diff --git a/bigchaindb/db/utils.py b/bigchaindb/db/utils.py
index 8e34fd99..05932f77 100644
--- a/bigchaindb/db/utils.py
+++ b/bigchaindb/db/utils.py
@@ -133,15 +133,10 @@ def create_bigchain_secondary_index(conn, dbname):
 
 def create_backlog_secondary_index(conn, dbname):
     logger.info('Create `backlog` secondary index.')
-    # to order transactions by timestamp
-    r.db(dbname).table('backlog')\
-        .index_create('transaction_timestamp',
-                      r.row['transaction']['timestamp'])\
-        .run(conn)
     # compound index to read transactions from the backlog per assignee
     r.db(dbname).table('backlog')\
         .index_create('assignee__transaction_timestamp',
-                      [r.row['assignee'], r.row['transaction']['timestamp']])\
+                      [r.row['assignee'], r.row['assignment_timestamp']])\
         .run(conn)
 
     # wait for rethinkdb to finish creating secondary indexes
diff --git a/tests/db/test_utils.py b/tests/db/test_utils.py
index 75d14c02..dd8262a5 100644
--- a/tests/db/test_utils.py
+++ b/tests/db/test_utils.py
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@ def test_init_creates_db_tables_and_indexes():
         'block_timestamp').run(conn) is True
 
     assert r.db(dbname).table('backlog').index_list().contains(
-        'transaction_timestamp',
         'assignee__transaction_timestamp').run(conn) is True
 
 
@@ -108,8 +107,6 @@ def test_create_backlog_secondary_index():
     utils.create_table(conn, dbname, 'backlog')
     utils.create_backlog_secondary_index(conn, dbname)
 
-    assert r.db(dbname).table('backlog').index_list().contains(
-        'transaction_timestamp').run(conn) is True
     assert r.db(dbname).table('backlog').index_list().contains(
         'assignee__transaction_timestamp').run(conn) is True