Index: Python/bltinmodule.c
===================================================================
--- Python/bltinmodule.c	(revision 66965)
+++ Python/bltinmodule.c	(working copy)
@@ -1201,6 +1201,64 @@
 
 
 static PyObject *
+min_max_list(PyObject *v, int op, PyObject *keyfunc)
+{
+	PyObject *item, *val, *maxitem, *maxval;
+	SSIZE_T i, size;
+	int cmp;
+	
+	maxitem = PyList_GET_ITEM(v, 0);
+	if (keyfunc != NULL) {
+		maxval = PyObject_CallFunctionObjArgs(keyfunc, maxitem, NULL);
+		if (maxval == NULL)
+			return NULL;
+	} else {
+		maxval = maxitem;
+		Py_INCREF(maxval);
+	}
+	
+	size = PyList_GET_SIZE(v);
+	for(i = 1; i<size; ++i) {
+		item = PyList_GET_ITEM(v, i);
+		
+		/* get the value from the key function */
+		if (keyfunc != NULL) {
+			val = PyObject_CallFunctionObjArgs(keyfunc, item, NULL);
+			if (val == NULL)
+				goto Fail_it;
+		}
+		/* no key function; the value is the item */
+		else {
+			val = item;
+			Py_INCREF(val);
+		}
+
+		/* maximum value and item are set; update them as necessary */
+		cmp = PyObject_RichCompareBool(val, maxval, op);
+		if (cmp < 0)
+			goto Fail_it_val;
+		else if (cmp > 0) {
+			Py_DECREF(maxval);
+			maxval = val;
+			maxitem = item;
+		}
+		else {
+			Py_DECREF(val);
+		}	
+	}
+	Py_DECREF(maxval);
+	Py_INCREF(maxitem);
+	return maxitem;
+
+Fail_it_val:
+	Py_DECREF(val);
+Fail_it:
+	Py_XDECREF(maxval);
+	return NULL;
+}
+
+
+static PyObject *
 min_max(PyObject *args, PyObject *kwds, int op)
 {
 	PyObject *v, *it, *item, *val, *maxitem, *maxval, *keyfunc=NULL;
@@ -1221,6 +1279,12 @@
 		Py_INCREF(keyfunc);
 	}
 
+	if (PyList_Check(v) && PyList_GET_SIZE(v) > 0) {
+		maxitem = min_max_list(v, op, keyfunc);
+		Py_XDECREF(keyfunc);
+		return maxitem;
+	}
+
 	it = PyObject_GetIter(v);
 	if (it == NULL) {
 		Py_XDECREF(keyfunc);