diff --git a/src/ex_cmds.c b/src/ex_cmds.c
index e7f689b..720e918 100644
--- a/src/ex_cmds.c
+++ b/src/ex_cmds.c
@@ -323,7 +323,7 @@
     if (sort_nr)
     {
 	if (l1.st_u.num.is_number != l2.st_u.num.is_number)
-	    result = l1.st_u.num.is_number - l2.st_u.num.is_number;
+	    result = l1.st_u.num.is_number > l2.st_u.num.is_number ? 1 : -1;
 	else
 	    result = l1.st_u.num.value == l2.st_u.num.value ? 0
 			     : l1.st_u.num.value > l2.st_u.num.value ? 1 : -1;