diff --git a/priority_queue.py b/priority_queue.py
index 9bc9135..f54f6be 100644
--- a/priority_queue.py
+++ b/priority_queue.py
@@ -35,11 +35,11 @@ def _sift_down(self, index):
       smallest = index
 
       if left_child_index < len(self.heap) and \
-        self.heap[left_child_index][0] > self.heap[smallest][0]:
+        self.heap[left_child_index][0] < self.heap[smallest][0]:
         smallest = left_child_index
 
       if right_child_index < len(self.heap) and \
-        self.heap[right_child_index][0] > self.heap[smallest][0]:
+        self.heap[right_child_index][0] < self.heap[smallest][0]:
         smallest = right_child_index
 
       if smallest != index: