Workaround, set the custom comparer in the SortStyleChanged event: void radListControl1_SortStyleChanged(object sender, SortStyleChangedEventArgs args) { radListControl1.ListElement.ItemsSortComparer = new MyComparer(); } class MyComparer : IComparer<RadListDataItem> { public int Compare(RadListDataItem x, RadListDataItem y) { return ((Student)x.DataBoundItem).Id.CompareTo(((Student)y.DataBoundItem).Id); } } private void radButton1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e) { radListControl1.SortStyle = SortStyle.Ascending; }