diff --git a/xdist/dsession.py b/xdist/dsession.py
index ae71db4d..befc1920 100644
--- a/xdist/dsession.py
+++ b/xdist/dsession.py
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ def addnode_collection(self, node, collection):
         """
         assert node in self.node2pending
         if not self.collection_is_completed:
-            self.node2collection[node] = list(collection)
+            self.node2collection[node] = list(sorted(collection))
             self.node2pending[node] = []
             if len(self.node2collection) >= self.numnodes:
                 self.collection_is_completed = True
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ def addnode_collection(self, node, collection):
                                              node.gateway.id)
                 self.log(msg)
                 return
-        self.node2collection[node] = list(collection)
+        self.node2collection[node] = list(sorted(collection))
 
     def remove_item(self, node, item_index, duration=0):
         """Mark test item as completed by node