diff --git a/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/util/AntPathMatcher.java b/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/util/AntPathMatcher.java
index 0463e9e4bb0..be00ab8fc49 100644
--- a/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/util/AntPathMatcher.java
+++ b/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/util/AntPathMatcher.java
@@ -776,7 +776,10 @@ public class AntPathMatcher implements PathMatcher {
 				return 1;
 			}
 
-			if (info1.isPrefixPattern() && info2.getDoubleWildcards() == 0) {
+			if (info1.isPrefixPattern() && info2.isPrefixPattern()) {
+				return info2.getLength() - info1.getLength();
+			}
+			else if (info1.isPrefixPattern() && info2.getDoubleWildcards() == 0) {
 				return 1;
 			}
 			else if (info2.isPrefixPattern() && info1.getDoubleWildcards() == 0) {
diff --git a/spring-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/util/AntPathMatcherTests.java b/spring-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/util/AntPathMatcherTests.java
index 1e9c53865cf..73278dd0997 100644
--- a/spring-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/util/AntPathMatcherTests.java
+++ b/spring-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/util/AntPathMatcherTests.java
@@ -481,8 +481,9 @@ public class AntPathMatcherTests {
 		assertThat(comparator.compare("/hotels/**", "/hotels/{hotel}/bookings/{booking}/cutomers/{customer}")).isEqualTo(1);
 		assertThat(comparator.compare("/hotels/foo/bar/**", "/hotels/{hotel}")).isEqualTo(1);
 		assertThat(comparator.compare("/hotels/{hotel}", "/hotels/foo/bar/**")).isEqualTo(-1);
-		assertThat(comparator.compare("/hotels/**/bookings/**", "/hotels/**")).isEqualTo(2);
-		assertThat(comparator.compare("/hotels/**", "/hotels/**/bookings/**")).isEqualTo(-2);
+
+		// gh-23125
+		assertThat(comparator.compare("/hotels/*/bookings/**", "/hotels/**")).isEqualTo(-11);
 
 		// SPR-8683
 		assertThat(comparator.compare("/**", "/hotels/{hotel}")).isEqualTo(1);