diff --git a/.golangci.yml b/.golangci.yml
index db6d2f49e..fa2747cf8 100644
--- a/.golangci.yml
+++ b/.golangci.yml
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ linters:
     - bidichk
     - bodyclose
     - copyloopvar
+    - depguard
     - dogsled
     - dupl
     - errcheck
@@ -44,6 +45,12 @@ linters:
     - unused
     - whitespace
   settings:
+    depguard:
+      rules:
+        forbid-pkg-errors:
+          deny:
+            - pkg: sort
+              desc: Should be replaced with slices package
     forbidigo:
         forbid:
           - pattern: context.Background
diff --git a/cmd/helpgen/main.go b/cmd/helpgen/main.go
index b7b81a892..d6a9528de 100644
--- a/cmd/helpgen/main.go
+++ b/cmd/helpgen/main.go
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"go/format"
 	"io"
 	"os"
-	"sort"
+	"slices"
 	"strings"
 
 	flag "github.com/spf13/pflag"
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ func (g Generator) Generate(ctx *genall.GenerationContext) error {
 		for typ := range byType {
 			typeNames = append(typeNames, typ)
 		}
-		sort.Strings(typeNames)
+		slices.Sort(typeNames)
 
 		outContent := new(bytes.Buffer)
 		if headerText == "" {
diff --git a/pkg/crd/flatten.go b/pkg/crd/flatten.go
index cf02c9b71..927f67622 100644
--- a/pkg/crd/flatten.go
+++ b/pkg/crd/flatten.go
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ package crd
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"reflect"
-	"sort"
+	"slices"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
 
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ func flattenAllOfInto(dst *apiext.JSONSchemaProps, src apiext.JSONSchemaProps, e
 			dst.Required = append(dst.Required, req)
 		}
 		// be deterministic
-		sort.Strings(dst.Required)
+		slices.Sort(dst.Required)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/crd/gen.go b/pkg/crd/gen.go
index 5fad65a71..e50545ab9 100644
--- a/pkg/crd/gen.go
+++ b/pkg/crd/gen.go
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"go/ast"
 	"go/types"
-	"sort"
+	"slices"
 	"strings"
 
 	apiext "k8s.io/apiextensions-apiserver/pkg/apis/apiextensions/v1"
@@ -328,8 +328,8 @@ func FindKubeKinds(parser *Parser, metav1Pkg *loader.Package) []schema.GroupKind
 	for groupKind := range kubeKinds {
 		groupKindList = append(groupKindList, groupKind)
 	}
-	sort.Slice(groupKindList, func(i, j int) bool {
-		return groupKindList[i].String() < groupKindList[j].String()
+	slices.SortStableFunc(groupKindList, func(a, b schema.GroupKind) int {
+		return strings.Compare(a.String(), b.String())
 	})
 
 	return groupKindList
diff --git a/pkg/crd/schema.go b/pkg/crd/schema.go
index 4a95a1ced..05ae5a20f 100644
--- a/pkg/crd/schema.go
+++ b/pkg/crd/schema.go
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ import (
 	"go/ast"
 	"go/token"
 	"go/types"
-	"sort"
+	"slices"
 	"strings"
 
 	apiext "k8s.io/apiextensions-apiserver/pkg/apis/apiextensions/v1"
@@ -173,10 +173,10 @@ func applyMarkers(ctx *schemaContext, markerSet markers.MarkerValues, props *api
 		}
 	}
 
-	cmpPriority := func(markers []schemaMarkerWithName, i, j int) bool {
+	cmpPriority := func(i, j schemaMarkerWithName) int {
 		var iPriority, jPriority crdmarkers.ApplyPriority
 
-		switch m := markers[i].SchemaMarker.(type) {
+		switch m := i.SchemaMarker.(type) {
 		case crdmarkers.ApplyPriorityMarker:
 			iPriority = m.ApplyPriority()
 		case applyFirstMarker:
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ func applyMarkers(ctx *schemaContext, markerSet markers.MarkerValues, props *api
 			iPriority = crdmarkers.ApplyPriorityDefault
 		}
 
-		switch m := markers[j].SchemaMarker.(type) {
+		switch m := j.SchemaMarker.(type) {
 		case crdmarkers.ApplyPriorityMarker:
 			jPriority = m.ApplyPriority()
 		case applyFirstMarker:
@@ -194,10 +194,10 @@ func applyMarkers(ctx *schemaContext, markerSet markers.MarkerValues, props *api
 			jPriority = crdmarkers.ApplyPriorityDefault
 		}
 
-		return iPriority < jPriority
+		return int(iPriority - jPriority)
 	}
-	sort.Slice(markers, func(i, j int) bool { return cmpPriority(markers, i, j) })
-	sort.Slice(itemsMarkers, func(i, j int) bool { return cmpPriority(itemsMarkers, i, j) })
+	slices.SortStableFunc(markers, func(i, j schemaMarkerWithName) int { return cmpPriority(i, j) })
+	slices.SortStableFunc(itemsMarkers, func(i, j schemaMarkerWithName) int { return cmpPriority(i, j) })
 
 	for _, schemaMarker := range markers {
 		if err := schemaMarker.SchemaMarker.ApplyToSchema(props); err != nil {
@@ -519,7 +519,7 @@ func structToSchema(ctx *schemaContext, structType *ast.StructType) *apiext.JSON
 	}
 
