diff --git a/manic/sourcetree.py b/manic/sourcetree.py
index 65d6e2f11..d22de7768 100644
--- a/manic/sourcetree.py
+++ b/manic/sourcetree.py
@@ -336,8 +336,9 @@ def checkout(self, verbosity, load_all, load_comp=None):
             tmp_comps = [load_comp]
         else:
             tmp_comps = self._required_compnames
-
-        load_comps = self.order_comps_by_local_path(tmp_comps)
+        # Sort by path so that if paths are nested the
+        # parent repo is checked out first.
+        load_comps = sorted(tmp_comps,key=lambda comp: self._all_components[comp].get_local_path())
         # checkout the primary externals
         for comp in load_comps:
             if verbosity < VERBOSITY_VERBOSE:
@@ -347,23 +348,6 @@ def checkout(self, verbosity, load_all, load_comp=None):
                 # output a newline
                 printlog(EMPTY_STR)
             self._all_components[comp].checkout(verbosity, load_all)
-        printlog('')
-
-        # now give each external an opportunitity to checkout it's externals.
-        for comp in load_comps:
+            # now give each external an opportunitity to checkout it's externals.
             self._all_components[comp].checkout_externals(verbosity, load_all)
-
-    def order_comps_by_local_path(self, comps_in):
-        """
-        put the comps into an order so that comp local_paths
-        that are nested are checked out in correct order
-        """
-        comps_out = []
-        local_paths = []
-        for comp in comps_in:
-            local_paths.append(self._all_components[comp].get_local_path())
-        for path in sorted(local_paths, key=len):
-            for comp in comps_in:
-                if self._all_components[comp].get_local_path() == path:
-                    comps_out.append(comp)
-        return comps_out
+        printlog('')