diff --git a/interfaces/cython/cantera/composite.py b/interfaces/cython/cantera/composite.py
index bc6de6fb0f..af09e282d7 100644
--- a/interfaces/cython/cantera/composite.py
+++ b/interfaces/cython/cantera/composite.py
@@ -918,7 +918,7 @@ def join(species):
             if valid_species:
 
                 if len(valid_species) != len(all_species):
-                    incompatible = list(set(valid_species) ^ set(all_species))
+                    incompatible = sorted(set(valid_species) ^ set(all_species))
                     raise ValueError('incompatible species information for '
                                     '{}'.format(incompatible))