diff --git a/src/DataTableResponder.php b/src/DataTableResponder.php
index 0d1c9b4..4ae5cd8 100644
--- a/src/DataTableResponder.php
+++ b/src/DataTableResponder.php
@@ -141,11 +141,17 @@ public function setResponseMeta(array $meta = [])
      */
     private function buildQuery(Request $request)
     {
+        $query = $this->model->query();
+
+        $queryManipulator = $this->queryManipulator;
+
+        if ($queryManipulator) {
+            $queryManipulator($query);
+        }
+
         $orderByField = $request->get('orderByField');
         $orderByDirection = $request->get('orderByDirection');
 
-        $query = $this->model->query();
-
         if ($orderByField && $orderByDirection) {
             if (!in_array(strtolower($orderByDirection), ['asc', 'desc'])) {
                 throw new InvalidArgumentException('Order by direction must be either asc or desc.');
@@ -161,12 +167,6 @@ private function buildQuery(Request $request)
             }
         }
 
-        $queryManipulator = $this->queryManipulator;
-
-        if ($queryManipulator) {
-            $queryManipulator($query);
-        }
-
         return $query;
     }