diff --git a/src/mbyte.c b/src/mbyte.c
index ee2834c..2d18a27 100644
--- a/src/mbyte.c
+++ b/src/mbyte.c
@@ -5613,7 +5613,8 @@
     listitem_T *li1 = *(listitem_T **)a1;
     listitem_T *li2 = *(listitem_T **)a2;
 
-    return li1->li_tv.vval.v_number - li2->li_tv.vval.v_number;
+    return li1->li_tv.vval.v_number == li2->li_tv.vval.v_number ? 0 :
+	li1->li_tv.vval.v_number > li2->li_tv.vval.v_number ? 1 : -1;
 }
 
     void