diff --git a/libraries/shared/src/AACube.cpp b/libraries/shared/src/AACube.cpp
index e359eac9e9..6db80026df 100644
--- a/libraries/shared/src/AACube.cpp
+++ b/libraries/shared/src/AACube.cpp
@@ -314,6 +314,13 @@ bool AACube::findCapsulePenetration(const glm::vec3& start, const glm::vec3& end
     return true;
 }
 
+bool AACube::operator<(const AACube& otherCube) const {
+    return (_corner.x < otherCube._corner.x
+            || (_corner.x == otherCube._corner.x && (_corner.y < otherCube._corner.y
+            || (_corner.y == otherCube._corner.y && (_corner.z < otherCube._corner.z
+            || _scale < otherCube._scale)))));
+}
+
 glm::vec3 AACube::getClosestPointOnFace(const glm::vec3& point, BoxFace face) const {
     switch (face) {
         case MIN_X_FACE:
diff --git a/libraries/shared/src/AACube.h b/libraries/shared/src/AACube.h
index b427e579e9..5e2595811c 100644
--- a/libraries/shared/src/AACube.h
+++ b/libraries/shared/src/AACube.h
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@ public:
      bool findSpherePenetration(const glm::vec3& center, float radius, glm::vec3& penetration) const;
      bool findCapsulePenetration(const glm::vec3& start, const glm::vec3& end, float radius, glm::vec3& penetration) const;
 
+    bool operator<(const AACube& otherCube) const;  // for qSorted lists of AACubes
+
 private:
     glm::vec3 getClosestPointOnFace(const glm::vec3& point, BoxFace face) const;
     glm::vec3 getClosestPointOnFace(const glm::vec4& origin, const glm::vec4& direction, BoxFace face) const;