diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Core/Persistence/Migrations/MigrationRunner.cs b/src/Umbraco.Core/Persistence/Migrations/MigrationRunner.cs
index 51751b07ad..7c3e131b4c 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Core/Persistence/Migrations/MigrationRunner.cs
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Core/Persistence/Migrations/MigrationRunner.cs
@@ -166,17 +166,20 @@ namespace Umbraco.Core.Persistence.Migrations
             var targetVersionToCompare = _targetVersion.GetVersion(3);
             var currentVersionToCompare = _currentVersion.GetVersion(3);
 
+            if(currentVersionToCompare <= targetVersionToCompare)
+                throw new ArgumentException("When downgrading, make sure that the target version is lower than the current version.");
+
             var migrations = (from migration in foundMigrations
                 let migrationAttributes = migration.GetType().GetCustomAttributes<MigrationAttribute>(false)
                 from migrationAttribute in migrationAttributes
                 where migrationAttribute != null
                 where
-                    migrationAttribute.TargetVersion > currentVersionToCompare &&
-                    migrationAttribute.TargetVersion <= targetVersionToCompare &&
+                    migrationAttribute.TargetVersion > targetVersionToCompare &&
+                    migrationAttribute.TargetVersion <= currentVersionToCompare &&
                     migrationAttribute.ProductName == _productName &&
                     //filter if the migration specifies a minimum current version for which to execute
                     (migrationAttribute.MinimumCurrentVersion == null || currentVersionToCompare >= migrationAttribute.MinimumCurrentVersion)
-                orderby migrationAttribute.TargetVersion, migrationAttribute.SortOrder descending
+                orderby migrationAttribute.TargetVersion descending, migrationAttribute.SortOrder descending
                 select migration).Distinct();
             return migrations;
         }