diff --git a/lib/core/settings.py b/lib/core/settings.py
index e85af5f8b..c28cf1fa7 100644
--- a/lib/core/settings.py
+++ b/lib/core/settings.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ from lib.core.enums import DBMS_DIRECTORY_NAME
 from lib.core.enums import OS
 
 # sqlmap version (<major>.<minor>.<month>.<monthly commit>)
-VERSION = "1.2.5.5"
+VERSION = "1.2.5.6"
 TYPE = "dev" if VERSION.count('.') > 2 and VERSION.split('.')[-1] != '0' else "stable"
 TYPE_COLORS = {"dev": 33, "stable": 90, "pip": 34}
 VERSION_STRING = "sqlmap/%s#%s" % ('.'.join(VERSION.split('.')[:-1]) if VERSION.count('.') > 2 and VERSION.split('.')[-1] == '0' else VERSION, TYPE)
diff --git a/lib/techniques/union/test.py b/lib/techniques/union/test.py
index 0ca8f6569..e04248de1 100644
--- a/lib/techniques/union/test.py
+++ b/lib/techniques/union/test.py
@@ -90,8 +90,8 @@ def _findUnionCharCount(comment, place, parameter, value, prefix, suffix, where=
         kb.errorIsNone = False
         lowerCount, upperCount = conf.uColsStart, conf.uColsStop
 
-        if lowerCount == 1 or conf.uCols:
-            found = kb.orderByColumns or (_orderByTechnique(lowerCount, upperCount) if conf.uCols else _orderByTechnique())
+        if kb.orderByColumns is None and (lowerCount == 1 or conf.uCols):  # ORDER BY is not bullet-proof
+            found = _orderByTechnique(lowerCount, upperCount) if conf.uCols else _orderByTechnique()
             if found:
                 kb.orderByColumns = found
                 infoMsg = "target URL appears to have %d column%s in query" % (found, 's' if found > 1 else "")
@@ -267,6 +267,8 @@ def _unionTestByCharBruteforce(comment, place, parameter, value, prefix, suffix)
 
     validPayload = None
     vector = None
+    orderBy = kb.orderByColumns
+    uChars = (conf.uChar, kb.uChar)
 
     # In case that user explicitly stated number of columns affected
     if conf.uColsStop == conf.uColsStart:
@@ -301,6 +303,10 @@ def _unionTestByCharBruteforce(comment, place, parameter, value, prefix, suffix)
             if not all((validPayload, vector)) and not warnMsg.endswith("consider "):
                 singleTimeWarnMessage(warnMsg)
 
+    if count and orderBy is None and kb.orderByColumns is not None:  # discard ORDER BY results (not usable - e.g. maybe invalid altogether)
+        conf.uChar, kb.uChar = uChars
+        validPayload, vector = _unionTestByCharBruteforce(comment, place, parameter, value, prefix, suffix)
+
     return validPayload, vector
 
 def unionTest(comment, place, parameter, value, prefix, suffix):
diff --git a/txt/checksum.md5 b/txt/checksum.md5
index e04494dc4..713b23f21 100644
--- a/txt/checksum.md5
+++ b/txt/checksum.md5
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ c9a56e58984420a5abb7a3f7aadc196d  lib/core/optiondict.py
 0c3eef46bdbf87e29a3f95f90240d192  lib/core/replication.py
 a7db43859b61569b601b97f187dd31c5  lib/core/revision.py
 fcb74fcc9577523524659ec49e2e964b  lib/core/session.py
-2b1dd381a11c70766d31a272619dc356  lib/core/settings.py
+051375e24f79fe7967a7401d57e084cf  lib/core/settings.py
 0dfc2ed40adf72e302291f6ecd4406f6  lib/core/shell.py
 a7edc9250d13af36ac0108f259859c19  lib/core/subprocessng.py
 6306284edcccc185b2df085438572b0d  lib/core/target.py
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ bad83c6386adf345fbc982bdafbe3b93  lib/techniques/dns/use.py
 f999f2e88dea9ac8831eb2f468478b5f  lib/techniques/error/use.py
 1e5532ede194ac9c083891c2f02bca93  lib/techniques/__init__.py
 1e5532ede194ac9c083891c2f02bca93  lib/techniques/union/__init__.py
-2075952d327723169de8fb7ac667c9c1  lib/techniques/union/test.py
+94d7a22bb6725a91e84ba2cd9973e96d  lib/techniques/union/test.py
 11ecf2effbe9f40b361843d546c3c521  lib/techniques/union/use.py
 8d99c07416df40350ff8836d9d79ebb5  lib/utils/api.py
 37dfb641358669f62c2acedff241348b  lib/utils/brute.py