diff --git a/backend/src/main/java/io/papermc/hangar/controller/api/v1/ProjectsController.java b/backend/src/main/java/io/papermc/hangar/controller/api/v1/ProjectsController.java
index a3753da1f..7a74bd0c0 100644
--- a/backend/src/main/java/io/papermc/hangar/controller/api/v1/ProjectsController.java
+++ b/backend/src/main/java/io/papermc/hangar/controller/api/v1/ProjectsController.java
@@ -60,9 +60,9 @@ public ResponseEntity<PaginatedResult<ProjectMember>> getProjectMembers(final St
     @Override
     @ApplicableFilters({ProjectCategoryFilter.class, ProjectPlatformFilter.class, ProjectAuthorFilter.class, ProjectQueryFilter.class, ProjectLicenseFilter.class, ProjectMCVersionFilter.class, ProjectTagFilter.class})
     @ApplicableSorters({SorterRegistry.VIEWS, SorterRegistry.DOWNLOADS, SorterRegistry.NEWEST, SorterRegistry.STARS, SorterRegistry.UPDATED, SorterRegistry.RECENT_DOWNLOADS, SorterRegistry.RECENT_VIEWS, SorterRegistry.SLUG})
-    public ResponseEntity<PaginatedResult<Project>> getProjects(@Deprecated(forRemoval = true) final boolean orderWithRelevance, final @NotNull RequestPagination pagination) {
+    public ResponseEntity<PaginatedResult<Project>> getProjects(final boolean prioritizeExactMatch, final @NotNull RequestPagination pagination) {
         final boolean seeHidden = this.getGlobalPermissions().has(Permission.SeeHidden);
-        return ResponseEntity.ok(this.projectsApiService.getProjects(pagination, seeHidden));
+        return ResponseEntity.ok(this.projectsApiService.getProjects(pagination, seeHidden, prioritizeExactMatch));
     }
 
     @Override
diff --git a/backend/src/main/java/io/papermc/hangar/controller/api/v1/interfaces/IProjectsController.java b/backend/src/main/java/io/papermc/hangar/controller/api/v1/interfaces/IProjectsController.java
index 386f3244e..b58814026 100644
--- a/backend/src/main/java/io/papermc/hangar/controller/api/v1/interfaces/IProjectsController.java
+++ b/backend/src/main/java/io/papermc/hangar/controller/api/v1/interfaces/IProjectsController.java
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ default ResponseEntity<PaginatedResult<ProjectMember>> getProjectMembers(
     })
     @GetMapping("/projects")
     ResponseEntity<PaginatedResult<Project>> getProjects(
-            @Parameter(deprecated = true, description = "No longer functions. Sort by (recent) stars, downloads, or views instead") @RequestParam(defaultValue = "true", required = false) boolean orderWithRelevance,
+            @Parameter(description = "Whether to prioritize the project with an exact name match if present") @RequestParam(defaultValue = "true", required = false) boolean prioritizeExactMatch,
             @Parameter(description = "Pagination information") @NotNull RequestPagination pagination
     );
 
diff --git a/backend/src/main/java/io/papermc/hangar/service/api/ProjectsApiService.java b/backend/src/main/java/io/papermc/hangar/service/api/ProjectsApiService.java
index 908f205c4..0890b5642 100644
--- a/backend/src/main/java/io/papermc/hangar/service/api/ProjectsApiService.java
+++ b/backend/src/main/java/io/papermc/hangar/service/api/ProjectsApiService.java
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ public PaginatedResult<User> getProjectWatchers(final String slug, final Request
 
     @Transactional(readOnly = true)
     @Cacheable(CacheConfig.PROJECTS)
-    public PaginatedResult<Project> getProjects(final RequestPagination pagination, final boolean seeHidden) {
+    public PaginatedResult<Project> getProjects(final RequestPagination pagination, final boolean seeHidden, final boolean prioritizeExactMatch) {
         // get query from filter
         String query = null;
         for (final Filter.FilterInstance filterInstance : pagination.getFilters().values()) {
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ public PaginatedResult<Project> getProjects(final RequestPagination pagination,
             }
         }
 
-        if (query != null && !query.isBlank()) {
+        if (prioritizeExactMatch && query != null && !query.isBlank()) {
             pagination.getSorters().put("exact_match", sb -> sb.append(" exact_match ASC"));
         }