diff --git a/vpi/sys_fst.c b/vpi/sys_fst.c
index ca838a8fb..cfc9d8551 100644
--- a/vpi/sys_fst.c
+++ b/vpi/sys_fst.c
@@ -650,7 +650,6 @@ static void scan_item(unsigned depth, vpiHandle item, int skip)
 			           "previously scanned scope %s.\n", fullname);
 		  } else {
 			vcd_names_add(&fst_tab, fullname);
-			vcd_names_sort(&fst_tab);
 		  }
 
 		  name = vpi_get_str(vpiName, item);
@@ -781,6 +780,8 @@ static PLI_INT32 sys_dumpvars_calltf(PLI_BYTE8*name)
 	    dep = draw_scope(item, callh);
 
 	    scan_item(depth, item, 0);
+	      /* The scope list must be sorted after we scan an item.  */
+	    vcd_names_sort(&fst_tab);
 
 	    while (dep--) fstWriterSetUpscope(dump_file);
 
diff --git a/vpi/sys_lxt.c b/vpi/sys_lxt.c
index ca20de692..efb88b42d 100644
--- a/vpi/sys_lxt.c
+++ b/vpi/sys_lxt.c
@@ -757,8 +757,9 @@ static PLI_INT32 sys_dumpvars_calltf(PLI_BYTE8*name)
 
 	    int dep = draw_scope(item);
 
-	    vcd_names_sort(&lxt_tab);
 	    scan_item(depth, item, 0);
+	      /* The scope list must be sorted after we scan an item.  */
+	    vcd_names_sort(&lxt_tab);
 
 	    while (dep--) pop_scope();
       }
diff --git a/vpi/sys_vcd.c b/vpi/sys_vcd.c
index 559445cdb..0717d4858 100644
--- a/vpi/sys_vcd.c
+++ b/vpi/sys_vcd.c
@@ -690,7 +690,6 @@ static void scan_item(unsigned depth, vpiHandle item, int skip)
 			           "previously scanned scope %s.\n", fullname);
 		  } else {
 			vcd_names_add(&vcd_tab, fullname);
-			vcd_names_sort(&vcd_tab);
 		  }
 
 		  name = vpi_get_str(vpiName, item);
@@ -821,6 +820,8 @@ static PLI_INT32 sys_dumpvars_calltf(PLI_BYTE8*name)
 	    dep = draw_scope(item, callh);
 
 	    scan_item(depth, item, 0);
+	      /* The scope list must be sorted after we scan an item.  */
+	    vcd_names_sort(&vcd_tab);
 
 	    while (dep--) fprintf(dump_file, "$upscope $end\n");