diff --git a/tailbone/api/master.py b/tailbone/api/master.py
index fa42c316..209fb146 100644
--- a/tailbone/api/master.py
+++ b/tailbone/api/master.py
@@ -118,12 +118,39 @@ class APIMasterView(APIView):
         """
         return self.sortcol(order_by)
 
-    def sortcol(self, field_name, model_name=None):
+    def sortcol(self, *args):
         """
         Return a simple ``SortColumn`` object which denotes the field and
         optionally, the model, to be used when sorting.
         """
-        return SortColumn(field_name, model_name)
+        if len(args) == 1:
+            return SortColumn(args[0])
+        elif len(args) == 2:
+            return SortColumn(args[1], args[0])
+        else:
+            raise ValueError("must pass 1 arg (field_name) or 2 args (model_name, field_name)")
+
+    def join_for_sort_spec(self, query, sort_spec):
+        """
+        This should apply any joins needed on the given query, to accommodate
+        requested sorting as per ``sort_spec`` - which will be non-empty but
+        otherwise no claims are made regarding its contents.
+
+        Please override as necessary, but in all cases you should return a
+        query, either untouched or else with join(s) applied.
+        """
+        model_name = sort_spec[0].get('model')
+        return self.join_for_sort_model(query, model_name)
+
+    def join_for_sort_model(self, query, model_name):
+        """
+        This should apply any joins needed on the given query, to accommodate
+        requested sorting on a field associated with the given model.
+
+        Please override as necessary, but in all cases you should return a
+        query, either untouched or else with join(s) applied.
+        """
+        return query
 
     def make_pagination_spec(self):
 
@@ -153,6 +180,7 @@ class APIMasterView(APIView):
         # maybe sort query
         sort_spec = self.make_sort_spec()
         if sort_spec:
+            query = self.join_for_sort_spec(query, sort_spec)
             query = apply_sort(query, sort_spec)
 
             # maybe paginate query
diff --git a/tailbone/api/users.py b/tailbone/api/users.py
index fdf3872d..8ebfedf2 100644
--- a/tailbone/api/users.py
+++ b/tailbone/api/users.py
@@ -43,16 +43,20 @@ class UserView(APIMasterView):
     def normalize(self, user):
         return {
             'username': user.username,
-            'person_name': six.text_type(user.person or ''),
+            'person_display_name': (user.person.display_name or '') if user.person else '',
             'active': user.active,
         }
 
     def interpret_sortcol(self, order_by):
-        if order_by == 'person_name':
-            return self.sortcol('display_name', 'Person')
-
+        if order_by == 'person_display_name':
+            return self.sortcol('Person', 'display_name')
         return self.sortcol(order_by)
 
+    def join_for_sort_model(self, query, model_name):
+        if model_name == 'Person':
+            query = query.outerjoin(model.Person)
+        return query
+
     @view(permission='users.list')
     def collection_get(self):
         return self._collection_get()
diff --git a/tailbone/templates/users/vue_index.mako b/tailbone/templates/users/vue_index.mako
index b0703602..713ddb1a 100644
--- a/tailbone/templates/users/vue_index.mako
+++ b/tailbone/templates/users/vue_index.mako
@@ -88,17 +88,18 @@ var app = new Vue({
     data: {
         columns: [
             'username',
-            'person_name',
+            'person_display_name',
             'active'
         ],
         options: {
             filterable: false,
+            headings: {
+                person_display_name: "Person"
+            },
             sortable: [
                 'username',
-                'person_name',
+                'person_display_name',
                 'active'
-                // TODO: add sort for Person.display_name
-                // 'person'
             ],
             orderBy: {
                 column: 'username',