diff --git a/src/bitmessageqt/networkstatus.py b/src/bitmessageqt/networkstatus.py
index ac84f524..32cb3469 100644
--- a/src/bitmessageqt/networkstatus.py
+++ b/src/bitmessageqt/networkstatus.py
@@ -195,9 +195,9 @@ class NetworkStatus(QtWidgets.QWidget, RetranslateMixin):
             if not connectionpool.pool.inboundConnections:
                 self.window().setStatusIcon('yellow')
             for i in range(self.tableWidgetConnectionCount.rowCount()):
-                if self.tableWidgetConnectionCount.item(i, 0).data(QtCore.Qt.ItemDataRole.UserRole).toPyObject() != destination:
+                if self.tableWidgetConnectionCount.item(i, 0).data(QtCore.Qt.ItemDataRole.UserRole) != destination:
                     continue
-                if self.tableWidgetConnectionCount.item(i, 1).data(QtCore.Qt.ItemDataRole.UserRole).toPyObject() == outbound:
+                if self.tableWidgetConnectionCount.item(i, 1).data(QtCore.Qt.ItemDataRole.UserRole) == outbound:
                     self.tableWidgetConnectionCount.removeRow(i)
                     break
 
diff --git a/src/network/dandelion.py b/src/network/dandelion.py
index 300ecc31..1d5a997a 100644
--- a/src/network/dandelion.py
+++ b/src/network/dandelion.py
@@ -189,8 +189,8 @@ class Dandelion:  # pylint: disable=old-style-class
             try:
                 # random two connections
                 self.stem = sample(
-                    connectionpool.BMConnectionPool(
-                    ).outboundConnections.values(), MAX_STEMS)
+                    sorted(connectionpool.BMConnectionPool(
+                    ).outboundConnections.values()), MAX_STEMS)
             # not enough stems available
             except ValueError:
                 self.stem = connectionpool.BMConnectionPool(