diff --git a/src/Client.ts b/src/Client.ts
index 1f53196c8..3fb11c204 100644
--- a/src/Client.ts
+++ b/src/Client.ts
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ export type ListMessagesOptions = {
   startTime?: Date
   endTime?: Date
   limit?: number
+  direction?: messageApi.SortDirection
 }
 
 export type ListMessagesPaginatedOptions = {
@@ -491,7 +492,8 @@ export default class Client {
     const res = await this.apiClient.query(
       { contentTopics: [topic], startTime, endTime },
       {
-        direction: messageApi.SortDirection.SORT_DIRECTION_ASCENDING,
+        direction:
+          opts.direction || messageApi.SortDirection.SORT_DIRECTION_ASCENDING,
         limit,
       }
     )
diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index e62b8a997..17eb3c144 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import {
   CompositeCodec,
   ContentTypeComposite,
 } from './codecs/Composite'
+import { SortDirection } from './ApiClient'
 
 export {
   Client,
@@ -53,4 +54,5 @@ export {
   Composite,
   CompositeCodec,
   ContentTypeComposite,
+  SortDirection,
 }
diff --git a/test/conversations/Conversation.test.ts b/test/conversations/Conversation.test.ts
index b72be9601..dbe0b0585 100644
--- a/test/conversations/Conversation.test.ts
+++ b/test/conversations/Conversation.test.ts
@@ -98,6 +98,23 @@ describe('conversation', () => {
     expect(numMessages).toBe(1)
   })
 
+  it('allows for sorted listing', async () => {
+    const aliceConversation = await alice.conversations.newConversation(
+      bob.address
+    )
+    await aliceConversation.send('1')
+    await sleep(1)
+    await aliceConversation.send('2')
+
+    const sortedAscending = await aliceConversation.messages()
+    expect(sortedAscending[0].content).toBe('1')
+
+    const sortedDescending = await aliceConversation.messages({
+      direction: SortDirection.SORT_DIRECTION_DESCENDING,
+    })
+    expect(sortedDescending[0].content).toBe('2')
+  })
+
   it('streams messages', async () => {
     const aliceConversation = await alice.conversations.newConversation(
       bob.address