diff --git a/lib/active_admin/resource_controller/data_access.rb b/lib/active_admin/resource_controller/data_access.rb
index 5ba895efdca..6ed75a7a357 100644
--- a/lib/active_admin/resource_controller/data_access.rb
+++ b/lib/active_admin/resource_controller/data_access.rb
@@ -217,7 +217,9 @@ def apply_authorization_scope(collection)
 
       def apply_sorting(chain)
         params[:order] ||= active_admin_config.sort_order
-        if params[:order] && params[:order] =~ /^([\w\_\.]+)_(desc|asc)$/
+        if params[:order] && chain.respond_to?("sort_by_#{params[:order]}")
+          chain.send("sort_by_#{params[:order]}")
+        elsif params[:order] && params[:order] =~ /^([\w\_\.]+)_(desc|asc)$/
           column = $1
           order  = $2
           table  = active_admin_config.resource_column_names.include?(column) ? active_admin_config.resource_table_name : nil
diff --git a/spec/unit/resource_controller/data_access_spec.rb b/spec/unit/resource_controller/data_access_spec.rb
index bb5fdd1a4e9..4446dc695a7 100644
--- a/spec/unit/resource_controller/data_access_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/unit/resource_controller/data_access_spec.rb
@@ -43,6 +43,23 @@
       end
     end
 
+    context "for custom sorting methods" do
+      let(:params){ {:order => "custom_field_asc" }}
+      context "when the methods exist on the model" do
+        it "should call the model's sort methods" do
+          chain = mock("ChainObj", sort_by_custom_field_asc: :sorted)
+          controller.send(:apply_sorting, chain).should == :sorted
+        end
+      end
+
+      context "when the methods do not exist on the model" do
+        it "should call reorder" do
+          chain = mock("ChainObj")
+          chain.should_receive(:reorder).once
+          controller.send :apply_sorting, chain
+        end
+      end
+    end
   end
 
   describe "scoping" do