diff --git a/backend/oasst_backend/api/v1/users.py b/backend/oasst_backend/api/v1/users.py
index ed07eb21..c7ff9f9c 100644
--- a/backend/oasst_backend/api/v1/users.py
+++ b/backend/oasst_backend/api/v1/users.py
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ def get_users_ordered_by_username(
     search_text: Optional[str] = None,
     auth_method: Optional[str] = None,
     max_count: Optional[int] = Query(100, gt=0, le=10000),
+    desc: Optional[bool] = False,
     api_client: ApiClient = Depends(deps.get_api_client),
     db: Session = Depends(deps.get_db),
 ):
@@ -41,6 +42,7 @@ def get_users_ordered_by_username(
         auth_method=auth_method,
         search_text=search_text,
         limit=max_count,
+        desc=desc,
     )
     return [u.to_protocol_frontend_user() for u in users]
 
@@ -55,6 +57,7 @@ def get_users_ordered_by_display_name(
     auth_method: Optional[str] = None,
     search_text: Optional[str] = None,
     max_count: Optional[int] = Query(100, gt=0, le=10000),
+    desc: Optional[bool] = False,
     api_client: ApiClient = Depends(deps.get_api_client),
     db: Session = Depends(deps.get_db),
 ):
@@ -68,6 +71,7 @@ def get_users_ordered_by_display_name(
         auth_method=auth_method,
         search_text=search_text,
         limit=max_count,
+        desc=desc,
     )
     return [u.to_protocol_frontend_user() for u in users]
 
@@ -96,6 +100,7 @@ def get_users_cursor(
 
     items: list[protocol.FrontEndUser]
     qry_max_count = max_count + 1 if lt is None or gt is None else max_count
+    desc = lt and not gt
 
     def get_next_prev(num_rows: int, lt: str | None, gt: str | None, key_fn: Callable[[protocol.FrontEndUser], str]):
         p, n = None, None
@@ -115,10 +120,9 @@ def get_users_cursor(
         num_rows = len(items)
         if qry_max_count > max_count and num_rows == qry_max_count:
             assert not (lt and gt)
-            if lt:
-                items = items[1:]
-            else:
-                items = items[:-1]
+            items = items[:-1]
+        if desc:
+            items.reverse()
         return items, num_rows
 
     n, p = None, None
@@ -134,6 +138,7 @@ def get_users_cursor(
             auth_method=auth_method,
             search_text=search_text,
             max_count=qry_max_count,
+            desc=desc,
             api_client=api_client,
             db=db,
         )
@@ -152,6 +157,7 @@ def get_users_cursor(
             auth_method=auth_method,
             search_text=search_text,
             max_count=qry_max_count,
+            desc=desc,
             api_client=api_client,
             db=db,
         )
diff --git a/backend/oasst_backend/user_repository.py b/backend/oasst_backend/user_repository.py
index 79df99ab..136d3d29 100644
--- a/backend/oasst_backend/user_repository.py
+++ b/backend/oasst_backend/user_repository.py
@@ -145,6 +145,7 @@ class UserRepository:
         auth_method: Optional[str] = None,
         search_text: Optional[str] = None,
         limit: Optional[int] = 100,
+        desc: bool = False,
     ) -> list[User]:
         if not self.api_client.trusted:
             if not api_client_id:
@@ -184,14 +185,13 @@ class UserRepository:
             pattern = "%{}%".format(search_text.replace("\\", "\\\\").replace("_", "\\_").replace("%", "\\%"))
             qry = qry.filter(User.username.like(pattern))
 
-        if limit is not None and lte_username and not gte_username:
-            # select top rows but return results in ascernding order
-            sub_qry = qry.order_by(User.username.desc(), User.id.desc()).limit(limit).subquery("u")
-            qry = self.db.query(User).select_entity_from(sub_qry).order_by(User.username, User.id)
+        if desc:
+            qry = qry.order_by(User.username.desc(), User.id.desc())
         else:
             qry = qry.order_by(User.username, User.id)
-            if limit is not None:
-                qry = qry.limit(limit)
+
+        if limit is not None:
+            qry = qry.limit(limit)
 
         return qry.all()
 
@@ -205,6 +205,7 @@ class UserRepository:
         auth_method: Optional[str] = None,
         search_text: Optional[str] = None,
         limit: Optional[int] = 100,
+        desc: bool = False,
     ) -> list[User]:
 
         if not self.api_client.trusted:
@@ -256,13 +257,12 @@ class UserRepository:
         if auth_method:
             qry = qry.filter(User.auth_method == auth_method)
 
-        if limit is not None and lte_display_name and not gte_display_name:
-            # select top rows but return results in ascernding order
-            sub_qry = qry.order_by(User.display_name.desc(), User.id.desc()).limit(limit).subquery("u")
-            qry = self.db.query(User).select_entity_from(sub_qry).order_by(User.display_name, User.id)
+        if desc:
+            qry = qry.order_by(User.display_name.desc(), User.id.desc())
         else:
             qry = qry.order_by(User.display_name, User.id)
-            if limit is not None:
-                qry = qry.limit(limit)
+
+        if limit is not None:
+            qry = qry.limit(limit)
 
         return qry.all()