diff --git a/changelog.d/5003.bugfix b/changelog.d/5003.bugfix
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9955dc871f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/5003.bugfix
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Fix issue #4596 so synapse_port_db script works with --curses option on Python 3. Contributed by Anders Jensen-Waud <anders@jensenwaud.com>.
diff --git a/scripts/synapse_port_db b/scripts/synapse_port_db
index 2fa01d1a18..3de394b035 100755
--- a/scripts/synapse_port_db
+++ b/scripts/synapse_port_db
@@ -811,7 +811,7 @@ class CursesProgress(Progress):
         middle_space = 1
 
         items = self.tables.items()
-        items.sort(key=lambda i: (i[1]["perc"], i[0]))
+        items = sorted(items, key=lambda i: (i[1]["perc"], i[0]))
 
         for i, (table, data) in enumerate(items):
             if i + 2 >= rows: