diff --git a/lib/adminlib.php b/lib/adminlib.php
index cbf960b4b5e76..659b55a237299 100644
--- a/lib/adminlib.php
+++ b/lib/adminlib.php
@@ -3233,7 +3233,7 @@ function load_choices() {
         if (is_array($this->choices)) {
             return true;
         }
-        if ($roles = $DB->get_records('role')) {
+        if ($roles = $DB->get_records('role',null,'sortorder')) {
             $this->choices = array();
             foreach($roles as $role) {
                 $this->choices[$role->id] = format_string($role->name);