diff --git a/src/python/m5/stats/__init__.py b/src/python/m5/stats/__init__.py
index ba91f22..acb62f1 100644
--- a/src/python/m5/stats/__init__.py
+++ b/src/python/m5/stats/__init__.py
@@ -169,12 +169,7 @@
         if not (stat.flags & flags.display):
             stat.name = "__Stat%06d" % stat.id
 
-    def less(stat1, stat2):
-        v1 = stat1.name.split('.')
-        v2 = stat2.name.split('.')
-        return v1 < v2
-
-    stats_list.sort(less)
+    stats_list.sort(key=lambda s: s.name.split('.'))
     for stat in stats_list:
         stats_dict[stat.name] = stat
         stat.enable()