diff --git a/backend/walk.go b/backend/walk.go
index 17860c0c..227f3301 100644
--- a/backend/walk.go
+++ b/backend/walk.go
@@ -19,8 +19,11 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"io/fs"
+	"slices"
+	"sort"
 	"strings"
 	"syscall"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/service/s3/types"
 	"github.com/versity/versitygw/s3response"
@@ -37,6 +40,69 @@ type GetObjFunc func(path string, d fs.DirEntry) (s3response.Object, error)
 
 var ErrSkipObj = errors.New("skip this object")
 
+var (
+	pathSeparator = "/"
+	pathDot       = "."
+)
+
+// fakeDirEntry implements fs.DirEntry for implied directories
+type fakeDirEntry struct {
+	name  string
+	isDir bool
+}
+
+func (f *fakeDirEntry) Name() string {
+	return f.name
+}
+
+func (f *fakeDirEntry) IsDir() bool {
+	return f.isDir
+}
+
+func (f *fakeDirEntry) Type() fs.FileMode {
+	if f.isDir {
+		return fs.ModeDir
+	}
+	return 0
+}
+
+func (f *fakeDirEntry) Info() (fs.FileInfo, error) {
+	return &fakeDirInfo{name: f.name, isDir: f.isDir}, nil
+}
+
+// fakeDirInfo implements fs.FileInfo for implied directories
+type fakeDirInfo struct {
+	name  string
+	isDir bool
+}
+
+func (f *fakeDirInfo) Name() string {
+	return f.name
+}
+
+func (f *fakeDirInfo) Size() int64 {
+	return 0
+}
+
+func (f *fakeDirInfo) Mode() fs.FileMode {
+	if f.isDir {
+		return fs.ModeDir
+	}
+	return 0
+}
+
+func (f *fakeDirInfo) ModTime() time.Time {
+	return time.Time{} // Return zero time for fake directories
+}
+
+func (f *fakeDirInfo) IsDir() bool {
+	return f.isDir
+}
+
+func (f *fakeDirInfo) Sys() any {
+	return nil
+}
+
 // map to store object common prefixes
 type cpMap map[string]int
 
@@ -65,247 +131,477 @@ func (c cpMap) CpArray() []types.CommonPrefix {
 	return commonPrefixes
 }
 
+// walkState holds the state needed during directory traversal
+type walkState struct {
+	ctx        context.Context
+	fileSystem fs.FS
+	prefix     string
+	delimiter  string
+	marker     string
+	max        int32
+	getObj     GetObjFunc
+	skipdirs   []string
+
+	// Mutable state
+	cpmap      cpMap
+	objects    []s3response.Object
+	pastMarker bool
+	pastMax    bool
+	newMarker  string
+	truncated  bool
+}
+
+// entryWithSortKey represents a directory entry with its lexicographic sort key
+type entryWithSortKey struct {
+	d       fs.DirEntry
+	path    string
+	sortKey string
+}
+
+// shouldSkipDirectory checks if a directory should be skipped based on prefix matching
+func shouldSkipDirectory(dirPath, prefix string) bool {
+	if prefix == "" {
+		return false
+	}
+	return !strings.HasPrefix(dirPath, prefix) && !strings.HasPrefix(prefix, dirPath)
+}
+
+// constructPath builds the full path for a directory entry
+func constructPath(dir, entryName string) string {
+	if dir == pathDot {
+		return entryName
+	}
+	return dir + pathSeparator + entryName
+}
+
+// createSortKey creates a lexicographic sort key for an entry
+func createSortKey(path string, isDir bool) string {
+	if isDir {
+		return path + pathSeparator
+	}
+	return path
+}
+
+// buildSortedEntries reads directory entries and sorts them lexicographically
+func buildSortedEntries(fileSystem fs.FS, dir string, skipdirs []string) ([]entryWithSortKey, error) {
+	entries, err := fs.ReadDir(fileSystem, dir)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	var entriesWithKeys []entryWithSortKey
+	for _, d := range entries {
+		if slices.Contains(skipdirs, d.Name()) {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		path := constructPath(dir, d.Name())
+		sortKey := createSortKey(path, d.IsDir())
+
+		entriesWithKeys = append(entriesWithKeys, entryWithSortKey{
+			d:       d,
+			path:    path,
+			sortKey: sortKey,
+		})
+	}
+
+	// Sort by the sort key to ensure proper lexicographic ordering
+	sort.Slice(entriesWithKeys, func(i, j int) bool {
+		return entriesWithKeys[i].sortKey < entriesWithKeys[j].sortKey
+	})
+
+	return entriesWithKeys, nil
+}
+
+// checkLimits returns true if we've hit our limits and should stop processing
+func (w *walkState) checkLimits() bool {
+	return w.pastMax || w.ctx.Err() != nil
+}
+
+// addObject adds an object to the results and checks if limits are reached
+func (w *walkState) addObject(obj s3response.Object, path string) bool {
+	w.objects = append(w.objects, obj)
+	if len(w.objects)+w.cpmap.Len() >= int(w.max) {
+		w.newMarker = path
+		w.pastMax = true
+		// Don't set truncated here - wait until we know there are more items
+		return true
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+// addCommonPrefix adds a common prefix and checks if limits are reached
+func (w *walkState) addCommonPrefix(cpref string) bool {
+	w.cpmap.Add(cpref)
+	if len(w.objects)+w.cpmap.Len() >= int(w.max) {
+		w.newMarker = cpref
+		w.pastMax = true
+		// Don't set truncated here - wait until we know there are more items
+		return true
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+// isBeforeMarker checks if a path is before the current marker
+func (w *walkState) isBeforeMarker(path string) bool {
+	return !w.pastMarker && path < w.marker
+}
+
+// isAtMarker checks if a path matches the current marker
+func (w *walkState) isAtMarker(path string) bool {
+	return !w.pastMarker && path == w.marker
+}
+
 // Walk walks the supplied fs.FS and returns results compatible with list
 // objects responses
 func Walk(ctx context.Context, fileSystem fs.FS, prefix, delimiter, marker string, max int32, getObj GetObjFunc, skipdirs []string) (WalkResults, error) {
-	cpmap := cpMap{}
-	var objects []s3response.Object
-
-	// if max is 0, it should return empty non-truncated result
+	// Early return for zero max
 	if max == 0 {
-		return WalkResults{
-			Truncated: false,
-		}, nil
+		return WalkResults{Truncated: false}, nil
 	}
 
