diff --git a/mod/assignment/lib.php b/mod/assignment/lib.php
index 100a3d23861..672d83a4c2a 100644
--- a/mod/assignment/lib.php
+++ b/mod/assignment/lib.php
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ function assignment_log_info($log) {
                               AND u.id = '$log->userid'");
 }
 
-function assignment_get_all_submissions($assignment, $sort="timemodified", $dir="DESC") {
+function assignment_get_all_submissions($assignment, $sort="", $dir="DESC") {
 /// Return all assignment submissions by ENROLLED students
     global $CFG;
 
diff --git a/mod/assignment/submissions.php b/mod/assignment/submissions.php
index 132bd36093f..57e1d45c6bf 100644
--- a/mod/assignment/submissions.php
+++ b/mod/assignment/submissions.php
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
     require_once("lib.php");
 
     require_variable($id);    // Assignment
+    optional_variable($sort, ""); 
 
     if (! $assignment = get_record("assignment", "id", $id)) {
         error("Course module is incorrect");