diff --git a/sql/catalyst/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/expressions/codegen/GenerateOrdering.scala b/sql/catalyst/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/expressions/codegen/GenerateOrdering.scala
index 5635c91830f4..d6e3e0060b09 100644
--- a/sql/catalyst/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/expressions/codegen/GenerateOrdering.scala
+++ b/sql/catalyst/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/expressions/codegen/GenerateOrdering.scala
@@ -154,12 +154,14 @@ class LazilyGeneratedOrdering(val ordering: Seq[SortOrder]) extends Ordering[Int
   private[this] var generatedOrdering = GenerateOrdering.generate(ordering)
 
   def compare(a: InternalRow, b: InternalRow): Int = {
+    if (generatedOrdering == null) {
+      generatedOrdering = GenerateOrdering.generate(ordering)
+    }
     generatedOrdering.compare(a, b)
   }
 
   private def readObject(in: ObjectInputStream): Unit = Utils.tryOrIOException {
     in.defaultReadObject()
-    generatedOrdering = GenerateOrdering.generate(ordering)
   }
 }