diff --git a/heatclient/common/utils.py b/heatclient/common/utils.py
index 7a94598e..59a19c7b 100644
--- a/heatclient/common/utils.py
+++ b/heatclient/common/utils.py
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ def newline_list_formatter(r):
     return '\n'.join(r or [])
 
 
-def print_list(objs, fields, field_labels=None, formatters={}, sortby=0):
+def print_list(objs, fields, field_labels=None, formatters={}, sortby=None):
     field_labels = field_labels or fields
     pt = prettytable.PrettyTable([f for f in field_labels],
                                  caching=False, print_empty=False)
@@ -66,7 +66,10 @@ def print_list(objs, fields, field_labels=None, formatters={}, sortby=0):
                 data = getattr(o, field, None) or ''
                 row.append(data)
         pt.add_row(row)
-    print pt.get_string(sortby=field_labels[sortby])
+    if sortby is None:
+        print pt.get_string()
+    else:
+        print pt.get_string(sortby=field_labels[sortby])
 
 
 def print_dict(d, formatters={}):
diff --git a/heatclient/v1/shell.py b/heatclient/v1/shell.py
index 93ef0ea3..22cae5e0 100644
--- a/heatclient/v1/shell.py
+++ b/heatclient/v1/shell.py
@@ -400,7 +400,7 @@ def do_event_list(hc, args):
     else:
         fields = ['logical_resource_id', 'id', 'resource_status_reason',
                   'resource_status', 'event_time']
-        utils.print_list(events, fields, sortby=4)
+        utils.print_list(events, fields)
 
 
 @utils.arg('id', metavar='<NAME or ID>',