diff --git a/cps/admin.py b/cps/admin.py
index 935aee45..10f9a5b4 100644
--- a/cps/admin.py
+++ b/cps/admin.py
@@ -246,14 +246,15 @@ def list_users():
     limit = int(request.args.get("limit") or 10)
     search = request.args.get("search")
     sort = request.args.get("sort", "state")
-    order = request.args.get("order")
+    order = request.args.get("order", "").lower()
     state = None
+    if sort == "state":
+        state = json.loads(request.args.get("state"))
+
     if sort != "state" and order:
         order = text(sort + " " + order)
-    else:
+    elif not state:
         order = ub.User.name.desc()
-    if sort == "state":
-        state = json.loads(request.args.get("state"))
 
     all_user = ub.session.query(ub.User)
     if not config.config_anonbrowse:
@@ -266,16 +267,7 @@ def list_users():
                                     func.lower(ub.User.kindle_mail).ilike("%" + search + "%"),
                                     func.lower(ub.User.email).ilike("%" + search + "%")))
     if state:
-        outcome = list()
-        userlist = {user.id:user for user in all_user.all()}
-        for entry in state:
-            outcome.append(userlist[entry])
-            del userlist[entry]
-        for entry in userlist:
-            outcome.append(userlist[entry])
-        if request.args.get("order", "").lower() == "asc":
-            outcome.reverse()
-        users = outcome[off:off + limit]
+        users = calibre_db.get_checkbox_sorted(all_user.all(), state, off, limit, request.args.get("order", "").lower())
     else:
         users = all_user.order_by(order).offset(off).limit(limit).all()
     if search:
diff --git a/cps/db.py b/cps/db.py
index 51aeeca1..0d7055a4 100644
--- a/cps/db.py
+++ b/cps/db.py
@@ -616,6 +616,19 @@ class CalibreDB():
         return and_(lang_filter, pos_content_tags_filter, ~neg_content_tags_filter,
                     pos_content_cc_filter, ~neg_content_cc_filter, archived_filter)
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def get_checkbox_sorted(inputlist, state, offset, limit, order):
+        outcome = list()
+        elementlist = {ele.id: ele for ele in inputlist}
+        for entry in state:
+            outcome.append(elementlist[entry])
+            del elementlist[entry]
+        for entry in elementlist:
+            outcome.append(elementlist[entry])
+        if order == "asc":
+            outcome.reverse()
+        return outcome[offset:offset + limit]
+
     # Fill indexpage with all requested data from database
     def fill_indexpage(self, page, pagesize, database, db_filter, order, *join):
         return self.fill_indexpage_with_archived_books(page, pagesize, database, db_filter, order, False, *join)
diff --git a/cps/web.py b/cps/web.py
index a8c7b71a..528e285a 100644
--- a/cps/web.py
+++ b/cps/web.py
@@ -757,33 +757,26 @@ def list_books():
     limit = int(request.args.get("limit") or config.config_books_per_page)
     search = request.args.get("search")
     sort = request.args.get("sort", "state")
-    order = request.args.get("order")
+    order = request.args.get("order", "").lower()
     state = None
+
+    if sort == "state":
+        state = json.loads(request.args.get("state"))
+
     if sort != "state" and order:
         order = [text(sort + " " + order)]
-    else:
+    elif not state:
         order = [db.Books.timestamp.desc()]
-    if sort == "state":
-        state = json.loads(request.args.get("state"))
 
     total_count = filtered_count = calibre_db.session.query(db.Books).count()
 
     if state:
-        outcome = list()
         if search:
             books = calibre_db.search_query(search)
             filtered_count = len(books)
         else:
             books = calibre_db.session.query(db.Books).filter(calibre_db.common_filters()).all()
-        booklist = {book.id: book for book in books}
-        for entry in state:
-            outcome.append(booklist[entry])
-            del booklist[entry]
-        for entry in booklist:
-            outcome.append(booklist[entry])
-        if request.args.get("order", "").lower() == "asc":
-            outcome.reverse()
-        entries = outcome[off:off + limit]
+        entries = calibre_db.get_checkbox_sorted(books, state, off, limit,order)
     elif search:
         entries, filtered_count, __ = calibre_db.get_search_results(search, off, order, limit)
     else: