diff --git a/invenio_communities/communities/services/sort.py b/invenio_communities/communities/services/sort.py
index 00f2f234e..d936d2c48 100644
--- a/invenio_communities/communities/services/sort.py
+++ b/invenio_communities/communities/services/sort.py
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ def apply(self, identity, search, params):
 
         if current_app.config["COMMUNITIES_SEARCH_SORT_BY_VERIFIED"]:
             fields = self._compute_sort_fields(params)
-            fields.insert(0, "-is_verified")
-            return search.sort(*fields)
+            return search.sort(*["-is_verified", *fields])
 
         return super(CommunitiesSortParam, self).apply(identity, search, params)