diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index 4dc4755..af4c5e8 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 const sortby = (properties) => (a, b) => {
+  const collator = new Intl.Collator('en', { numeric: true, sensitivity: 'base' })
+
   // if items is {prop1:value1, prop2:value2}
   // then sort(['prop1', 'desc', 'prop2'])
   // will sort by prop1 desc and prop2
@@ -11,7 +13,6 @@ const sortby = (properties) => (a, b) => {
       i++
     }
 
-    const collator = new Intl.Collator('en', { numeric: true, sensitivity: 'base' })
     const compare = collator.compare(a[property], b[property])
     if (compare < 0) return order
     if (compare > 0) return -order