-	var pastMarker bool
-	if marker == "" {
-		pastMarker = true
+	state := &walkState{
+		ctx:        ctx,
+		fileSystem: fileSystem,
+		prefix:     prefix,
+		delimiter:  delimiter,
+		marker:     marker,
+		max:        max,
+		getObj:     getObj,
+		skipdirs:   skipdirs,
+		cpmap:      cpMap{},
+		pastMarker: marker == "",
 	}
 
-	var pastMax bool
-	var newMarker string
-	var truncated bool
-
-	root := "."
-	if strings.Contains(prefix, "/") {
-		idx := strings.LastIndex(prefix, "/")
-		if idx > 0 {
+	root := pathDot
+	if strings.Contains(prefix, pathSeparator) {
+		if idx := strings.LastIndex(prefix, pathSeparator); idx > 0 {
 			root = prefix[:idx]
 		}
 	}
 
-	err := fs.WalkDir(fileSystem, root, func(path string, d fs.DirEntry, err error) error {
+	// Special case: if prefix ends with delimiter and refers to an empty single directory,
+	// we need to start from parent to find the directory as an entry
+	if delimiter != "" && prefix != "" && strings.HasSuffix(prefix, delimiter) {
+		prefixDir := strings.TrimSuffix(prefix, delimiter)
+		if !strings.Contains(prefixDir, delimiter) {
+			// Check if this directory exists and is empty
+			if entries, err := fs.ReadDir(fileSystem, prefixDir); err == nil && len(entries) == 0 {
+				// Single-level empty directory like "a" with prefix "a/"
+				root = pathDot
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Handle special case for prefix directories in non-delimiter mode
+	if delimiter == "" && prefix != "" && strings.HasSuffix(prefix, pathSeparator) {
+		err := state.handlePrefixDirectory(prefix)
 		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-		if ctx.Err() != nil {
-			return ctx.Err()
-		}
-		// Ignore the root directory
-		if path == "." {
-			return nil
-		}
-		if contains(d.Name(), skipdirs) {
-			return fs.SkipDir
+			return WalkResults{}, err
 		}
+	}
 
-		// After this point, return skipflag instead of nil
-		// so we can skip a directory without an early return
-		var skipflag error
-		if d.IsDir() {
-			// If prefix is defined and the directory does not match prefix,
-			// do not descend into the directory because nothing will
-			// match this prefix. Make sure to append the / at the end of
-			// directories since this is implied as a directory path name.
-			// If path is a prefix of prefix, then path could still be
-			// building to match. So only skip if path isn't a prefix of prefix
-			// and prefix isn't a prefix of path.
-			if prefix != "" &&
-				!strings.HasPrefix(path+"/", prefix) &&
-				!strings.HasPrefix(prefix, path+"/") {
-				return fs.SkipDir
-			}
-
-			// Don't recurse into subdirectories which contain the delimiter
-			// after reaching the prefix
-			if delimiter != "" &&
-				strings.HasPrefix(path+"/", prefix) &&
-				strings.Contains(strings.TrimPrefix(path+"/", prefix), delimiter) {
-				skipflag = fs.SkipDir
-			} else {
-				if delimiter == "" {
-					dirobj, err := getObj(path+"/", d)
-					if err == ErrSkipObj {
-						return skipflag
-					}
-					if err != nil {
-						return fmt.Errorf("directory to object %q: %w", path, err)
-					}
-					if pastMax {
-						truncated = true
-						return fs.SkipAll
-					}
-					objects = append(objects, dirobj)
-					if (len(objects) + cpmap.Len()) == int(max) {
-						newMarker = path
-						pastMax = true
-					}
-
-					return skipflag
-				}
-
-				// TODO: can we do better here rather than a second readdir
-				// per directory?
-				ents, err := fs.ReadDir(fileSystem, path)
-				if err != nil {
-					return fmt.Errorf("readdir %q: %w", path, err)
-				}
-
-				if len(ents) != 0 {
-					return skipflag
-				}
-			}
-			path += "/"
-		}
-
-		if !pastMarker {
-			if path == marker {
-				pastMarker = true
-				return skipflag
-			}
-			if path < marker {
-				return skipflag
-			}
-		}
-
-		// If object doesn't have prefix, don't include in results.
-		if prefix != "" && !strings.HasPrefix(path, prefix) {
-			return skipflag
-		}
-
-		if delimiter == "" {
-			// If no delimiter specified, then all files with matching
-			// prefix are included in results
-			obj, err := getObj(path, d)
-			if err == ErrSkipObj {
-				return skipflag
-			}
-			if err != nil {
-				return fmt.Errorf("file to object %q: %w", path, err)
-			}
-			if pastMax {
-				truncated = true
-				return fs.SkipAll
-			}
-
-			objects = append(objects, obj)
-
-			if (len(objects) + cpmap.Len()) == int(max) {
-				newMarker = path
-				pastMax = true
-			}
-
-			return skipflag
-		}
-
-		// Since delimiter is specified, we only want results that
-		// do not contain the delimiter beyond the prefix.  If the
-		// delimiter exists past the prefix, then the substring
-		// between the prefix and delimiter is part of common prefixes.
-		//
-		// For example:
-		// prefix = A/
-		// delimiter = /
-		// and objects:
-		// A/file
-		// A/B/file
-		// B/C
-		// would return:
-		// objects: A/file
-		// common prefix: A/B/
-		//
-		// Note: No objects are included past the common prefix since
-		// these are all rolled up into the common prefix.
-		// Note: The delimiter can be anything, so we have to operate on
-		// the full path without any assumptions on posix directory hierarchy
-		// here.  Usually the delimiter will be "/", but thats not required.
-		suffix := strings.TrimPrefix(path, prefix)
-		before, _, found := strings.Cut(suffix, delimiter)
-		if !found {
-			obj, err := getObj(path, d)
-			if err == ErrSkipObj {
-				return skipflag
-			}
-			if err != nil {
-				return fmt.Errorf("file to object %q: %w", path, err)
-			}
-			if pastMax {
-				truncated = true
-				return fs.SkipAll
-			}
-			objects = append(objects, obj)
-			if (len(objects) + cpmap.Len()) == int(max) {
-				newMarker = path
-				pastMax = true
-			}
-			return skipflag
-		}
-
-		// Common prefixes are a set, so should not have duplicates.
-		// These are abstractly a "directory", so need to include the
-		// delimiter at the end when we add to the map.
-		cprefNoDelim := prefix + before
-		cpref := prefix + before + delimiter
-		if cpref == marker {
-			pastMarker = true
-			return skipflag
-		}
-
-		if marker != "" && strings.HasPrefix(marker, cprefNoDelim) {
-			// skip common prefixes that are before the marker
-			return skipflag
-		}
-
-		if pastMax {
-			truncated = true
-			return fs.SkipAll
-		}
-		cpmap.Add(cpref)
-		if (len(objects) + cpmap.Len()) == int(max) {
-			newMarker = cpref
-			pastMax = true
-		}
-
-		return skipflag
-	})
-	if err != nil {
-		// suppress file not found caused by user's prefix
+	if err := state.walkLexSort(root); err != nil {
 		if errors.Is(err, fs.ErrNotExist) || errors.Is(err, syscall.ENOTDIR) {
 			return WalkResults{}, nil
 		}
 		return WalkResults{}, err
 	}
 
