diff --git a/.changeset/signup-challenge-before-sso.md b/.changeset/signup-challenge-before-sso.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ecebccc9a6b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/signup-challenge-before-sso.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'@clerk/shared': patch
+---
+
+Run a sign-up's verification challenge before handing off to an enterprise connection, matching the order used elsewhere in the flow.
diff --git a/packages/shared/src/internal/clerk-js/__tests__/completeSignUpFlow.test.ts b/packages/shared/src/internal/clerk-js/__tests__/completeSignUpFlow.test.ts
index 28ed2bbcbf7..4abe15c1059 100644
--- a/packages/shared/src/internal/clerk-js/__tests__/completeSignUpFlow.test.ts
+++ b/packages/shared/src/internal/clerk-js/__tests__/completeSignUpFlow.test.ts
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ describe('completeSignUpFlow', () => {
     expect(mockNavigate).toHaveBeenCalledWith('verify-email', { searchParams: new URLSearchParams() });
   });
 
-  it('prioritizes enterprise_sso over protect_check', async () => {
+  it('prioritizes protect_check over enterprise_sso', async () => {
     const mockSignUp = {
       status: 'missing_requirements',
       missingFields: ['enterprise_sso', 'protect_check'] as SignUpField[],
@@ -191,6 +191,45 @@ describe('completeSignUpFlow', () => {
       redirectUrlComplete: 'https://example.com/done',
     });
 
+    expect(mockNavigate).toHaveBeenCalledWith('protect-check', { searchParams: new URLSearchParams() });
+    expect(mockAuthenticateWithRedirect).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it('hands off to the connection once no challenge is left', async () => {
+    const mockSignUp = {
+      status: 'missing_requirements',
+      missingFields: ['enterprise_sso'] as SignUpField[],
+      authenticateWithRedirect: mockAuthenticateWithRedirect,
+    } as unknown as SignUpResource;
+
+    await completeSignUpFlow({
+      signUp: mockSignUp,
+      protectCheckPath: 'protect-check',
+      handleComplete: mockHandleComplete,
+      navigate: mockNavigate,
+      redirectUrl: 'https://example.com/acs',
+      redirectUrlComplete: 'https://example.com/done',
+    });
+
+    expect(mockAuthenticateWithRedirect).toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(mockNavigate).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it('still hands off to the connection when the caller has no challenge route', async () => {
+    const mockSignUp = {
+      status: 'missing_requirements',
+      missingFields: ['enterprise_sso', 'protect_check'] as SignUpField[],
+      authenticateWithRedirect: mockAuthenticateWithRedirect,
+    } as unknown as SignUpResource;
+
+    await completeSignUpFlow({
+      signUp: mockSignUp,
+      handleComplete: mockHandleComplete,
+      navigate: mockNavigate,
+      redirectUrl: 'https://example.com/acs',
+      redirectUrlComplete: 'https://example.com/done',
+    });
+
     expect(mockAuthenticateWithRedirect).toHaveBeenCalled();
     expect(mockNavigate).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
diff --git a/packages/shared/src/internal/clerk-js/completeSignUpFlow.ts b/packages/shared/src/internal/clerk-js/completeSignUpFlow.ts
index 69773089ca2..83fe66e92f2 100644
--- a/packages/shared/src/internal/clerk-js/completeSignUpFlow.ts
+++ b/packages/shared/src/internal/clerk-js/completeSignUpFlow.ts
@@ -31,6 +31,18 @@ export const completeSignUpFlow = ({
     removeClerkQueryParam('__clerk_invitation_token');
     return handleComplete && handleComplete();
   } else if (signUp.status === 'missing_requirements') {
+    // The protect_check field is the authoritative gating signal. Sign-up also surfaces it
+    // via a missing_fields entry; treat either as equivalent.
+    //
+    // This runs before the enterprise SSO hand-off below, which is the order
+    // `navigateToNextStepSignUp` already uses: both fields can be missing at once, and handing
+    // the sign-up to the identity provider first defers the challenge until the round trip is
+    // over. Resolving it here returns to this function with only the hand-off left to do.
+    const isProtectGated = !!signUp.protectCheck || signUp.missingFields.some(mf => mf === 'protect_check');
+    if (isProtectGated && protectCheckPath) {
+      return navigate(protectCheckPath, { searchParams: forwardClerkQueryParams() });
+    }
+
     if (signUp.missingFields.some(mf => mf === 'enterprise_sso')) {
       if (!redirectUrl || !redirectUrlComplete) {
         throw new Error(
@@ -49,13 +61,6 @@ export const completeSignUpFlow = ({
 
     const params = forwardClerkQueryParams();
 
-    // The protect_check field is the authoritative gating signal. Sign-up also surfaces it
-    // via a missing_fields entry; treat either as equivalent.
-    const isProtectGated = !!signUp.protectCheck || signUp.missingFields.some(mf => mf === 'protect_check');
-    if (isProtectGated && protectCheckPath) {
-      return navigate(protectCheckPath, { searchParams: params });
-    }
-
     if (signUp.unverifiedFields?.includes('email_address') && verifyEmailPath) {
       return navigate(verifyEmailPath, { searchParams: params });
     }