diff --git a/django/contrib/admin/util.py b/django/contrib/admin/util.py
index e98ec7b884..7204a12fc4 100644
--- a/django/contrib/admin/util.py
+++ b/django/contrib/admin/util.py
@@ -226,6 +226,12 @@ def lookup_field(name, obj, model_admin=None):
 
 
 def label_for_field(name, model, model_admin=None, return_attr=False):
+    """
+    Returns a sensible label for a field name. The name can be a callable or the
+    name of an object attributes, as well as a genuine fields. If return_attr is
+    True, the resolved attribute (which could be a callable) is also returned.
+    This will be None if (and only if) the name refers to a field.
+    """
     attr = None
     try:
         field = model._meta.get_field_by_name(name)[0]
@@ -236,8 +242,10 @@ def label_for_field(name, model, model_admin=None, return_attr=False):
     except models.FieldDoesNotExist:
         if name == "__unicode__":
             label = force_unicode(model._meta.verbose_name)
+            attr = unicode
         elif name == "__str__":
             label = smart_str(model._meta.verbose_name)
+            attr = str
         else:
             if callable(name):
                 attr = name
diff --git a/tests/regressiontests/admin_views/tests.py b/tests/regressiontests/admin_views/tests.py
index 54d89e4d75..cc5783cc86 100644
--- a/tests/regressiontests/admin_views/tests.py
+++ b/tests/regressiontests/admin_views/tests.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ from django.utils import unittest
 
 # local test models
 from models import (Article, BarAccount, CustomArticle, EmptyModel,
-    FooAccount, Gallery, ModelWithStringPrimaryKey,
+    FooAccount, Gallery, GalleryAdmin, ModelWithStringPrimaryKey,
     Person, Persona, Picture, Podcast, Section, Subscriber, Vodcast,
     Language, Collector, Widget, Grommet, DooHickey, FancyDoodad, Whatsit,
     Category, Post, Plot, FunkyTag, Chapter, Book, Promo, WorkHour, Employee,
@@ -238,6 +238,17 @@ class AdminViewBasicTest(TestCase):
             "Results of sorting on ModelAdmin method are out of order."
         )
 
+    def testChangeListSortColumnsDefault(self):
+        # Need a model that has a list_display with '__str__' as only item.
+        # Sanity check for assumption made in following test.
+        self.assertEqual(list(GalleryAdmin.list_display), ['__str__'])
+        # A header corresponding to '__str__' should not be in an anchor
+        # for sorting.
+        g = Gallery.objects.create(name='gallery1')
+        response = self.client.get('/test_admin/%s/admin_views/gallery/' % self.urlbit, {})
+        m = re.search('<th scope="col">\s*Gallery\s*</th>', response.content)
+        self.assertTrue(m is not None)
+
     def testLimitedFilter(self):
         """Ensure admin changelist filters do not contain objects excluded via limit_choices_to.
         This also tests relation-spanning filters (e.g. 'color__value').