diff --git a/beets/dbcore/queryparse.py b/beets/dbcore/queryparse.py
index 288b71c89..b610ec369 100644
--- a/beets/dbcore/queryparse.py
+++ b/beets/dbcore/queryparse.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import re
 import shlex
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 from functools import partial, reduce
+from itertools import groupby
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, NamedTuple
 
 from typing_extensions import Self
@@ -17,7 +18,7 @@ from beets.util import cached_classproperty
 from . import query, sort
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
-    from collections.abc import Collection, Sequence
+    from collections.abc import Iterable, Sequence
 
     from beets.library.models import LibModel
 
@@ -139,7 +140,7 @@ class QueryTerm:
 
 # TYPING ERROR
 def build_and_query(
-    model_cls: type[LibModel], query_parts: Collection[str]
+    model_cls: type[LibModel], query_parts: Iterable[str]
 ) -> query.Query:
     """Build a query by combining search terms with a logical AND."""
     if not query_parts:
@@ -221,31 +222,21 @@ def parse_sorted_query(
     """Given a list of strings, create the `Query` and `Sort` that they
     represent.
     """
-    # Separate query token and sort token.
-    query_parts = []
-    sort_parts = []
+    sort_parts = [p for p in parts if SortTerm.check_valid(p)]
+    query_parts = [p for p in parts if not SortTerm.check_valid(p)]
 
-    # Split up query in to comma-separated subqueries, each representing
-    # an AndQuery, which need to be joined together in one OrQuery
-    subquery_parts = []
-    for part in [*parts, ","]:
-        if part.endswith(","):
-            # Ensure we can catch "foo, bar" as well as "foo , bar"
-            last_subquery_part = part[:-1]
-            if last_subquery_part:
-                subquery_parts.append(last_subquery_part)
-            # Parse the subquery in to a single Query
-            query_parts.append(build_and_query(model_cls, subquery_parts))
-            del subquery_parts[:]
-        elif SortTerm.check_valid(part):
-            sort_parts.append(part)
-        else:
-            subquery_parts.append(part)
+    queries = [
+        build_and_query(model_cls, g)
+        for k, g in groupby(query_parts, lambda p: p == ",")
+        if not k
+    ]
+    if not queries or "," in {query_parts[0], query_parts[-1]}:
+        queries.append(query.TrueQuery())
 
-    # Avoid needlessly wrapping single statements in an OR
-    q = query.OrQuery(query_parts) if len(query_parts) > 1 else query_parts[0]
-    s = sort_from_strings(model_cls, sort_parts)
-    return q, s
+    return (
+        reduce(operator.or_, queries),
+        sort_from_strings(model_cls, sort_parts),
+    )
 
 
 class ModelQuery(NamedTuple):
diff --git a/test/dbcore/test_queryparse.py b/test/dbcore/test_queryparse.py
index 0765b872d..213b53e52 100644
--- a/test/dbcore/test_queryparse.py
+++ b/test/dbcore/test_queryparse.py
@@ -145,13 +145,16 @@ class ParseSortedQueryTest(unittest.TestCase):
         q, s = self.psq("foo , bar")
         assert isinstance(q, query.OrQuery)
         assert isinstance(s, sort.NullSort)
-        assert len(q.subqueries) == 2
+        assert len(q.subqueries) == 4
 
     def test_no_space_before_comma_or_query(self):
         q, s = self.psq("foo, bar")
-        assert isinstance(q, query.OrQuery)
+        assert isinstance(q, query.AndQuery)
+        assert isinstance(q.subqueries[0], query.OrQuery)
+        assert isinstance(q.subqueries[1], query.OrQuery)
+        assert len(q.subqueries[0].subqueries) == 2
+        assert len(q.subqueries[1].subqueries) == 2
         assert isinstance(s, sort.NullSort)
-        assert len(q.subqueries) == 2
 
     def test_no_spaces_or_query(self):
         q, s = self.psq("foo,bar")
@@ -163,13 +166,13 @@ class ParseSortedQueryTest(unittest.TestCase):
         q, s = self.psq("foo , bar ,")
         assert isinstance(q, query.OrQuery)
         assert isinstance(s, sort.NullSort)
-        assert len(q.subqueries) == 3
+        assert len(q.subqueries) == 5
 
     def test_leading_comma_or_query(self):
         q, s = self.psq(", foo , bar")
         assert isinstance(q, query.OrQuery)
         assert isinstance(s, sort.NullSort)
-        assert len(q.subqueries) == 3
+        assert len(q.subqueries) == 5
 
     def test_only_direction(self):
         q, s = self.psq("-")