diff --git a/django/contrib/admin/views/main.py b/django/contrib/admin/views/main.py
index a2c1e741a8..5edc1fc19d 100644
--- a/django/contrib/admin/views/main.py
+++ b/django/contrib/admin/views/main.py
@@ -707,7 +707,6 @@ class ChangeList(object):
         # If the order-by field is a field with a relationship, order by the
         # value in the related table.
         lookup_order_field = self.order_field
-        order_type = self.order_type == 'desc' and '-' or ''
         try:
             f = self.lookup_opts.get_field(self.order_field, many_to_many=False)
         except models.FieldDoesNotExist:
@@ -718,18 +717,10 @@ class ChangeList(object):
                 pass
             elif isinstance(f.rel, models.ManyToOneRel):
                 rel_ordering = f.rel.to._meta.ordering and f.rel.to._meta.ordering[0] or f.rel.to._meta.pk.column
-                if rel_ordering[0] == '-':
-                    rel_ordering = rel_ordering[1:]
-                    order_type = not order_type and '-' or ''
                 lookup_order_field = '%s.%s' % (f.rel.to._meta.db_table, rel_ordering)
-                # Must select related because the lookup field may be in a
-                # table not otherwise referenced yet.
-                # FIXME: Try to remove the need for this in the QuerySet
-                # refactor.
-                qs = qs.select_related()
 
         # Set ordering.
-        qs = qs.order_by('%s%s' % (order_type, lookup_order_field))
+        qs = qs.order_by((self.order_type == 'desc' and '-' or '') + lookup_order_field)
 
         # Apply keyword searches.
         def construct_search(field_name):