diff --git a/run_selector.py b/run_selector.py
index 918c305..362570d 100644
--- a/run_selector.py
+++ b/run_selector.py
@@ -170,6 +170,9 @@ class RunSelector:
         (selected_runs, selected_nums)
         """
 
+        if runs is None:
+            runs = self.runs
+
         selected_runs = self.get_runs(
             runs, filter_name, filter_nml, sort_run_by, do_tests=False
         )
@@ -259,7 +262,10 @@ class RunSelector:
             if type(sort_run_by) == str:
                 sort_run_by = [sort_run_by]
             for nml_key in reversed(sort_run_by):
-                runs.sort(key=partial(self.get_nml_value, nml_key))
+                if nml_key == "name":
+                    runs.sort()
+                else:
+                    runs.sort(key=partial(self.get_nml_value, nml_key))
 
         return runs