diff --git a/include/mapnik/octree.hpp b/include/mapnik/octree.hpp
index 1d7e361e0..221baedb1 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/octree.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/octree.hpp
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ namespace mapnik {
                      if (lhs->children_[i]) left_total+=lhs->children_[i]->count;
                      if (rhs->children_[i]) right_total+=rhs->children_[i]->count;
                   }
-                  return left_total > right_total;
+                  return left_total < right_total;
                }
          };