diff --git a/CRM/Contact/BAO/Query.php b/CRM/Contact/BAO/Query.php
index 7999d1e841f4..d7e47b65203b 100644
--- a/CRM/Contact/BAO/Query.php
+++ b/CRM/Contact/BAO/Query.php
@@ -6224,7 +6224,7 @@ protected function prepareOrderBy($sort, $sortByChar, $sortOrder, $additionalFro
       $order = CRM_Utils_Type::escape($order, 'MysqlOrderBy');
       return array(' ORDER BY ' . $order, $additionalFromClause);
     }
-    return array(' ORDER BY ' . $order, $additionalFromClause);
+    return array($order, $additionalFromClause);
   }
 
   /**