diff --git a/utils/warden/src/main/java/org/onlab/warden/Warden.java b/utils/warden/src/main/java/org/onlab/warden/Warden.java
index 8c8e3f96..8ce6037 100644
--- a/utils/warden/src/main/java/org/onlab/warden/Warden.java
+++ b/utils/warden/src/main/java/org/onlab/warden/Warden.java
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@
                         new ServerInfo(info.hostName) : v.bumpLoad(info)));
 
         List<ServerInfo> servers = new ArrayList<>(load.values());
-        servers.sort((a, b) -> a.load - b.load);
+        servers.sort((a, b) -> b.load - a.load);
         ServerInfo server = servers.get(0);
         return server.cells.get(random.nextInt(server.cells.size())).cellName;
     }
diff --git a/utils/warden/src/test/java/org/onlab/warden/WardenTest.java b/utils/warden/src/test/java/org/onlab/warden/WardenTest.java
index 20f1089..70a5960 100644
--- a/utils/warden/src/test/java/org/onlab/warden/WardenTest.java
+++ b/utils/warden/src/test/java/org/onlab/warden/WardenTest.java
@@ -85,9 +85,9 @@
         validateCellState(doltCell);
         validateSizes(4, 2);
 
-        assertTrue("cells should not be on the same host",
-                   Objects.equals(warden.getCellHost(dudeCell.cellName),
-                                  warden.getCellHost(doltCell.cellName)));
+        assertFalse("cells should not be on the same host",
+                    Objects.equals(warden.getCellHost(dudeCell.cellName),
+                                   warden.getCellHost(doltCell.cellName)));
 
         warden.returnCell("dude");
         validateSizes(5, 1);