diff --git a/loopy/schedule.py b/loopy/schedule.py
index d9a3676d2730a939f5bf26f8c07a19708ceb344b..d9ac61673c0f57de23a83547985cd5b4167fe5a1 100644
--- a/loopy/schedule.py
+++ b/loopy/schedule.py
@@ -452,9 +452,10 @@ def generate_loop_schedules_internal(
         insn = kernel.id_to_insn[insn_id]
         return (insn.priority, len(active_groups & insn.groups))
 
-    for insn_id in sorted(sched_state.unscheduled_insn_ids,
-            key=insn_sort_key, reverse=True):
+    insn_ids_to_try = sorted(sched_state.unscheduled_insn_ids,
+            key=insn_sort_key, reverse=True)
 
+    for insn_id in insn_ids_to_try:
         insn = kernel.id_to_insn[insn_id]
 
         is_ready = insn.insn_deps <= sched_state.scheduled_insn_ids