diff --git a/domdf_python_tools/words.py b/domdf_python_tools/words.py
index d8bc36c..b26693a 100644
--- a/domdf_python_tools/words.py
+++ b/domdf_python_tools/words.py
@@ -171,14 +171,13 @@ def alpha_sort(
 
 	alphabet_ = list(alphabet)
 
-	try:
-		return sorted(iterable, key=lambda attr: [alphabet_.index(letter) for letter in attr], reverse=reverse)
-	except ValueError as e:
-		m = re.match(r"'(.*)' is not in list", str(e))
-		if m:
-			raise ValueError(f"The character {m.group(1)!r} was not found in the alphabet.") from None
-		else:  # pragma: no cover
-			raise e
+	def _alphabet_index(letter: str) -> int:
+		try:
+			return alphabet_.index(letter)
+		except ValueError:
+			raise ValueError(f"The character {letter!r} was not found in the alphabet.") from None
+
+	return sorted(iterable, key=lambda attr: [_alphabet_index(letter) for letter in attr], reverse=reverse)
 
 
 class Font(Dict[str, str]):
diff --git a/tests/test_utils.py b/tests/test_utils.py
index 768bd83..08809e2 100644
--- a/tests/test_utils.py
+++ b/tests/test_utils.py
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ def test_printr(obj, expects, capsys):
 	assert re.match(expects, stdout[0])
 
 
-if sys.version_info >= (3, 13):
+if sys.version_info[:2] == (3, 13):
 	pure_posix_path_expected = "<class 'pathlib._local.PurePosixPath'>"
 else:
 	pure_posix_path_expected = "<class 'pathlib.PurePosixPath'>"