diff --git a/src/sentry/tasks/auto_ongoing_issues.py b/src/sentry/tasks/auto_ongoing_issues.py
index 744cc4ef5498d1..80969421f0f0b3 100644
--- a/src/sentry/tasks/auto_ongoing_issues.py
+++ b/src/sentry/tasks/auto_ongoing_issues.py
@@ -109,31 +109,15 @@ def schedule_auto_transition_issues_new_to_ongoing(
     to be updated in a single run. However, we expect every instantiation of this task
     to chip away at the backlog of Groups and eventually update all the eligible groups.
     """
-    span = sentry_sdk.Hub.current.scope.span
     total_count = 0
 
     def get_total_count(results):
         nonlocal total_count
         total_count += len(results)
 
-    most_recent_group_first_seen_seven_days_ago = (
-        Group.objects.filter(
-            first_seen__lte=datetime.fromtimestamp(first_seen_lte, timezone.utc),
-        )
-        .order_by("-id")
-        .first()
-    )
-
-    if span is not None:
-        span.set_tag(
-            "most_recent_group_first_seen_seven_days_ago",
-            most_recent_group_first_seen_seven_days_ago.id,
-        )
-
     logger.info(
         "auto_transition_issues_new_to_ongoing started",
         extra={
-            "most_recent_group_first_seen_seven_days_ago": most_recent_group_first_seen_seven_days_ago.id,
             "first_seen_lte": first_seen_lte,
         },
     )
@@ -141,7 +125,7 @@ def get_total_count(results):
     base_queryset = Group.objects.filter(
         status=GroupStatus.UNRESOLVED,
         substatus=GroupSubStatus.NEW,
-        id__lte=most_recent_group_first_seen_seven_days_ago.id,
+        first_seen__lte=datetime.fromtimestamp(first_seen_lte, timezone.utc),
     )
 
     with sentry_sdk.start_span(description="iterate_chunked_group_ids"):
diff --git a/tests/sentry/tasks/test_auto_ongoing_issues.py b/tests/sentry/tasks/test_auto_ongoing_issues.py
index 253c1a9cfb130c..871bb232ae10e1 100644
--- a/tests/sentry/tasks/test_auto_ongoing_issues.py
+++ b/tests/sentry/tasks/test_auto_ongoing_issues.py
@@ -208,6 +208,56 @@ def test_not_all_groups_get_updated(self, mock_backend, mock_metrics_incr):
             tags={"count": 0},
         )
 
+    @freeze_time("2023-07-12 18:40:00Z")
+    @mock.patch("sentry.tasks.auto_ongoing_issues.backend")
+    def test_unordered_ids(self, mock_backend):
+        """
+        Group ids can be non-chronological with first_seen time (ex. as a result of merging).
+        Test that in this case, only groups that are >= TRANSITION_AFTER_DAYS days old are
+        transitioned.
+        """
+        now = datetime.now(tz=timezone.utc)
+        organization = self.organization
+        project = self.create_project(organization=organization)
+
+        # Create group with id x and first_seen < TRANSITION_AFTER_DAYS
+        group_new = self.create_group(
+            project=project, status=GroupStatus.UNRESOLVED, substatus=GroupSubStatus.NEW
+        )
+        group_new.first_seen = now - timedelta(days=TRANSITION_AFTER_DAYS - 1, hours=1)
+        group_new.save()
+
+        # Create group with id x+1 and first_seen > TRANSITION_AFTER_DAYS
+        # This could happen if an older group is merged into a newer group
+        group_old = self.create_group(
+            project=project, status=GroupStatus.UNRESOLVED, substatus=GroupSubStatus.NEW
+        )
+        group_old.first_seen = now - timedelta(days=TRANSITION_AFTER_DAYS, hours=1)
+        group_old.save()
+
+        mock_backend.get_size.return_value = 0
+
+        with self.tasks():
+            schedule_auto_transition_to_ongoing()
+
+        group_new.refresh_from_db()
+        assert group_new.status == GroupStatus.UNRESOLVED
+        assert group_new.substatus == GroupSubStatus.NEW
+
+        group_old.refresh_from_db()
+        assert group_old.status == GroupStatus.UNRESOLVED
+        assert group_old.substatus == GroupSubStatus.ONGOING
+        assert not GroupInbox.objects.filter(group=group_old).exists()
+
+        set_ongoing_activity = Activity.objects.filter(
+            group=group_old, type=ActivityType.AUTO_SET_ONGOING.value
+        ).get()
+        assert set_ongoing_activity.data == {"after_days": 7}
+
+        assert GroupHistory.objects.filter(
+            group=group_old, status=GroupHistoryStatus.ONGOING
+        ).exists()
+
 
 @apply_feature_flag_on_cls("organizations:escalating-issues")
 class ScheduleAutoRegressedOngoingIssuesTest(TestCase):