diff --git a/core/modules/taxonomy/src/Plugin/EntityReferenceSelection/TermSelection.php b/core/modules/taxonomy/src/Plugin/EntityReferenceSelection/TermSelection.php
index 6842520..e6ab0d6 100644
--- a/core/modules/taxonomy/src/Plugin/EntityReferenceSelection/TermSelection.php
+++ b/core/modules/taxonomy/src/Plugin/EntityReferenceSelection/TermSelection.php
@@ -41,7 +41,9 @@ public function buildConfigurationForm(array $form, FormStateInterface $form_sta
    */
   public function getReferenceableEntities($match = NULL, $match_operator = 'CONTAINS', $limit = 0) {
     if ($match || $limit) {
-      $this->configuration['handler_settings']['sort'] = ['field' => 'name', 'direction' => 'asc'];
+      $configuration = $this->getConfiguration();
+      $configuration['handler_settings']['sort'] = ['field' => 'name', 'direction' => 'asc'];
+      $this->setConfiguration($configuration);
       return parent::getReferenceableEntities($match, $match_operator, $limit);
     }