 	// Ensure the required fields are always listed alphabetically.
-	sort.Strings(props.Required)
+	slices.Sort(props.Required)
 
 	return props
 }
diff --git a/pkg/crd/spec.go b/pkg/crd/spec.go
index be9808570..4dee1cb69 100644
--- a/pkg/crd/spec.go
+++ b/pkg/crd/spec.go
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ package crd
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-	"sort"
+	"slices"
 	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/gobuffalo/flect"
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ func (p *Parser) NeedCRDFor(groupKind schema.GroupKind, maxDescLen *int) {
 
 	// it is necessary to make sure the order of CRD versions in crd.Spec.Versions is stable and explicitly set crd.Spec.Version.
 	// Otherwise, crd.Spec.Version may point to different CRD versions across different runs.
-	sort.Slice(crd.Spec.Versions, func(i, j int) bool { return crd.Spec.Versions[i].Name < crd.Spec.Versions[j].Name })
+	slices.SortStableFunc(crd.Spec.Versions, func(a, b apiext.CustomResourceDefinitionVersion) int { return strings.Compare(a.Name, b.Name) })
 
 	// make sure we have *a* storage version
 	// (default it if we only have one, otherwise, bail)
diff --git a/pkg/deepcopy/deepcopy_integration_test.go b/pkg/deepcopy/deepcopy_integration_test.go
index e0272995f..798b41023 100644
--- a/pkg/deepcopy/deepcopy_integration_test.go
+++ b/pkg/deepcopy/deepcopy_integration_test.go
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ package deepcopy_test
 import (
 	"io"
 	"os"
-	"sort"
+	"slices"
 
 	"github.com/google/go-cmp/cmp"
 	. "github.com/onsi/ginkgo"
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ func (m outputToMap) fileList() []string {
 	for path := range m {
 		ret = append(ret, path)
 	}
-	sort.Strings(ret)
+	slices.Sort(ret)
 	return ret
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/deepcopy/gen.go b/pkg/deepcopy/gen.go
index a85cc8577..df436ec57 100644
--- a/pkg/deepcopy/gen.go
+++ b/pkg/deepcopy/gen.go
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ import (
 	"go/ast"
 	"go/format"
 	"io"
-	"sort"
+	"slices"
 	"strings"
 
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-tools/pkg/genall"
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ func writeMethods(pkg *loader.Package, out io.Writer, byType map[string][]byte)
 	for name := range byType {
 		sortedNames = append(sortedNames, name)
 	}
-	sort.Strings(sortedNames)
+	slices.Sort(sortedNames)
 
 	for _, name := range sortedNames {
 		_, err := out.Write(byType[name])
diff --git a/pkg/genall/help/sort.go b/pkg/genall/help/sort.go
index 53c923e34..c30cd7f12 100644
--- a/pkg/genall/help/sort.go
+++ b/pkg/genall/help/sort.go
@@ -24,8 +24,8 @@ import (
 
 // SortGroup knows how to sort and group marker definitions.
 type SortGroup interface {
-	// Less is equivalent to the Less function from sort, and is used to sort the markers.
-	Less(*markers.Definition, *markers.Definition) bool
+	// Compare is equivalent to the compare function from slices, and is used to sort the markers.
+	Compare(*markers.Definition, *markers.Definition) int
 	// Group returns the "group" that a given marker belongs to.
 	Group(*markers.Definition, *markers.DefinitionHelp) string
 }
@@ -46,13 +46,13 @@ func (sortByCategory) Group(_ *markers.Definition, help *markers.DefinitionHelp)
 	}
 	return help.Category
 }
-func (sortByCategory) Less(i, j *markers.Definition) bool {
-	return i.Name < j.Name
+func (sortByCategory) Compare(i, j *markers.Definition) int {
+	return strings.Compare(j.Name, i.Name)
 }
 
 type optionsSort struct{}
 
-func (optionsSort) Less(i, j *markers.Definition) bool {
+func (optionsSort) Compare(i, j *markers.Definition) int {
 	iParts := strings.Split(i.Name, ":")
 	jParts := strings.Split(j.Name, ":")
 
@@ -83,10 +83,10 @@ func (optionsSort) Less(i, j *markers.Definition) bool {
 	}
 
 	if iGen != jGen {
-		return iGen > jGen
+		return strings.Compare(iGen, jGen)
 	}
 
