diff --git a/mu4e/mu4e-proc.el b/mu4e/mu4e-proc.el
index e3e96b28..e691db95 100644
--- a/mu4e/mu4e-proc.el
+++ b/mu4e/mu4e-proc.el
@@ -340,7 +340,7 @@ or an error."
                    :query ,query
                    :threads ,threads
                    :sortfield ,sortfield
-                   :sortdir ,sortdir
+                   :reverse ,(if (eq sortdir 'descending) t nil)
                    :maxnum ,maxnum
                    :skip-dups ,skip-dups
                    :include-related ,include-related)))