diff --git a/swift/proxy/controllers/obj.py b/swift/proxy/controllers/obj.py
index b91e2fe7d6..16d864ded7 100644
--- a/swift/proxy/controllers/obj.py
+++ b/swift/proxy/controllers/obj.py
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ class ObjectController(Controller):
             lreq.environ['QUERY_STRING'] = \
                 'format=json&prefix=%s&marker=%s' % (quote(lprefix),
                                                      quote(marker))
-            nodes = self.app.sort_nodes(lnodes)
+            lnodes = self.app.sort_nodes(lnodes)
             lresp = self.GETorHEAD_base(
                 lreq, _('Container'), lpartition, lnodes, lreq.path_info,
                 len(lnodes))