-	return iRule < jRule
+	return strings.Compare(jRule, iRule)
 }
 func (optionsSort) Group(def *markers.Definition, _ *markers.DefinitionHelp) string {
 	parts := strings.Split(def.Name, ":")
diff --git a/pkg/genall/help/types.go b/pkg/genall/help/types.go
index be1110432..57cdad4b0 100644
--- a/pkg/genall/help/types.go
+++ b/pkg/genall/help/types.go
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ limitations under the License.
 package help
 
 import (
-	"sort"
+	"slices"
 	"strings"
 
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-tools/pkg/markers"
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ func ForDefinition(defn *markers.Definition, maybeHelp *markers.DefinitionHelp)
 		res.Fields = append(res.Fields, fieldHelp)
 	}
 
-	sort.Slice(res.Fields, func(i, j int) bool { return res.Fields[i].Name < res.Fields[j].Name })
+	slices.SortStableFunc(res.Fields, func(a, b FieldHelp) int { return strings.Compare(a.Name, b.Name) })
 
 	return res
 }
@@ -191,17 +191,17 @@ func ByCategory(reg *markers.Registry, sorter SortGroup) []CategoryDoc {
 		allGroups = append(allGroups, groupName)
 	}
 
-	sort.Strings(allGroups)
+	slices.Sort(allGroups)
 
 	res := make([]CategoryDoc, len(allGroups))
 	for i, groupName := range allGroups {
-		markers := groupedMarkers[groupName]
-		sort.Slice(markers, func(i, j int) bool {
-			return sorter.Less(markers[i], markers[j])
+		mks := groupedMarkers[groupName]
+		slices.SortStableFunc(mks, func(a, b *markers.Definition) int {
+			return sorter.Compare(a, b)
 		})
 
-		markerDocs := make([]MarkerDoc, len(markers))
-		for i, marker := range markers {
+		markerDocs := make([]MarkerDoc, len(mks))
+		for i, marker := range mks {
 			markerDocs[i] = ForDefinition(marker, reg.HelpFor(marker))
 		}
 
diff --git a/pkg/rbac/parser.go b/pkg/rbac/parser.go
index 6521d2658..54a0c0aa8 100644
--- a/pkg/rbac/parser.go
+++ b/pkg/rbac/parser.go
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ package rbac
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-	"sort"
+	"slices"
 	"strings"
 
 	rbacv1 "k8s.io/api/rbac/v1"
@@ -74,13 +74,6 @@ func (key ruleKey) String() string {
 	return fmt.Sprintf("%s + %s + %s + %s", key.Groups, key.Resources, key.ResourceNames, key.URLs)
 }
 
-// ruleKeys implements sort.Interface
-type ruleKeys []ruleKey
-
-func (keys ruleKeys) Len() int           { return len(keys) }
-func (keys ruleKeys) Swap(i, j int)      { keys[i], keys[j] = keys[j], keys[i] }
-func (keys ruleKeys) Less(i, j int) bool { return keys[i].String() < keys[j].String() }
-
 // key normalizes the Rule and returns a ruleKey object.
 func (r *Rule) key() ruleKey {
 	r.normalize()
@@ -139,7 +132,7 @@ func removeDupAndSort(strs []string) []string {
 	for str := range set {
 		result = append(result, str)
 	}
-	sort.Strings(result)
+	slices.Sort(result)
 	return result
 }
 
@@ -304,7 +297,9 @@ func GenerateRoles(ctx *genall.GenerationContext, roleName string) ([]interface{
 		for key := range ruleMap {
 			keys = append(keys, key)
 		}
-		sort.Sort(ruleKeys(keys))
+		slices.SortStableFunc(keys, func(a, b ruleKey) int {
+			return strings.Compare(a.String(), b.String())
+		})
 
 		// Normalize rule verbs to "*" if any verb in the rule is an asterisk
 		for _, rule := range ruleMap {
@@ -327,7 +322,7 @@ func GenerateRoles(ctx *genall.GenerationContext, roleName string) ([]interface{
 	for ns := range rulesByNSResource {
 		namespaces = append(namespaces, ns)
 	}
-	sort.Strings(namespaces)
+	slices.Sort(namespaces)
 
 	// process the items in rulesByNS by the order specified in `namespaces` to make sure that the Role order is stable
 	var objs []interface{}
diff --git a/pkg/webhook/parser.go b/pkg/webhook/parser.go
index 2737562be..28bdbca7b 100644
--- a/pkg/webhook/parser.go
+++ b/pkg/webhook/parser.go
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ package webhook
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"slices"
-	"sort"
 	"strings"
 
 	admissionregv1 "k8s.io/api/admissionregistration/v1"
@@ -484,8 +483,8 @@ func (g Generator) Generate(ctx *genall.GenerationContext) error {
 		}
 
 		cfgs := markerSet[ConfigDefinition.Name]
-		sort.SliceStable(cfgs, func(i, j int) bool {
-			return cfgs[i].(Config).Name < cfgs[j].(Config).Name
+		slices.SortStableFunc(cfgs, func(a, b any) int {
+			return strings.Compare(a.(Config).Name, b.(Config).Name)
 		})
 
 		for _, cfg := range cfgs {