diff --git a/src/calibre/db/cache.py b/src/calibre/db/cache.py
index 7ead59ac06..101932a777 100644
--- a/src/calibre/db/cache.py
+++ b/src/calibre/db/cache.py
@@ -286,14 +286,15 @@ class Cache(object):
         '''
         with self.write_lock:
             self.backend.read_tables()
+            bools_are_tristate = self.backend.prefs['bools_are_tristate']
 
             for field, table in self.backend.tables.iteritems():
-                self.fields[field] = create_field(field, table)
+                self.fields[field] = create_field(field, table, bools_are_tristate)
                 if table.metadata['datatype'] == 'composite':
                     self.composites[field] = self.fields[field]
 
             self.fields['ondevice'] = create_field('ondevice',
-                    VirtualTable('ondevice'))
+                    VirtualTable('ondevice'), bools_are_tristate)
 
             for name, field in self.fields.iteritems():
                 if name[0] == '#' and name.endswith('_index'):
diff --git a/src/calibre/db/fields.py b/src/calibre/db/fields.py
index aeee1b6f45..7ade57b1a2 100644
--- a/src/calibre/db/fields.py
+++ b/src/calibre/db/fields.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ class Field(object):
     is_many_many = False
     is_composite = False
 
-    def __init__(self, name, table):
+    def __init__(self, name, table, bools_are_tristate):
         self.name, self.table = name, table
         dt = self.metadata['datatype']
         self.has_text_data = dt in {'text', 'comments', 'series', 'enumeration'}
@@ -43,6 +43,10 @@ class Field(object):
             self._default_sort_key = 0
         elif dt == 'bool':
             self._default_sort_key = None
+            if bools_are_tristate:
+                self._sort_key = lambda x:{True: 1, False: 2, None: 3}.get(x, 3)
+            else:
+                self._sort_key = lambda x:{True: 1, False: 2, None: 2}.get(x, 2)
         elif dt == 'datetime':
             self._default_sort_key = UNDEFINED_DATE
             if tweaks['sort_dates_using_visible_fields']:
@@ -248,7 +252,7 @@ class CompositeField(OneToOneField):
 
 class OnDeviceField(OneToOneField):
 
-    def __init__(self, name, table):
+    def __init__(self, name, table, bools_are_tristate):
         self.name = name
         self.book_on_device_func = None
         self.is_multiple = False
@@ -565,7 +569,7 @@ class TagsField(ManyToManyField):
                 ans.append(c)
         return ans
 
-def create_field(name, table):
+def create_field(name, table, bools_are_tristate):
     cls = {
             ONE_ONE: OneToOneField,
             MANY_ONE: ManyToOneField,
@@ -585,5 +589,5 @@ def create_field(name, table):
         cls = CompositeField
     elif table.metadata['datatype'] == 'series':
         cls = SeriesField
-    return cls(name, table)
+    return cls(name, table, bools_are_tristate)
 
diff --git a/src/calibre/db/tests/reading.py b/src/calibre/db/tests/reading.py
index 4c87662de3..5d1061ecae 100644
--- a/src/calibre/db/tests/reading.py
+++ b/src/calibre/db/tests/reading.py
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ class ReadingTest(BaseTest):
 
     def test_sorting(self):  # {{{
         'Test sorting'
-        cache = self.init_cache(self.library_path)
+        cache = self.init_cache()
         for field, order in {
             'title'  : [2, 1, 3],
             'authors': [2, 1, 3],
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ class ReadingTest(BaseTest):
             '#rating':[3, 2, 1],
             '#series':[3, 2, 1],
             '#tags':[3, 2, 1],
-            '#yesno':[3, 1, 2],
+            '#yesno':[2, 1, 3],
             '#comments':[3, 2, 1],
         }.iteritems():
             x = list(reversed(order))
@@ -189,6 +189,11 @@ class ReadingTest(BaseTest):
             c2 = self.init_cache()
             self.assertEqual([3, 2, 1], c2.multisort([('pubdate', True)]))
 
+        # Test bool sorting when not tristate
+        cache.set_pref('bools_are_tristate', False)
+        c2 = self.init_cache()
+        self.assertEqual([2, 3, 1], c2.multisort([('#yesno', True), ('id', False)]))
+
     # }}}
 
     def test_get_metadata(self):  # {{{