diff --git a/src/calibre/library/catalog.py b/src/calibre/library/catalog.py
index 05752f4a29..7a4ea1b0e1 100644
--- a/src/calibre/library/catalog.py
+++ b/src/calibre/library/catalog.py
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ class CSV_XML(CatalogPlugin): # {{{
                     if field.startswith('#'):
                         item = db.get_field(entry['id'],field,index_is_id=True)
                     elif field == 'title_sort':
-                        item = _title_sort(unicode(entry['title']))
+                        item = entry['sort']
                     else:
                         item = entry[field]
 
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ class CSV_XML(CatalogPlugin): # {{{
                         record.append(item)
 
                 if 'title' in fields:
-                    title = E.title(r['title'], sort=_title_sort(unicode(r['title'])))
+                    title = E.title(r['title'], sort=r['sort'])
                     record.append(title)
 
                 if 'authors' in fields: