A method of sorting articles by means of a sorting system comprising N sorting machines (M1, MN) operating in parallel, in which method the articles are divided into N groups (G1, GN) of articles to be processed in parallel on the N sorting machines, at least one of the N groups of articles is subdivided into sub-groups of articles (G1.1, G1.N-1), and, if it is detected that one of the N machines is being rested, then the method comprises the steps of: feeding the N−1 other sorting machines with the sub-groups of articles from said subdivided group of articles and sorting these sub-groups of articles in parallel on the N−1 other sorting machines; and feeding the N−1 other sorting machines with the N−1 other groups of articles and sorting these N−1 groups of articles in parallel on said N−1 other sorting machines.