diff --git a/ui/ui.sortable.js b/ui/ui.sortable.js
index 7a71794f3..7330adb1d 100644
--- a/ui/ui.sortable.js
+++ b/ui/ui.sortable.js
@@ -462,14 +462,21 @@ $.widget("ui.sortable", $.extend({}, $.ui.mouse, {
 		this.refreshPositions();
 	},
 
+	_connectWith: function() {
+		var options = this.options;
+		return options.connectWith.constructor == String
+			? [options.connectWith]
+			: options.connectWith;
+	},
+	
 	_getItemsAsjQuery: function(connected) {
 
 		var self = this;
 		var items = [];
 		var queries = [];
+		var connectWith = this._connectWith();
 
-		if(this.options.connectWith && connected) {
-			var connectWith = this.options.connectWith.constructor == String ? [this.options.connectWith] : this.options.connectWith;
+		if(connectWith && connected) {
 			for (var i = connectWith.length - 1; i >= 0; i--){
 				var cur = $(connectWith[i]);
 				for (var j = cur.length - 1; j >= 0; j--){
@@ -515,10 +522,11 @@ $.widget("ui.sortable", $.extend({}, $.ui.mouse, {
 		var items = this.items;
 		var self = this;
 		var queries = [[$.isFunction(this.options.items) ? this.options.items.call(this.element[0], event, { item: this.currentItem }) : $(this.options.items, this.element), this]];
+		var connectWith = this._connectWith();
 
-		if(this.options.connectWith) {
-			for (var i = this.options.connectWith.length - 1; i >= 0; i--){
-				var cur = $(this.options.connectWith[i]);
+		if(connectWith) {
+			for (var i = connectWith.length - 1; i >= 0; i--){
+				var cur = $(connectWith[i]);
 				for (var j = cur.length - 1; j >= 0; j--){
 					var inst = $.data(cur[j], 'sortable');
 					if(inst && inst != this && !inst.options.disabled) {