diff --git a/demo/CheckListCtrlMixin.py b/demo/CheckListCtrlMixin.py
index ce500196..d57dfb33 100644
--- a/demo/CheckListCtrlMixin.py
+++ b/demo/CheckListCtrlMixin.py
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ class TestPanel(wx.Panel):
         self.list.InsertColumn(2, "Genre")
 
         for key, data in musicdata.items():
-            index = self.list.InsertStringItem(sys.maxsize, data[0])
+            index = self.list.InsertItem(self.list.GetItemCount(), data[0])
             self.list.SetItem(index, 1, data[1])
             self.list.SetItem(index, 2, data[2])
             self.list.SetItemData(index, key)
diff --git a/demo/ListCtrl.py b/demo/ListCtrl.py
index 757ff49d..ec41b4bc 100644
--- a/demo/ListCtrl.py
+++ b/demo/ListCtrl.py
@@ -113,8 +113,8 @@ class TestListCtrlPanel(wx.Panel, listmix.ColumnSorterMixin):
                                  #| wx.BORDER_SUNKEN
                                  | wx.BORDER_NONE
                                  | wx.LC_EDIT_LABELS
-                                 | wx.LC_SORT_ASCENDING
-                                 #| wx.LC_NO_HEADER
+                                 #| wx.LC_SORT_ASCENDING    # disabling initial auto sort gives a
+                                 #| wx.LC_NO_HEADER         # better illustration of col-click sorting
                                  #| wx.LC_VRULES
                                  #| wx.LC_HRULES
                                  #| wx.LC_SINGLE_SEL
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ class TestListCtrlPanel(wx.Panel, listmix.ColumnSorterMixin):
 
         items = musicdata.items()
         for key, data in items:
-            index = self.list.InsertItem(sys.maxsize, data[0], self.idx1)
+            index = self.list.InsertItem(self.list.GetItemCount(), data[0], self.idx1)
             self.list.SetItem(index, 1, data[1])
             self.list.SetItem(index, 2, data[2])
             self.list.SetItemData(index, key)
diff --git a/demo/ListCtrl_edit.py b/demo/ListCtrl_edit.py
index ba752de6..f48e1533 100644
--- a/demo/ListCtrl_edit.py
+++ b/demo/ListCtrl_edit.py
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ class TestListCtrl(wx.ListCtrl,
 
         items = listctrldata.items()
         for key, data in items:
-            index = self.InsertItem(sys.maxsize, data[0])
+            index = self.InsertItem(self.GetItemCount(), data[0])
             self.SetItem(index, 1, data[1])
             self.SetItem(index, 2, data[2])
             self.SetItemData(index, key)
@@ -101,8 +101,8 @@ class TestListCtrlPanel(wx.Panel):
         self.list = TestListCtrl(self, tID,
                                  style=wx.LC_REPORT
                                  | wx.BORDER_NONE
-                                 | wx.LC_SORT_ASCENDING
-                                 | wx.LC_HRULES | wx.LC_VRULES
+                                 #| wx.LC_SORT_ASCENDING            # Content of list as instructions is
+                                 | wx.LC_HRULES | wx.LC_VRULES      # nonsense with auto-sort enabled
                                  )
 
         sizer.Add(self.list, 1, wx.EXPAND)