diff --git a/django_sorting/middleware.py b/django_sorting/middleware.py
index cd8a076..e4285c4 100644
--- a/django_sorting/middleware.py
+++ b/django_sorting/middleware.py
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 def get_field(self):
     try:
-        field = self.REQUEST['sort']
+        field = self.GET['sort']
     except (KeyError, ValueError, TypeError):
         field = ''
     return (self.direction == 'desc' and '-' or '') + field
 
 def get_direction(self):
     try:
-        return self.REQUEST['dir']
+        return self.GET['dir']
     except (KeyError, ValueError, TypeError):
         return 'desc'
 
@@ -19,4 +19,4 @@ class SortingMiddleware(object):
     """
     def process_request(self, request):
         request.__class__.field = property(get_field)
-        request.__class__.direction = property(get_direction)
\ No newline at end of file
+        request.__class__.direction = property(get_direction)