-	if !truncated {
-		newMarker = ""
+	if !state.truncated {
+		state.newMarker = ""
 	}
 
 	return WalkResults{
-		CommonPrefixes: cpmap.CpArray(),
-		Objects:        objects,
-		Truncated:      truncated,
-		NextMarker:     newMarker,
+		CommonPrefixes: state.cpmap.CpArray(),
+		Objects:        state.objects,
+		Truncated:      state.truncated,
+		NextMarker:     state.newMarker,
 	}, nil
 }
 
-func contains(a string, strs []string) bool {
-	for _, s := range strs {
-		if s == a {
-			return true
+// handlePrefixDirectory handles the special case where we need to include the root directory itself
+func (w *walkState) handlePrefixDirectory(prefix string) error {
+	if w.pastMarker || w.marker == "" || prefix <= w.marker {
+		if w.marker == "" || prefix < w.marker || prefix == w.marker {
+			if prefix != w.marker {
+				prefixDir := strings.TrimSuffix(prefix, pathSeparator)
+				dirInfo := &fakeDirEntry{name: prefixDir, isDir: true}
+				dirobj, err := w.getObj(prefix, dirInfo)
+				switch err {
+				case ErrSkipObj:
+					// Skip this directory
+				case nil:
+					if w.addObject(dirobj, prefix) {
+						return nil
+					}
+				default:
+					return fmt.Errorf("prefix directory to object %q: %w",
+						prefix, err)
+				}
+			}
+			if prefix == w.marker {
+				w.pastMarker = true
+			}
 		}
 	}
-	return false
+	return nil
+}
+
+// walkLexSort performs lexicographically ordered directory traversal
+func (w *walkState) walkLexSort(dir string) error {
+	if w.ctx.Err() != nil {
+		return w.ctx.Err()
+	}
+
+	entries, err := buildSortedEntries(w.fileSystem, dir, w.skipdirs)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	for i, entry := range entries {
+		if w.checkLimits() {
+			return w.ctx.Err()
+		}
+
+		if w.pastMax {
+			// We have more entries to process, so mark as truncated
+			w.truncated = true
+			return nil
+		}
+
+		if err := w.processEntry(entry); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		// After processing an entry, check if we hit the limit
+		if w.pastMax {
+			// We hit the limit. Check if there are more entries after this one
+			if i+1 < len(entries) {
+				// There are more entries in this directory
+				w.truncated = true
+			} else {
+				// This was the last entry in this directory, but there might be more dirs to recurse into
+				// Let the higher level determine if we're truly done
+			}
+			return nil
+		}
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// processEntry processes a single directory entry
+func (w *walkState) processEntry(entry entryWithSortKey) error {
+	path := entry.path
+	d := entry.d
+
+	if d.IsDir() {
+		return w.processDirectory(path, d)
+	}
+	return w.processFile(path, d)
+}
+
+// processDirectory handles directory processing logic
+func (w *walkState) processDirectory(path string, d fs.DirEntry) error {
+	dirPath := path + pathSeparator
+
+	// Check if we should skip this directory based on prefix
+	if shouldSkipDirectory(dirPath, w.prefix) {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	// Handle marker logic for directories
+	if w.isBeforeMarker(dirPath) {
+		// Before marker - only recurse if marker could be inside
+		if strings.HasPrefix(w.marker, dirPath) {
+			return w.walkLexSort(path)
+		}
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	if w.isAtMarker(dirPath) {
+		// At marker - recurse but don't include as common prefix
+		w.pastMarker = true
+		return w.walkLexSort(path)
+	}
+
+	// Apply prefix filter
+	if w.prefix != "" && !strings.HasPrefix(dirPath, w.prefix) {
+		return w.walkLexSort(path)
+	}
+
+	if w.delimiter != "" {
+		return w.processDirectoryWithDelimiter(path, dirPath)
+	}
+	return w.processDirectoryWithoutDelimiter(path, dirPath, d)
+}
+
+// processDirectoryWithDelimiter handles directory processing when delimiter is specified
+func (w *walkState) processDirectoryWithDelimiter(path, dirPath string) error {
+	// Special case: if the directory path exactly matches the prefix, return it as an object
+	if dirPath == w.prefix {
+		dirobj, err := w.getObj(dirPath, &fakeDirEntry{name: path, isDir: true})
+		switch err {
+		case ErrSkipObj:
+			// Skip but continue to recurse
+		case nil:
+			if w.addObject(dirobj, dirPath) {
+				return nil
+			}
+		default:
+			return fmt.Errorf("directory to object %q: %w", dirPath, err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Handle delimiter logic for directories
+	suffix := strings.TrimPrefix(dirPath, w.prefix)
+	before, _, found := strings.Cut(suffix, w.delimiter)
+
+	if found {
+		// Directory creates a common prefix
+		cprefNoDelim := w.prefix + before
+		cpref := w.prefix + before + w.delimiter
+
+		if w.isBeforeMarker(cpref) {
+			if w.marker != "" && strings.HasPrefix(w.marker, cprefNoDelim) {
+				return w.walkLexSort(path)
+			}
+			return nil
+		}
+
+		if w.isAtMarker(cpref) {
+			w.pastMarker = true
+			return w.walkLexSort(path)
+		}
+
+		// Skip if this common prefix is <= marker (for when pastMarker is already true)
+		if w.marker != "" && cpref <= w.marker {
+			return w.walkLexSort(path)
+		}
+
+		if w.pastMax {
+			w.truncated = true
+			return nil
+		}
+
+		if w.addCommonPrefix(cpref) {
+			return nil
+		}
+	}
+
+	return w.walkLexSort(path)
+}
+
+// processDirectoryWithoutDelimiter handles directory processing when no delimiter is specified
+func (w *walkState) processDirectoryWithoutDelimiter(path, dirPath string, d fs.DirEntry) error {
+	// Include directory as object if it matches prefix
+	if w.prefix == "" || strings.HasPrefix(dirPath, w.prefix) {
+		dirobj, err := w.getObj(dirPath, d)
+		switch err {
+		case ErrSkipObj:
+			// Skip but continue to recurse
+		case nil:
+			if w.addObject(dirobj, dirPath) {
+				return nil
+			}
+		default:
+			return fmt.Errorf("directory to object %q: %w", dirPath, err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	return w.walkLexSort(path)
+}
+
+func (w *walkState) processFile(path string, d fs.DirEntry) error {
+	if w.isBeforeMarker(path) {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	if w.isAtMarker(path) {
+		w.pastMarker = true
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	if w.prefix != "" && !strings.HasPrefix(path, w.prefix) {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	if w.delimiter != "" {
+		return w.processFileWithDelimiter(path, d)
+	}
+	return w.processFileWithoutDelimiter(path, d)
+}
+
+// processFileWithDelimiter handles file processing when delimiter is specified
+func (w *walkState) processFileWithDelimiter(path string, d fs.DirEntry) error {
+	suffix := strings.TrimPrefix(path, w.prefix)
+	before, _, found := strings.Cut(suffix, w.delimiter)
+
+	if !found {
+		// File doesn't contain delimiter after prefix - include it
+		obj, err := w.getObj(path, d)
+		if err == ErrSkipObj {
+			return nil
+		}
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("file to object %q: %w", path, err)
+		}
+		if w.pastMax {
+			w.truncated = true
+			return nil
+		}
+
+		if w.addObject(obj, path) {
+			return nil
+		}
+
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	// File contains delimiter after prefix - add to common prefixes
+	cprefNoDelim := w.prefix + before
+	cpref := w.prefix + before + w.delimiter
+
+	if w.isBeforeMarker(cpref) {
+		if w.marker != "" && strings.HasPrefix(w.marker, cprefNoDelim) {
+			return nil
+		}
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	if w.isAtMarker(cpref) {
+		w.pastMarker = true
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	// Skip if this common prefix is <= marker (for when pastMarker is already true)
+	if w.marker != "" && cpref <= w.marker {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	if w.pastMax {
+		w.truncated = true
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	w.addCommonPrefix(cpref)
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// processFileWithoutDelimiter handles file processing when no delimiter is specified
+func (w *walkState) processFileWithoutDelimiter(path string, d fs.DirEntry) error {
+	obj, err := w.getObj(path, d)
+	if err == ErrSkipObj {
+		return nil
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("file to object %q: %w", path, err)
+	}
+
+	w.addObject(obj, path)
+	return nil
 }
 
 type WalkVersioningResults struct {
@@ -343,7 +639,7 @@ func WalkVersions(ctx context.Context, fileSystem fs.FS, prefix, delimiter, keyM
 
 	pastVersionIdMarker := versionIdMarker == ""
 
-	err := fs.WalkDir(fileSystem, ".", func(path string, d fs.DirEntry, err error) error {
+	err := fs.WalkDir(fileSystem, pathDot, func(path string, d fs.DirEntry, err error) error {
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
@@ -351,10 +647,10 @@ func WalkVersions(ctx context.Context, fileSystem fs.FS, prefix, delimiter, keyM
 			return ctx.Err()
 		}
 		// Ignore the root directory
-		if path == "." {
+		if path == pathDot {
 			return nil
 		}
-		if contains(d.Name(), skipdirs) {
+		if slices.Contains(skipdirs, d.Name()) {
 			return fs.SkipDir
 		}
 
