diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports/BalanceReport.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports/BalanceReport.hs
index d6e4af595..93c512542 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports/BalanceReport.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports/BalanceReport.hs
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ balanceReport opts q j = (items, total)
             markboring  = if no_elide_ opts then id else markBoringParentAccounts
             maybesort   = if sort_amount_ opts then sortBy (maybeflip $ comparing balance) else id
               where
-                maybeflip = if normalbalance_ opts == Just NormalPositive then flip else id
+                maybeflip = if normalbalance_ opts == Just NormalNegative then id else flip
       items = dbg1 "items" $ map (balanceReportItem opts q) accts'
       total | not (flat_ opts) = dbg1 "total" $ sum [amt | (_,_,indent,amt) <- items, indent == 0]
             | otherwise        = dbg1 "total" $
diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports/MultiBalanceReports.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports/MultiBalanceReports.hs
index 155dc4823..edbab34ea 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports/MultiBalanceReports.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports/MultiBalanceReports.hs
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ multiBalanceReport opts q j = MultiBalanceReport (displayspans, items, totalsrow
           where
             -- reverse the sort if doing a balance report on normally-negative accounts,
             -- so eg a large negative income balance appears at top in income statement
-            maybeflip = if normalbalance_ opts == Just NormalPositive then flip else id
+            maybeflip = if normalbalance_ opts == Just NormalNegative then id else flip
             -- sort by average when that is displayed, instead of total. 
             -- Usually equivalent, but perhaps not in future (eg with --percent)
             sortfield = if average_ opts then sixth6 else fifth6