diff --git a/ng-table.src.js b/ng-table.src.js
index 12cddab4..46babfc5 100644
--- a/ng-table.src.js
+++ b/ng-table.src.js
@@ -494,7 +494,7 @@ var ngTableController = ['$scope', 'ngTableParams', '$q', function ($scope, ngTa
         if (!parsedSortable) {
             return;
         }
-        var defaultSort = $scope.params.$params.defaultSort;
+        var defaultSort = $scope.params.settings().defaultSort;
         var inverseSort = (defaultSort === 'asc' ? 'desc' : 'asc');
         var sorting = $scope.params.sorting() && $scope.params.sorting()[parsedSortable] && ($scope.params.sorting()[parsedSortable] === defaultSort);
         var sortingParams = event.ctrlKey ? $scope.params.sorting() : {};