diff --git a/src/helpers.cpp b/src/helpers.cpp
index f4f3c409..4c1df9d0 100644
--- a/src/helpers.cpp
+++ b/src/helpers.cpp
@@ -34,16 +34,6 @@ using Global::Mpd;
 using Global::wFooter;
 using std::string;
 
-namespace
-{
-	inline void remove_the_word(string &s)
-	{
-		size_t the_pos = s.find("the ");
-		if (the_pos == 0 && the_pos != string::npos)
-			s = s.substr(4);
-	}
-}
-
 bool ConnectToMPD()
 {
 	if (!Mpd->Connect())
@@ -175,8 +165,8 @@ bool CaseInsensitiveSorting::operator()(string a, string b)
 	ToLower(b);
 	if (Config.ignore_leading_the)
 	{
-		remove_the_word(a);
-		remove_the_word(b);
+		RemoveTheWord(a);
+		RemoveTheWord(b);
 	}
 	return a < b;
 }
@@ -189,8 +179,8 @@ bool CaseInsensitiveSorting::operator()(Song *sa, Song *sb)
 	ToLower(b);
 	if (Config.ignore_leading_the)
 	{
-		remove_the_word(a);
-		remove_the_word(b);
+		RemoveTheWord(a);
+		RemoveTheWord(b);
 	}
 	return a < b;
 }
@@ -303,6 +293,13 @@ string GetLineValue(string &line, char a, char b, bool once)
 		return "";
 }
 
+void RemoveTheWord(string &s)
+{
+	size_t the_pos = s.find("the ");
+	if (the_pos == 0 && the_pos != string::npos)
+		s = s.substr(4);
+}
+
 std::string ExtractTopDirectory(const std::string &s)
 {
 	size_t slash = s.rfind("/");
diff --git a/src/helpers.h b/src/helpers.h
index 2f2b3976..8e3c179c 100644
--- a/src/helpers.h
+++ b/src/helpers.h
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ std::string FindSharedDir(const std::string &, const std::string &);
 
 std::string GetLineValue(std::string &, char = '"', char = '"', bool = 0);
 
+void RemoveTheWord(std::string &s);
 std::string ExtractTopDirectory(const std::string &);
 
 const Buffer &ShowTag(const std::string &);
diff --git a/src/playlist.cpp b/src/playlist.cpp
index 475c5446..8f5383ad 100644
--- a/src/playlist.cpp
+++ b/src/playlist.cpp
@@ -275,6 +275,11 @@ bool Playlist::Sorting(MPD::Song *a, MPD::Song *b)
 		std::string sb = (b->*(*SortDialog)[i].second)();
 		ToLower(sa);
 		ToLower(sb);
+		if (Config.ignore_leading_the)
+		{
+			RemoveTheWord(sa);
+			RemoveTheWord(sb);
+		}
 		if (sa != sb)
 			return sa < sb;
 	}