diff --git a/Lib/logging/config.py b/Lib/logging/config.py
index 3017ae9..eb2c248 100644
--- a/Lib/logging/config.py
+++ b/Lib/logging/config.py
@@ -104,6 +104,9 @@
 def _strip_spaces(alist):
     return map(lambda x: string.strip(x), alist)
 
+def _encoded(s):
+    return s if isinstance(s, str) else s.encode('utf-8')
+
 def _create_formatters(cp):
     """Create and return formatters"""
     flist = cp.get("formatters", "keys")
@@ -214,7 +217,7 @@
     #avoid disabling child loggers of explicitly
     #named loggers. With a sorted list it is easier
     #to find the child loggers.
-    existing.sort()
+    existing.sort(key=_encoded)
     #We'll keep the list of existing loggers
     #which are children of named loggers here...
     child_loggers = []