diff --git a/scheme/browse-directory-list.scm b/scheme/browse-directory-list.scm
index 9bd9685..c050910 100644
--- a/scheme/browse-directory-list.scm
+++ b/scheme/browse-directory-list.scm
@@ -253,14 +253,17 @@
                (- (result-buffer-num-lines buffer) 1)
                (result-buffer-num-cols buffer))))
 
+      (define sort-up-key (config 'ls 'sort-up-key))
+      (define sort-down-key (config 'ls 'sort-down-key))
+      
       (define (handle-key-press self key)
 	(cond
 	 ((= key key-return)
 	  (handle-return-key
 	   self (select-list-selected-entry select-list)
 	   (calculate-number-of-lines buffer)))
-         ((or (= key (config 'ls 'sort-up-key))
-              (= key (config 'ls 'sort-down-key)))
+         ((or (= key sort-up-key)
+              (= key sort-down-key))
           (let ((column (select-line-selected-entry select-line)))
             (receive (compare-up compare-down select)
                 (case column
@@ -289,7 +292,7 @@
                              (file-info:mtime (fs-object-info fso)))))
                   (else
                    (error "unknown column" column)))
-              (let ((compare (if (= key (config 'ls 'sort-up-key))
+              (let ((compare (if (= key sort-up-key)
                                  compare-up
                                  compare-down)))
                 (set-fs-objects!