diff --git a/bigframes/core/compile/compiled.py b/bigframes/core/compile/compiled.py
index 693d93de8c..6973091296 100644
--- a/bigframes/core/compile/compiled.py
+++ b/bigframes/core/compile/compiled.py
@@ -441,6 +441,10 @@ def explode(self, offsets: typing.Sequence[int]) -> UnorderedIR:
             columns=columns,
         )
 
+    def as_ordered_ir(self) -> OrderedIR:
+        """Convert to OrderedIr, but without any definite ordering."""
+        return OrderedIR(self._table, self._columns, predicates=self._predicates)
+
     ## Helpers
     def _set_or_replace_by_id(
         self, id: str, new_value: ibis_types.Value
diff --git a/bigframes/core/compile/compiler.py b/bigframes/core/compile/compiler.py
index 23501f93c8..74fcaf5f2a 100644
--- a/bigframes/core/compile/compiler.py
+++ b/bigframes/core/compile/compiler.py
@@ -76,14 +76,27 @@ def _compile_node(
     @_compile_node.register
     def compile_join(self, node: nodes.JoinNode, ordered: bool = True):
         if ordered:
-            left_ordered = self.compile_ordered_ir(node.left_child)
-            right_ordered = self.compile_ordered_ir(node.right_child)
-            return bigframes.core.compile.single_column.join_by_column_ordered(
-                left=left_ordered,
-                right=right_ordered,
-                type=node.type,
-                conditions=node.conditions,
-            )
+            # In general, joins are an ordering destroying operation.
+            # With ordering_mode = "partial", make this explicit. In
+            # this case, we don't need to provide a deterministic ordering.
+            if self.strict:
+                left_ordered = self.compile_ordered_ir(node.left_child)
+                right_ordered = self.compile_ordered_ir(node.right_child)
+                return bigframes.core.compile.single_column.join_by_column_ordered(
+                    left=left_ordered,
+                    right=right_ordered,
+                    type=node.type,
+                    conditions=node.conditions,
+                )
+            else:
+                left_unordered = self.compile_unordered_ir(node.left_child)
+                right_unordered = self.compile_unordered_ir(node.right_child)
+                return bigframes.core.compile.single_column.join_by_column_unordered(
+                    left=left_unordered,
+                    right=right_unordered,
+                    type=node.type,
+                    conditions=node.conditions,
+                ).as_ordered_ir()
         else:
             left_unordered = self.compile_unordered_ir(node.left_child)
             right_unordered = self.compile_unordered_ir(node.right_child)
diff --git a/bigframes/core/nodes.py b/bigframes/core/nodes.py
index 2dc9623d89..93b59f75ee 100644
--- a/bigframes/core/nodes.py
+++ b/bigframes/core/nodes.py
@@ -249,6 +249,7 @@ def order_ambiguous(self) -> bool:
 
     @property
     def explicitly_ordered(self) -> bool:
+        # Do not consider user pre-join ordering intent - they need to re-order post-join in unordered mode.
         return False
 
     def __hash__(self):
@@ -307,7 +308,8 @@ def order_ambiguous(self) -> bool:
 
     @property
     def explicitly_ordered(self) -> bool:
-        return all(child.explicitly_ordered for child in self.children)
+        # Consider concat as an ordered operations (even though input frames may not be ordered)
+        return True
 
     def __hash__(self):
         return self._node_hash