diff --git a/sorter.py b/sorter.py
index 50b4e69d9ef5100b59d6095cff2c7971dda46796..bd9f4c3c0e142c51898413c1191517db6917a78b 100644
--- a/sorter.py
+++ b/sorter.py
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ def sort_file(filename, course=None, lectures=None):
 			handle = '-'.join(splitfilename[:2])
 		courses = query('SELECT * FROM courses WHERE handle = ?', handle)
 		if not courses:
-			return []
+			return [], 0
 		course = courses[0]
 	if not lectures:
 		lectures = query('SELECT * from lectures where course_id = ?', course['id'])