diff --git a/setuptools/msvc.py b/setuptools/msvc.py
index a3d350fe509..3991aff24db 100644
--- a/setuptools/msvc.py
+++ b/setuptools/msvc.py
@@ -629,7 +629,7 @@ def _find_latest_available_vs_ver(self):
 
         vc_vers = set(reg_vc_vers)
         vc_vers.update(self.known_vs_paths)
-        return sorted(vc_vers)[-1]
+        return max(vc_vers)
 
     def find_reg_vs_vers(self):
         """