diff --git a/lib/acts_as_list/active_record/acts/list.rb b/lib/acts_as_list/active_record/acts/list.rb
index a74c1706..b6eaed0c 100644
--- a/lib/acts_as_list/active_record/acts/list.rb
+++ b/lib/acts_as_list/active_record/acts/list.rb
@@ -174,7 +174,8 @@ def last?
         def higher_item
           return nil unless in_list?
           acts_as_list_class.unscoped.find(:first, :conditions =>
-            "#{scope_condition} AND #{position_column} < #{(send(position_column).to_i).to_s}"
+            "#{scope_condition} AND #{position_column} < #{(send(position_column).to_i).to_s}",
+            :order => "#{acts_as_list_class.table_name}.#{position_column} DESC"
           )
         end
 
@@ -182,7 +183,8 @@ def higher_item
         def lower_item
           return nil unless in_list?
           acts_as_list_class.unscoped.find(:first, :conditions =>
-            "#{scope_condition} AND #{position_column} > #{(send(position_column).to_i).to_s}"
+            "#{scope_condition} AND #{position_column} > #{(send(position_column).to_i).to_s}",
+            :order => "#{acts_as_list_class.table_name}.#{position_column} ASC"
           )
         end