diff --git a/django/utils/formats.py b/django/utils/formats.py
index 1eb7a3d837a..3c43f52f2f1 100644
--- a/django/utils/formats.py
+++ b/django/utils/formats.py
@@ -36,12 +36,12 @@ def iter_format_modules(lang):
 
 def get_format_modules(reverse=False):
     """
-    Returns an iterator over the format modules found
+    Returns a list of the format modules found
     """
     lang = get_language()
     modules = _format_modules_cache.setdefault(lang, list(iter_format_modules(lang)))
     if reverse:
-        modules.reverse()
+        return list(reversed(modules))
     return modules
 
 def get_format(format_type, lang=None, use_l10n=None):
diff --git a/tests/regressiontests/i18n/tests.py b/tests/regressiontests/i18n/tests.py
index 055656b3cb0..d023462311e 100644
--- a/tests/regressiontests/i18n/tests.py
+++ b/tests/regressiontests/i18n/tests.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ from threading import local
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.template import Template, Context
 from django.utils.formats import (get_format, date_format, time_format,
-    localize, localize_input, iter_format_modules)
+    localize, localize_input, iter_format_modules, get_format_modules)
 from django.utils.importlib import import_module
 from django.utils.numberformat import format as nformat
 from django.utils.safestring import mark_safe, SafeString, SafeUnicode
@@ -495,6 +495,19 @@ class FormattingTests(TestCase):
         finally:
             settings.USE_L10N = old_l10n
 
+    def test_get_format_modules_stability(self):
+        activate('de')
+        old_format_module_path = settings.FORMAT_MODULE_PATH
+        settings.FORMAT_MODULE_PATH = 'regressiontests.i18n.other.locale'
+        try:
+            settings.USE_L10N = True
+            old = "%r" % get_format_modules(reverse=True)
+            new = "%r" % get_format_modules(reverse=True) # second try
+            self.assertEqual(new, old, 'Value returned by get_formats_modules() must be preserved between calls.')
+        finally:
+            settings.FORMAT_MODULE_PATH = old_format_module_path
+            deactivate()
+
     def test_localize_templatetag_and_filter(self):
         """
         Tests the {% localize %} templatetag