diff --git a/tailbone/grids/core.py b/tailbone/grids/core.py
index 75c2ffd5..7bc0c01d 100644
--- a/tailbone/grids/core.py
+++ b/tailbone/grids/core.py
@@ -596,7 +596,16 @@ class Grid(object):
         """
         class_ = getattr(model_property, 'class_', self.model_class)
         column = getattr(class_, model_property.key)
-        return lambda q, d: q.order_by(getattr(column, d)())
+
+        def sorter(query, direction):
+            # TODO: this seems hacky..normally we expect a true query
+            # of course, but in some cases it may be a list instead.
+            # if so then we can't actually sort
+            if isinstance(query, list):
+                return query
+            return query.order_by(getattr(column, direction)())
+
+        return sorter
 
     def make_simple_sorter(self, key, foldcase=False):
         """
@@ -984,6 +993,16 @@ class Grid(object):
         return pager
 
     def make_pager(self, data):
+
+        # TODO: this seems hacky..normally we expect `data` to be a
+        # query of course, but in some cases it may be a list instead.
+        # if so then we can't use ORM pager
+        if isinstance(data, list):
+            import paginate
+            return paginate.Page(data,
+                                 items_per_page=self.pagesize,
+                                 page=self.page)
+
         return SqlalchemyOrmPage(data,
                                  items_per_page=self.pagesize,
                                  page=self.page,