@@ -376,16 +672,16 @@ func WalkVersions(ctx context.Context, fileSystem fs.FS, prefix, delimiter, keyM
 			// building to match. So only skip if path isn't a prefix of prefix
 			// and prefix isn't a prefix of path.
 			if prefix != "" &&
-				!strings.HasPrefix(path+"/", prefix) &&
-				!strings.HasPrefix(prefix, path+"/") {
+				!strings.HasPrefix(path+pathSeparator, prefix) &&
+				!strings.HasPrefix(prefix, path+pathSeparator) {
 				return fs.SkipDir
 			}
 
 			// Don't recurse into subdirectories when listing with delimiter.
-			if delimiter == "/" &&
-				prefix != path+"/" &&
-				strings.HasPrefix(path+"/", prefix) {
-				cpmap.Add(path + "/")
+			if delimiter == pathSeparator &&
+				prefix != path+pathSeparator &&
+				strings.HasPrefix(path+pathSeparator, prefix) {
+				cpmap.Add(path + pathSeparator)
 				return fs.SkipDir
 			}
 
@@ -455,7 +751,7 @@ func WalkVersions(ctx context.Context, fileSystem fs.FS, prefix, delimiter, keyM
 		// these are all rolled up into the common prefix.
 		// Note: The delimiter can be anything, so we have to operate on
 		// the full path without any assumptions on posix directory hierarchy
-		// here.  Usually the delimiter will be "/", but thats not required.
+		// here.  Usually the delimiter will be pathSeparator, but thats not required.
 		suffix := strings.TrimPrefix(path, prefix)
 		before, _, found := strings.Cut(suffix, delimiter)
 		if !found {
diff --git a/backend/walk_test.go b/backend/walk_test.go
index f2f9a492..2314aa30 100644
--- a/backend/walk_test.go
+++ b/backend/walk_test.go
@@ -112,6 +112,22 @@ func TestWalk(t *testing.T) {
 						}},
 					},
 				},
+				{
+					name:      "max objs",
+					delimiter: "/",
+					prefix:    "photos/2006/February/",
+					maxObjs:   2,
+					expected: backend.WalkResults{
+						Objects: []s3response.Object{
+							{
+								Key: backend.GetPtrFromString("photos/2006/February/sample2.jpg"),
+							},
+							{
+								Key: backend.GetPtrFromString("photos/2006/February/sample3.jpg"),
+							},
+						},
+					},
+				},
 			},
 		},
 		{
@@ -226,7 +242,7 @@ func TestWalk(t *testing.T) {
 				tt.fsys, tc.prefix, tc.delimiter, tc.marker, tc.maxObjs,
 				tt.getobj, []string{})
 			if err != nil {
-				t.Errorf("tc.name: walk: %v", err)
+				t.Errorf("%v: walk: %v", tc.name, err)
 			}
 
