diff --git a/sys/include/net/gnrc/rpl/structs.h b/sys/include/net/gnrc/rpl/structs.h
index 2dbad50ba7..fb5301b78e 100644
--- a/sys/include/net/gnrc/rpl/structs.h
+++ b/sys/include/net/gnrc/rpl/structs.h
@@ -238,7 +238,24 @@ struct gnrc_rpl_parent {
 typedef struct {
     uint16_t ocp;   /**< objective code point */
     uint16_t (*calc_rank)(gnrc_rpl_parent_t *parent, uint16_t base_rank); /**< calculate the rank */
-    gnrc_rpl_parent_t *(*which_parent)(gnrc_rpl_parent_t *, gnrc_rpl_parent_t *); /**< compare for parents */
+    gnrc_rpl_parent_t *(*which_parent)(gnrc_rpl_parent_t *, gnrc_rpl_parent_t *); /**< retrieve the better parent */
+
+    /**
+     * @brief   Compare two @ref gnrc_rpl_parent_t.
+     *
+     * Compares two parents based on the rank calculated by the objective
+     * function. This function is used to determine the parent list order. The
+     * parents are ordered from the preferred parent to the least preferred
+     * parent.
+     *
+     * @param[in] parent1 First parent to compare.
+     * @param[in] parent2 Second parent to compare.
+     *
+     * @return      Zero if the parents are of equal preference.
+     * @return      Positive, if the second parent is preferred.
+     * @return      Negative, if the first parent is preferred.
+     */
+    int (*parent_cmp)(gnrc_rpl_parent_t *parent1, gnrc_rpl_parent_t *parent2);
     gnrc_rpl_dodag_t *(*which_dodag)(gnrc_rpl_dodag_t *, gnrc_rpl_dodag_t *); /**< compare for dodags */
     void (*reset)(gnrc_rpl_dodag_t *);    /**< resets the OF */
     void (*parent_state_callback)(gnrc_rpl_parent_t *, int, int); /**< retrieves the state of a parent*/
diff --git a/sys/net/gnrc/routing/rpl/gnrc_rpl_dodag.c b/sys/net/gnrc/routing/rpl/gnrc_rpl_dodag.c
index 04cdf16cc7..cefc2d79a8 100644
--- a/sys/net/gnrc/routing/rpl/gnrc_rpl_dodag.c
+++ b/sys/net/gnrc/routing/rpl/gnrc_rpl_dodag.c
@@ -309,17 +309,14 @@ static gnrc_rpl_parent_t *_gnrc_rpl_find_preferred_parent(gnrc_rpl_dodag_t *doda
         return NULL;
     }
 
-    LL_FOREACH(dodag->parents, elt) {
-        new_best = dodag->instance->of->which_parent(new_best, elt);
-    }
+    LL_SORT(dodag->parents, dodag->instance->of->parent_cmp);
+    new_best = dodag->parents;
 
     if (new_best->rank == GNRC_RPL_INFINITE_RANK) {
         return NULL;
     }
 
     if (new_best != old_best) {
-        LL_DELETE(dodag->parents, new_best);
-        LL_PREPEND(dodag->parents, new_best);
         /* no-path DAOs only for the storing mode */
         if ((dodag->instance->mop == GNRC_RPL_MOP_STORING_MODE_NO_MC) ||
             (dodag->instance->mop == GNRC_RPL_MOP_STORING_MODE_MC)) {
diff --git a/sys/net/gnrc/routing/rpl/of0.c b/sys/net/gnrc/routing/rpl/of0.c
index 3bd5d5faee..0fb5e5ddb2 100644
--- a/sys/net/gnrc/routing/rpl/of0.c
+++ b/sys/net/gnrc/routing/rpl/of0.c
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 
 static uint16_t calc_rank(gnrc_rpl_parent_t *, uint16_t);
 static gnrc_rpl_parent_t *which_parent(gnrc_rpl_parent_t *, gnrc_rpl_parent_t *);
+static int parent_cmp(gnrc_rpl_parent_t *, gnrc_rpl_parent_t *);
 static gnrc_rpl_dodag_t *which_dodag(gnrc_rpl_dodag_t *, gnrc_rpl_dodag_t *);
 static void reset(gnrc_rpl_dodag_t *);
 
@@ -32,6 +33,7 @@ static gnrc_rpl_of_t gnrc_rpl_of0 = {
     0x0,
     calc_rank,
     which_parent,
+    parent_cmp,
     which_dodag,
     reset,
     NULL,
@@ -79,11 +81,21 @@ uint16_t calc_rank(gnrc_rpl_parent_t *parent, uint16_t base_rank)
 /* We simply return the Parent with lower rank */
 gnrc_rpl_parent_t *which_parent(gnrc_rpl_parent_t *p1, gnrc_rpl_parent_t *p2)
 {
-    if (p1->rank <= p2->rank) {
-        return p1;
+    if (parent_cmp(p1, p2) > 0) {
+        return p2;
     }
+    return p1;
+}
 
-    return p2;
+int parent_cmp(gnrc_rpl_parent_t *parent1, gnrc_rpl_parent_t *parent2)
+{
+    if (parent1->rank < parent2->rank) {
+        return -1;
+    }
+    else if (parent1->rank > parent2->rank) {
+        return 1;
+    }
+    return 0;
 }
 
 /* Not used yet */