, $best, 'Latest most stable version should be returned (1.0.0)');
     }
 
+    public function testMostStableVersionIsReturnedRegardlessOfOrder()
+    {
+        $packageName = 'foobar';
+
+        $package1 = $this->createPackage('2.x-dev');
+        $package2 = $this->createPackage('2.0.0-beta3');
+        $packages = array($package1, $package2);
+
+        $pool = $this->createMockPool();
+        $pool->expects($this->at(0))
+            ->method('whatProvides')
+            ->with($packageName, null, true)
+            ->will($this->returnValue($packages));
+
+        $pool->expects($this->at(1))
+            ->method('whatProvides')
+            ->with($packageName, null, true)
+            ->will($this->returnValue(array_reverse($packages)));
+
+        $versionSelector = new VersionSelector($pool);
+        $best = $versionSelector->findBestCandidate($packageName, null, null);
+        $this->assertSame($package2, $best, 'Expecting 2.0.0-beta3, cause beta is more stable than dev');
+
+        $best = $versionSelector->findBestCandidate($packageName, null, null);
+        $this->assertSame($package2, $best, 'Expecting 2.0.0-beta3, cause beta is more stable than dev');
+    }
+
     public function testHighestVersionIsReturned()
     {
         $packageName = 'foobar';