diff --git a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/course.py b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/course.py
index ed0787833881..487faf13adcf 100644
--- a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/course.py
+++ b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/course.py
@@ -621,9 +621,7 @@ def get_courses_order_by(order_query, course_overviews):
         order_query (str): any string used to order Course Overviews.
         course_overviews (Course Overview objects): queryset to be ordered.
     """
-    if not course_overviews:
-        return []
-    if not order_query:
+    if not (order_query and course_overviews):
         return course_overviews
     try:
         return course_overviews.order_by(order_query)