diff --git a/pkg/scheduler/core/generic_scheduler.go b/pkg/scheduler/core/generic_scheduler.go
index 8875192db7f..a43046c5772 100644
--- a/pkg/scheduler/core/generic_scheduler.go
+++ b/pkg/scheduler/core/generic_scheduler.go
@@ -1070,7 +1070,6 @@ func selectVictimsOnNode(
 			removePod(p)
 		}
 	}
-	potentialVictims.Sort()
 	// If the new pod does not fit after removing all the lower priority pods,
 	// we are almost done and this node is not suitable for preemption. The only
 	// condition that we could check is if the "pod" is failing to schedule due to
@@ -1085,6 +1084,7 @@ func selectVictimsOnNode(
 	}
 	var victims []*v1.Pod
 	numViolatingVictim := 0
+	potentialVictims.Sort()
 	// Try to reprieve as many pods as possible. We first try to reprieve the PDB
 	// violating victims and then other non-violating ones. In both cases, we start
 	// from the highest priority victims.