diff --git a/package/MDAnalysis/core/AtomGroup.py b/package/MDAnalysis/core/AtomGroup.py
index 6885cb98bcd..f4b47e2c463 100644
--- a/package/MDAnalysis/core/AtomGroup.py
+++ b/package/MDAnalysis/core/AtomGroup.py
@@ -418,6 +418,7 @@
 import logging
 import os.path
 import weakref
+import functools
 
 # Local imports
 import MDAnalysis
@@ -453,7 +454,7 @@
 _SINGULAR_PROPERTIES = {v: k for k, v in _PLURAL_PROPERTIES.items()}
 
 
-
+@functools.total_ordering
 class Atom(object):
     """A class representing a single atom.
 
@@ -523,8 +524,8 @@ def __repr__(self):
                     altloc="" if not self.altLoc
                     else " and altloc {0}".format(self.altLoc)))
 
-    def __cmp__(self, other):
-        return cmp(self.index, other.index)
+    def __lt__(self, other):
+        return self.index < other.index
 
     def __eq__(self, other):
         return self.index == other.index