diff --git a/selfdrive/athena/athenad.py b/selfdrive/athena/athenad.py
index 2ef7d56cc1..d8b495e552 100755
--- a/selfdrive/athena/athenad.py
+++ b/selfdrive/athena/athenad.py
@@ -311,9 +311,8 @@ def get_logs_to_send_sorted():
     # assume send failed and we lost the response if sent more than one hour ago
     if not time_sent or curr_time - time_sent > 3600:
       logs.append(log_entry)
-  # return logs in order they should be sent
   # excluding most recent (active) log file
-  return sorted(logs[:-1])
+  return sorted(logs)[:-1]
 
 
 def log_handler(end_event):
@@ -332,7 +331,7 @@ def log_handler(end_event):
       # send one log
       curr_log = None
       if len(log_files) > 0:
-        log_entry = log_files.pop()
+        log_entry = log_files.pop() # newest log file
         cloudlog.debug(f"athena.log_handler.forward_request {log_entry}")
         try:
           curr_time = int(time.time())
diff --git a/selfdrive/athena/tests/test_athenad.py b/selfdrive/athena/tests/test_athenad.py
index 4002f60d19..be6c631a0c 100755
--- a/selfdrive/athena/tests/test_athenad.py
+++ b/selfdrive/athena/tests/test_athenad.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ from unittest import mock
 from websocket import ABNF
 from websocket._exceptions import WebSocketConnectionClosedException
 
+from selfdrive import swaglog
 from selfdrive.athena import athenad
 from selfdrive.athena.athenad import dispatcher
 from selfdrive.athena.tests.helpers import MockWebsocket, MockParams, MockApi, EchoSocket, with_http_server
@@ -24,6 +25,7 @@ class TestAthenadMethods(unittest.TestCase):
   def setUpClass(cls):
     cls.SOCKET_PORT = 45454
     athenad.ROOT = tempfile.mkdtemp()
+    athenad.SWAGLOG_DIR = swaglog.SWAGLOG_DIR = tempfile.mkdtemp()
     athenad.Params = MockParams
     athenad.Api = MockApi
     athenad.LOCAL_PORT_WHITELIST = set([cls.SOCKET_PORT])
@@ -204,5 +206,16 @@ class TestAthenadMethods(unittest.TestCase):
       end_event.set()
       thread.join()
 
+  def test_get_logs_to_send_sorted(self):
+    fl = list()
+    for i in range(10):
+      fn = os.path.join(swaglog.SWAGLOG_DIR, f'swaglog.{i:010}')
+      Path(fn).touch()
+      fl.append(os.path.basename(fn))
+
+    # ensure the list is all logs except most recent
+    sl = athenad.get_logs_to_send_sorted()
+    self.assertListEqual(sl, fl[:-1])
+
 if __name__ == '__main__':
   unittest.main()