 			compareResults(tc.name, res, tc.expected, t)
@@ -376,3 +392,412 @@ func TestWalkStop(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
 }
+
+// TestOrderWalk tests the lexicographic ordering of the object names
+// for the case where readdir sort order of a directory is different
+// than the lexicographic ordering of the full paths. The below has
+// a readdir sort order for dir1/:
+// a, a.b
+// but if you consider the character that comes after a is "/", then
+// the "." should come before "/" in the lexicographic ordering:
+// a.b/, a/
+func TestOrderWalk(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []walkTest{
+		{
+			fsys: fstest.MapFS{
+				"dir1/a/file1":   {},
+				"dir1/a/file2":   {},
+				"dir1/a/file3":   {},
+				"dir1/a.b/file1": {},
+				"dir1/a.b/file2": {},
+			},
+			getobj: getObj,
+			cases: []testcase{
+				{
+					name:    "order test",
+					maxObjs: 1000,
+					prefix:  "dir1/",
+					expected: backend.WalkResults{
+						Objects: []s3response.Object{
+							{
+								Key: backend.GetPtrFromString("dir1/"),
+							},
+							{
+								Key: backend.GetPtrFromString("dir1/a.b/"),
+							},
+							{
+								Key: backend.GetPtrFromString("dir1/a.b/file1"),
+							},
+							{
+								Key: backend.GetPtrFromString("dir1/a.b/file2"),
+							},
+							{
+								Key: backend.GetPtrFromString("dir1/a/"),
+							},
+							{
+								Key: backend.GetPtrFromString("dir1/a/file1"),
+							},
+							{
+								Key: backend.GetPtrFromString("dir1/a/file2"),
+							},
+							{
+								Key: backend.GetPtrFromString("dir1/a/file3"),
+							},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			fsys: fstest.MapFS{
+				"dir|1/a/file1":   {},
+				"dir|1/a/file2":   {},
+				"dir|1/a/file3":   {},
+				"dir|1/a.b/file1": {},
+				"dir|1/a.b/file2": {},
+			},
+			getobj: getObj,
+			cases: []testcase{
+				{
+					name:      "order test delim",
+					maxObjs:   1000,
+					delimiter: "|",
+					prefix:    "dir|",
+					expected: backend.WalkResults{
+						Objects: []s3response.Object{
+							{
+								Key: backend.GetPtrFromString("dir|1/a.b/file1"),
+							},
+							{
+								Key: backend.GetPtrFromString("dir|1/a.b/file2"),
+							},
+							{
+								Key: backend.GetPtrFromString("dir|1/a/file1"),
+							},
+							{
+								Key: backend.GetPtrFromString("dir|1/a/file2"),
+							},
+							{
+								Key: backend.GetPtrFromString("dir|1/a/file3"),
+							},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			fsys: fstest.MapFS{
+				"a": &fstest.MapFile{Mode: fs.ModeDir},
+			},
+			getobj: getObj,
+			cases: []testcase{
+				{
+					name:      "single dir obj",
+					maxObjs:   1000,
+					delimiter: "/",
+					prefix:    "a",
+					expected: backend.WalkResults{
+						CommonPrefixes: []types.CommonPrefix{
+							{
+								Prefix: backend.GetPtrFromString("a/"),
+							},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+				{
+					name:      "single dir obj",
+					maxObjs:   1000,
+					delimiter: "/",
+					prefix:    "a/",
+					expected: backend.WalkResults{
+						Objects: []s3response.Object{
+							{
+								Key: backend.GetPtrFromString("a/"),
+							},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		for _, tc := range tt.cases {
+			res, err := backend.Walk(context.Background(),
+				tt.fsys, tc.prefix, tc.delimiter, tc.marker, tc.maxObjs,
+				tt.getobj, []string{})
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Errorf("%v: walk: %v", tc.name, err)
+			}
+
+			compareResultsOrdered(tc.name, res, tc.expected, t)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+type markerTest struct {
+	fsys   fs.FS
+	getobj backend.GetObjFunc
+	cases  []markertestcase
+}
+
+type markertestcase struct {
+	name      string
+	prefix    string
+	delimiter string
+	marker    string
+	maxObjs   int32
+	expected  []backend.WalkResults
+}
+
+func TestMarker(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []markerTest{
+		{
+			fsys: fstest.MapFS{
+				"dir/sample2.jpg": {},
+				"dir/sample3.jpg": {},
+				"dir/sample4.jpg": {},
+				"dir/sample5.jpg": {},
+			},
+			getobj: getObj,
+			cases: []markertestcase{
+				{
+					name:      "multi page marker",
+					delimiter: "/",
+					prefix:    "dir/",
+					maxObjs:   2,
+					expected: []backend.WalkResults{
+						{
+							Objects: []s3response.Object{
+								{
+									Key: backend.GetPtrFromString("dir/sample2.jpg"),
+								},
+								{
+									Key: backend.GetPtrFromString("dir/sample3.jpg"),
+								},
+							},
+							Truncated: true,
+						},
+						{
+							Objects: []s3response.Object{
+								{
+									Key: backend.GetPtrFromString("dir/sample4.jpg"),
+								},
+								{
+									Key: backend.GetPtrFromString("dir/sample5.jpg"),
+								},
+							},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			fsys: fstest.MapFS{
