diff --git a/src/plugins/textreport/BirthdayReport.py b/src/plugins/textreport/BirthdayReport.py
index afbe77399..948fb09a9 100644
--- a/src/plugins/textreport/BirthdayReport.py
+++ b/src/plugins/textreport/BirthdayReport.py
@@ -376,6 +376,10 @@ class CalendarOptions(MenuReportOptions):
 
         country = EnumeratedListOption(_("Country for holidays"), 0)
         holiday_table = libholiday.HolidayTable()
+        holiday_table.sort()
+        if (len(holiday_table) == 0 or 
+            (len(holiday_table) > 0 and holiday_table[0] != '')):
+            holiday_table.insert(0, '')
         count = 0
         for c in  holiday_table.get_countries():
             country.add_item(count, c)