diff --git a/Netdisco/lib/App/Netdisco/Web/Plugin/Device/Ports.pm b/Netdisco/lib/App/Netdisco/Web/Plugin/Device/Ports.pm
index d683eb59..4aa26527 100644
--- a/Netdisco/lib/App/Netdisco/Web/Plugin/Device/Ports.pm
+++ b/Netdisco/lib/App/Netdisco/Web/Plugin/Device/Ports.pm
@@ -65,9 +65,9 @@ ajax '/ajax/content/device/ports' => require_login sub {
 
     # what kind of nodes are we interested in?
     my $nodes_name = (param('n_archived') ? 'nodes' : 'active_nodes');
+    $nodes_name .= '_with_age' if param('c_nodes') and param('n_age');
     $set = $set->search_rs({}, { order_by => ["${nodes_name}.mac", "ips.ip"] })
       if param('c_nodes');
-    $nodes_name .= '_with_age' if param('c_nodes') and param('n_age');
 
     # retrieve active/all connected nodes, if asked for
     $set = $set->search_rs({}, { prefetch => [{$nodes_name => 'ips'}] })