diff --git a/superset/models/helpers.py b/superset/models/helpers.py
index 754956cbc2fa..a1c92adaa146 100644
--- a/superset/models/helpers.py
+++ b/superset/models/helpers.py
@@ -2800,6 +2800,21 @@ def get_sqla_query(  # pylint: disable=too-many-arguments,too-many-locals,too-ma
                 col = self.convert_tbl_column_to_sqla_col(
                     columns_by_name[col], template_processor=template_processor
                 )
+            elif isinstance(col, str) and columns:
+                # Check if this is a label reference to an adhoc column
+                adhoc_col = next(
+                    (
+                        c
+                        for c in columns
+                        if utils.is_adhoc_column(c) and c.get("label") == col
+                    ),
+                    None,
+                )
+                if adhoc_col:
+                    col = self.adhoc_column_to_sqla(
+                        col=adhoc_col,
+                        template_processor=template_processor,
+                    )
 
             if isinstance(col, ColumnElement):
                 orderby_exprs.append(col)
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/models/helpers_test.py b/tests/unit_tests/models/helpers_test.py
index e913526975fb..e5a177285e80 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/models/helpers_test.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/models/helpers_test.py
@@ -1703,3 +1703,43 @@ def test_adhoc_column_with_spaces_in_full_query(database: Database) -> None:
     # Verify SELECT and FROM clauses are present
     assert "SELECT" in sql
     assert "FROM" in sql
+
+
+def test_orderby_adhoc_column(database: Database) -> None:
+    """
+    Test that orderby works with adhoc column labels.
+
+    When orderby contains a string that matches the label of an adhoc column
+    in the columns list, it should correctly convert to a SQLAlchemy column
+    instead of raising QueryObjectValidationError.
+    """
+    from superset.connectors.sqla.models import SqlaTable, TableColumn
+
+    table = SqlaTable(
+        database=database,
+        schema=None,
+        table_name="t",
+        columns=[
+            TableColumn(column_name="a"),
+            TableColumn(column_name="b"),
+        ],
+    )
+
+    # Should not raise QueryObjectValidationError
+    result = table.get_sqla_query(
+        columns=[
+            {"expressionType": "SQL", "label": "custom_col", "sqlExpression": "a + 1"},
+            "b",
+        ],
+        orderby=[("custom_col", False)],  # Order by adhoc column label
+        metrics=[],
+        extras={},
+        filter=[],
+        granularity=None,
+        is_timeseries=False,
+    )
+    assert result is not None
+
+    # Verify the SQL contains the expression from the adhoc column
+    sql = str(result.sqla_query)
+    assert "ORDER BY" in sql.upper()