+				"dir1/subdir/file.txt": {},
+				"dir1/subdir.ext":      {},
+				"dir1/subdir1.ext":     {},
+				"dir1/subdir2.ext":     {},
+			},
+			getobj: getObj,
+			cases: []markertestcase{
+				{
+					name:      "integration test case 1",
+					maxObjs:   2,
+					delimiter: "/",
+					prefix:    "dir1/",
+					expected: []backend.WalkResults{
+						{
+							Objects: []s3response.Object{
+								{
+									Key: backend.GetPtrFromString("dir1/subdir.ext"),
+								},
+							},
+							CommonPrefixes: []types.CommonPrefix{
+								{
+									Prefix: backend.GetPtrFromString("dir1/subdir/"),
+								},
+							},
+							Truncated: true,
+						},
+						{
+							Objects: []s3response.Object{
+								{
+									Key: backend.GetPtrFromString("dir1/subdir1.ext"),
+								},
+								{
+									Key: backend.GetPtrFromString("dir1/subdir2.ext"),
+								},
+							},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			fsys: fstest.MapFS{
+				"asdf":          {},
+				"boo/bar":       {},
+				"boo/baz/xyzzy": {},
+				"cquux/thud":    {},
+				"cquux/bla":     {},
+			},
+			getobj: getObj,
+			cases: []markertestcase{
+				{
+					name:      "integration test case2",
+					maxObjs:   1,
+					delimiter: "/",
+					marker:    "boo/",
+					expected: []backend.WalkResults{
+						{
+							Objects: []s3response.Object{},
+							CommonPrefixes: []types.CommonPrefix{
+								{
+									Prefix: backend.GetPtrFromString("cquux/"),
+								},
+							},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			fsys: fstest.MapFS{
+				"bar": {},
+				"baz": {},
+				"foo": {},
+			},
+			getobj: getObj,
+			cases: []markertestcase{
+				{
+					name:    "exact limit count",
+					maxObjs: 3,
+					expected: []backend.WalkResults{
+						{
+							Objects: []s3response.Object{
+								{
+									Key: backend.GetPtrFromString("bar"),
+								},
+								{
+									Key: backend.GetPtrFromString("baz"),
+								},
+								{
+									Key: backend.GetPtrFromString("foo"),
+								},
+							},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			fsys: fstest.MapFS{
+				"d1/f1": {},
+				"d2/f2": {},
+				"d3/f3": {},
+				"d4/f4": {},
+			},
+			getobj: getObj,
+			cases: []markertestcase{
+				{
+					name:      "limited common prefix",
+					maxObjs:   3,
+					delimiter: "/",
+					expected: []backend.WalkResults{
+						{
+							CommonPrefixes: []types.CommonPrefix{
+								{
+									Prefix: backend.GetPtrFromString("d1/"),
+								},
+								{
+									Prefix: backend.GetPtrFromString("d2/"),
+								},
+								{
+									Prefix: backend.GetPtrFromString("d3/"),
+								},
+							},
+							Truncated: true,
+						},
+						{
+							CommonPrefixes: []types.CommonPrefix{
+								{
+									Prefix: backend.GetPtrFromString("d4/"),
+								},
+							},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		for _, tc := range tt.cases {
+			marker := tc.marker
+			for i, page := range tc.expected {
+				res, err := backend.Walk(context.Background(),
+					tt.fsys, tc.prefix, tc.delimiter, marker, tc.maxObjs,
+					tt.getobj, []string{})
+				if err != nil {
+					t.Errorf("%v: walk: %v", tc.name, err)
+				}
+				marker = res.NextMarker
+
+				compareResultsOrdered(tc.name, res, page, t)
+
+				if res.Truncated != page.Truncated {
+					t.Errorf("%v page %v expected truncated %v, got %v",
+						tc.name, i, page.Truncated, res.Truncated)
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func compareResultsOrdered(name string, got, wanted backend.WalkResults, t *testing.T) {
+	if !compareObjectsOrdered(got.Objects, wanted.Objects) {
+		t.Errorf("%v: unexpected object, got %v wanted %v",
+			name,
+			printObjects(got.Objects),
+			printObjects(wanted.Objects))
+	}
+	if !comparePrefixesOrdered(got.CommonPrefixes, wanted.CommonPrefixes) {
+		t.Errorf("%v: unexpected prefix, got %v wanted %v",
+			name,
+			printCommonPrefixes(got.CommonPrefixes),
+			printCommonPrefixes(wanted.CommonPrefixes))
+	}
+}
+
+func compareObjectsOrdered(a, b []s3response.Object) bool {
+	if len(a) == 0 && len(b) == 0 {
+		return true
+	}
+	if len(a) != len(b) {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	for i, obj := range a {
+		if *obj.Key != *b[i].Key {
+			return false
+		}
+	}
+	return true
+}
+
+func comparePrefixesOrdered(a, b []types.CommonPrefix) bool {
+	if len(a) == 0 && len(b) == 0 {
+		return true
+	}
+	if len(a) != len(b) {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	for i, cp := range a {
+		if *cp.Prefix != *b[i].Prefix {
+			return false
+		}
+	}
+	return true
+}
diff --git a/tests/integration/tests.go b/tests/integration/tests.go
index d55ec6af..abf632e4 100644
--- a/tests/integration/tests.go
+++ b/tests/integration/tests.go
@@ -1459,7 +1459,7 @@ func CreateBucket_existing_bucket(s *S3Conf) error {
 
