diff --git a/pybossa/cache/projects.py b/pybossa/cache/projects.py
index 9e1aeb7d67..0d1183374e 100644
--- a/pybossa/cache/projects.py
+++ b/pybossa/cache/projects.py
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ def search_lock_status_sorting_result():
             # if not sort by lock_status or locked_tasks_in_project is empty/None,
             # sort by the column "order_by"
             order_by =  args.get('order_by')
-            sql_order_by = 'id ASC' if not (locked_tasks_in_project and order_by) else order_by
+            sql_order_by = order_by if not locked_tasks_in_project and order_by else 'id ASC'
             sql_query = sql + sql_order.format(sql_order_by) + sql_limit_offset
 
             results = session.execute(text(sql_query), params)