diff --git a/cake/libs/view/helpers/paginator.php b/cake/libs/view/helpers/paginator.php
index 2c8268ea868..7c4121e5e05 100644
--- a/cake/libs/view/helpers/paginator.php
+++ b/cake/libs/view/helpers/paginator.php
@@ -194,18 +194,10 @@ function sortKey($model = null, $options = array()) {
 		}
 
 		if (isset($options['sort']) && !empty($options['sort'])) {
-			if (preg_match('/(?:\w+\.)?(\w+)/', $options['sort'], $result) && isset($result[1])) {
-				if ($result[0] == $this->defaultModel()) {
-					return $result[1];
-				}
-			}
 			return $options['sort'];
 		} elseif (isset($options['order']) && is_array($options['order'])) {
 			return key($options['order']);
 		} elseif (isset($options['order']) && is_string($options['order'])) {
-			if (preg_match('/(?:\w+\.)?(\w+)/', $options['order'], $result) && isset($result[1])) {
-				return $result[1];
-			}
 			return $options['order'];
 		}
 		return null;