 	err = teardown(s, bucket)
 	if err != nil {
-		failF("%v: %v", err)
+		failF("%v: %v", testName, err)
 		return fmt.Errorf("%v: %w", testName, err)
 	}
 	passF(testName)
@@ -1567,7 +1567,7 @@ func CreateBucket_non_default_acl(s *S3Conf) error {
 		{"grt3", "grt3secret", "user"},
 	})
 	if err != nil {
-		failF("%v: %v", err)
+		failF("%v: %v", testName, err)
 		return fmt.Errorf("%v: %w", testName, err)
 	}
 
@@ -1615,7 +1615,7 @@ func CreateBucket_non_default_acl(s *S3Conf) error {
 	})
 	cancel()
 	if err != nil {
-		failF("%v: %v", err)
+		failF("%v: %v", testName, err)
 		return fmt.Errorf("%v: %w", testName, err)
 	}
 
@@ -1634,7 +1634,7 @@ func CreateBucket_non_default_acl(s *S3Conf) error {
 
 	err = teardown(s, bucket)
 	if err != nil {
-		failF("%v: %v", err)
+		failF("%v: %v", testName, err)
 		return fmt.Errorf("%v: %w", testName, err)
 	}
 
@@ -1658,7 +1658,7 @@ func CreateBucket_default_object_lock(s *S3Conf) error {
 	})
 	cancel()
 	if err != nil {
-		failF("%v: %v", err)
+		failF("%v: %v", testName, err)
 		return fmt.Errorf("%v: %w", testName, err)
 	}
 
@@ -1668,7 +1668,7 @@ func CreateBucket_default_object_lock(s *S3Conf) error {
 	})
 	cancel()
 	if err != nil {
-		failF("%v: %v", err)
+		failF("%v: %v", testName, err)
 		return fmt.Errorf("%v: %w", testName, err)
 	}
 
@@ -1679,7 +1679,7 @@ func CreateBucket_default_object_lock(s *S3Conf) error {
 
 	err = teardown(s, bucket)
 	if err != nil {
-		failF("%v: %v", err)
+		failF("%v: %v", testName, err)
 		return fmt.Errorf("%v: %w", testName, err)
 	}
 
@@ -1909,7 +1909,7 @@ func ListBuckets_as_admin(s *S3Conf) error {
 		}
 		if !compareBuckets(out.Buckets, buckets) {
 			return fmt.Errorf("expected list buckets result to be %v, instead got %v",
-				buckets, out.Buckets)
+				sprintBuckets(buckets), sprintBuckets(out.Buckets))
 		}
 
 		for _, elem := range buckets[1:] {
@@ -2047,7 +2047,7 @@ func ListBuckets_truncated(s *S3Conf) error {
 		}
 		if !compareBuckets(out.Buckets, buckets[:maxBuckets]) {
 			return fmt.Errorf("expected list buckets result to be %v, instead got %v",
-				buckets[:maxBuckets], out.Buckets)
+				sprintBuckets(buckets[:maxBuckets]), sprintBuckets(out.Buckets))
 		}
 		if getString(out.ContinuationToken) != getString(buckets[maxBuckets-1].Name) {
 			return fmt.Errorf("expected ContinuationToken to be %v, instead got %v",
@@ -2065,7 +2065,7 @@ func ListBuckets_truncated(s *S3Conf) error {
 
