diff --git a/src/maggma/stores/mongolike.py b/src/maggma/stores/mongolike.py
index 8aba9ea89..6484c1d76 100644
--- a/src/maggma/stores/mongolike.py
+++ b/src/maggma/stores/mongolike.py
@@ -388,7 +388,7 @@ def query(  # type: ignore
                 for k, v in sort.items()
             ]
             if sort
-            else None
+            else [("_id", 1)]
         )
 
         hint_list = (