diff --git a/py/test/collect.py b/py/test/collect.py
index 31eb30970..7726c4ee0 100644
--- a/py/test/collect.py
+++ b/py/test/collect.py
@@ -79,13 +79,6 @@ class Node(object):
     
     def __hash__(self):
         return hash((self.name, self.parent))
-
-    def __cmp__(self, other): 
-        if not isinstance(other, Node):
-            return -1
-        s1 = self._getsortvalue()
-        s2 = other._getsortvalue()
-        return cmp(s1, s2) 
  
     def setup(self): 
         pass
@@ -230,9 +223,6 @@ class Node(object):
                 return True
         return False
 
-    def _getsortvalue(self): 
-        return self.name 
-
     def _prunetraceback(self, traceback):
         return traceback 
 
diff --git a/py/test/funcargs.py b/py/test/funcargs.py
index 2d022cfab..ef70b442e 100644
--- a/py/test/funcargs.py
+++ b/py/test/funcargs.py
@@ -64,7 +64,17 @@ class FunctionCollector(py.test.collect.Collector):
             function = self.parent.Function(name=name, parent=self, 
                 callspec=callspec, callobj=self.obj)
             l.append(function)
-        return l 
+        return l
+
+    def reportinfo(self):
+        try:
+            return self._fslineno, self.name
+        except AttributeError:
+            pass        
+        fspath, lineno = py.code.getfslineno(self.obj)
+        self._fslineno = fspath, lineno
+        return fspath, lineno, self.name
+    
 
 class FuncargRequest:
     _argprefix = "pytest_funcarg__"
diff --git a/py/test/pycollect.py b/py/test/pycollect.py
index 420ef1dac..620d39a7d 100644
--- a/py/test/pycollect.py
+++ b/py/test/pycollect.py
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ class PyCollectorMixin(PyobjMixin, py.test.collect.Collector):
             return l
         name2items = self._buildname2items()
         colitems = name2items.values()
-        colitems.sort()
+        colitems.sort(key=lambda item: item.reportinfo()[:2])
         return colitems
 
     def _buildname2items(self): 
@@ -205,9 +205,6 @@ class Class(PyCollectorMixin, py.test.collect.Collector):
             teardown_class = getattr(teardown_class, 'im_func', teardown_class) 
             teardown_class(self.obj) 
 
-    def _getsortvalue(self):  
-        return self._getfslineno()
-
 class Instance(PyCollectorMixin, py.test.collect.Collector): 
     def _getobj(self): 
         return self.parent.obj()  
@@ -230,9 +227,6 @@ class FunctionMixin(PyobjMixin):
     """ mixin for the code common to Function and Generator.
     """
 
-    def _getsortvalue(self):  
-        return self._getfslineno()
-
     def setup(self): 
         """ perform setup for this test function. """
         if hasattr(self.obj, 'im_self'):
diff --git a/py/test/testing/test_collect.py b/py/test/testing/test_collect.py
index 0d1d3112f..544df1fa4 100644
--- a/py/test/testing/test_collect.py
+++ b/py/test/testing/test_collect.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ class TestCollector:
         assert not issubclass(Collector, Item)
         assert not issubclass(Item, Collector)
 
-    def test_check_equality_and_cmp_basic(self, testdir):
+    def test_check_equality(self, testdir):
         modcol = testdir.getmodulecol("""
             def test_pass(): pass
             def test_fail(): assert 0
@@ -25,11 +25,7 @@ class TestCollector:
         assert isinstance(fn3, py.test.collect.Function)
         assert not (fn1 == fn3) 
         assert fn1 != fn3
-        assert cmp(fn1, fn3) == -1
 
-        assert cmp(fn1, 10) == -1 
-        assert cmp(fn2, 10) == -1 
-        assert cmp(fn3, 10) == -1 
         for fn in fn1,fn2,fn3:
             assert fn != 3
             assert fn != modcol
diff --git a/py/test/testing/test_pycollect.py b/py/test/testing/test_pycollect.py
index a4fe30538..0412ce3c9 100644
--- a/py/test/testing/test_pycollect.py
+++ b/py/test/testing/test_pycollect.py
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ class TestFunction:
         assert not (f5 == f5b)
 
 class TestSorting:
-    def test_check_equality_and_cmp_basic(self, testdir):
+    def test_check_equality(self, testdir):
         modcol = testdir.getmodulecol("""
             def test_pass(): pass
             def test_fail(): assert 0
@@ -288,11 +288,7 @@ class TestSorting:
         assert isinstance(fn3, py.test.collect.Function)
         assert not (fn1 == fn3) 
         assert fn1 != fn3
-        assert cmp(fn1, fn3) == -1
 
-        assert cmp(fn1, 10) == -1 
-        assert cmp(fn2, 10) == -1 
-        assert cmp(fn3, 10) == -1 
         for fn in fn1,fn2,fn3:
             assert fn != 3
             assert fn != modcol
@@ -308,18 +304,18 @@ class TestSorting:
                 return g
 
 
-            def test_a(y):
-                pass
-            test_a = dec(test_a)
-
             def test_b(y):
                 pass
             test_b = dec(test_b)
+
+            def test_a(y):
+                pass
+            test_a = dec(test_a)
         """)
         colitems = modcol.collect()
         assert len(colitems) == 2
-        f1, f2 = colitems
-        assert cmp(f2, f1) > 0
+        assert [item.name for item in colitems] == ['test_b', 'test_a']
+
 
 class TestConftestCustomization:
     def test_extra_python_files_and_functions(self, testdir):