 		if !compareBuckets(out.Buckets, buckets[maxBuckets:]) {
 			return fmt.Errorf("expected list buckets result to be %v, instead got %v",
-				buckets[maxBuckets:], out.Buckets)
+				sprintBuckets(buckets[:maxBuckets]), sprintBuckets(out.Buckets))
 		}
 		if out.ContinuationToken != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("expected nil continuation token, instead got %v",
@@ -2098,7 +2098,7 @@ func ListBuckets_empty_success(s *S3Conf) error {
 
 		if len(out.Buckets) > 0 {
 			return fmt.Errorf("expected list buckets result to be %v, instead got %v",
-				[]types.Bucket{}, out.Buckets)
+				[]types.Bucket{}, sprintBuckets(out.Buckets))
 		}
 
 		return nil
@@ -2136,7 +2136,7 @@ func ListBuckets_success(s *S3Conf) error {
 		}
 		if !compareBuckets(out.Buckets, buckets) {
 			return fmt.Errorf("expected list buckets result to be %v, instead got %v",
-				buckets, out.Buckets)
+				sprintBuckets(buckets), sprintBuckets(out.Buckets))
 		}
 
 		for _, elem := range buckets[1:] {
@@ -2157,14 +2157,14 @@ func CreateDeleteBucket_success(s *S3Conf) error {
 
 	err := setup(s, bucket)
 	if err != nil {
-		failF("%v: %v", err)
+		failF("%v: %v", testName, err)
 		return fmt.Errorf("%v: %w", testName, err)
 
 	}
 
 	err = teardown(s, bucket)
 	if err != nil {
-		failF("%v: %v", err)
+		failF("%v: %v", testName, err)
 		return fmt.Errorf("%v: %w", testName, err)
 	}
 
@@ -3018,13 +3018,13 @@ func PutObject_with_object_lock(s *S3Conf) error {
 	}
 
 	if err := changeBucketObjectLockStatus(client, bucket, false); err != nil {
-		failF("%v: %v", err)
+		failF("%v: %v", testName, err)
 		return fmt.Errorf("%v: %w", testName, err)
 	}
 
 	err = teardown(s, bucket)
 	if err != nil {
-		failF("%v: %v", err)
+		failF("%v: %v", testName, err)
 		return fmt.Errorf("%v: %w", testName, err)
 	}
 
@@ -3480,7 +3480,7 @@ func PutObject_racey_success(s *S3Conf) error {
 
 	err = teardown(s, bucket)
 	if err != nil {
-		failF("%v: %v", err)
+		failF("%v: %v", testName, err)
 		return fmt.Errorf("%v: %w", testName, err)
 	}
 
@@ -6161,7 +6161,7 @@ func ListObjects_non_truncated_common_prefixes(s *S3Conf) error {
 		cPrefs := []string{"cquux/"}
 		if !comparePrefixes(cPrefs, res.CommonPrefixes) {
 			return fmt.Errorf("expected common prefixes to be %v, instead got %+v",
-				cPrefs, res.CommonPrefixes)
+				cPrefs, sprintPrefixes(res.CommonPrefixes))
 		}
 
 		return nil
@@ -6438,7 +6438,8 @@ func ListObjectsV2_truncated_common_prefixes(s *S3Conf) error {
 		}
 
 		if !comparePrefixes([]string{"d1/", "d2/", "d3/"}, out.CommonPrefixes) {
-			return fmt.Errorf("expected the common prefixes to be %v, instead got %v", []string{"d1/", "d2/", "d3/"}, out.CommonPrefixes)
+			return fmt.Errorf("expected the common prefixes to be %v, instead got %v",
+				[]string{"d1/", "d2/", "d3/"}, sprintPrefixes(out.CommonPrefixes))
 		}
 
 		if out.MaxKeys == nil {
@@ -6466,7 +6467,7 @@ func ListObjectsV2_truncated_common_prefixes(s *S3Conf) error {
 
 		if !comparePrefixes([]string{"d4/"}, out.CommonPrefixes) {
 			return fmt.Errorf("expected the common prefixes to be %v, instead got %v",
-				[]string{"d4/"}, out.CommonPrefixes)
+				[]string{"d4/"}, sprintPrefixes(out.CommonPrefixes))
 		}
 		if getString(out.Delimiter) != delim {
 			return fmt.Errorf("expected the delimiter to be %v, instead got %v",
@@ -6523,7 +6524,7 @@ func ListObjectsV2_non_truncated_common_prefixes(s *S3Conf) error {
 		cPrefs := []string{"cquux/"}
 		if !comparePrefixes(cPrefs, res.CommonPrefixes) {
 			return fmt.Errorf("expected common prefixes to be %v, instead got %+v",
-				cPrefs, res.CommonPrefixes)
+				cPrefs, sprintPrefixes(res.CommonPrefixes))
 		}
 
 		return nil
diff --git a/tests/integration/utils.go b/tests/integration/utils.go
index 7ad0677c..b4e61e03 100644
--- a/tests/integration/utils.go
+++ b/tests/integration/utils.go
@@ -1813,3 +1813,29 @@ func calculateEtag(data []byte) (string, error) {
 	dataSum := h.Sum(nil)
 	return fmt.Sprintf("\"%s\"", hex.EncodeToString(dataSum[:])), nil
 }
+
+func sprintBuckets(buckets []types.Bucket) string {
+	if len(buckets) == 0 {
+		return ""
+	}
+
+	names := make([]string, len(buckets))
+	for i, bucket := range buckets {
+		names[i] = *bucket.Name
+	}
+
+	return strings.Join(names, ",")
+}
+
+func sprintPrefixes(cpfx []types.CommonPrefix) string {
+	if len(cpfx) == 0 {
+		return ""
+	}
+
+	names := make([]string, len(cpfx))
+	for i, pfx := range cpfx {
+		names[i] = *pfx.Prefix
+	}
+
+	return strings.Join(names, ",")
+}