diff --git a/wicd/networking.py b/wicd/networking.py
index 87867f0..fb9149d 100644
--- a/wicd/networking.py
+++ b/wicd/networking.py
@@ -644,7 +644,8 @@ class Wireless(Controller):
                 key = 'quality'
             else:
                 key = 'strength'
-            return cmp(x[key], y[key])
+            return ((x[key] > y[key]) - (x[key] < y[key])) # cmp(x[key], y[key])
+
                 
         if not self.wiface:
             return []