diff --git a/assign.py b/assign.py
index 82d894b..c7c2c59 100644
--- a/assign.py
+++ b/assign.py
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ def get_pkg_cat(string):
 def get_maintainer_for(directory):
     """ returns a priority-sorted list of maintainers for a given CAT or CAT/PN """
     cc = []
+    hcc = []
     try:
         if not heXML:
             globals()['heXML'] = et.parse(HERDS)
@@ -65,7 +66,7 @@ def get_maintainer_for(directory):
                     if thisherd.findtext("name") == elem.text:
                         herdmail = thisherd.findtext("email")
                         if herdmail:
-                            cc.append(herdmail)
+                            hcc.append(herdmail)
             elif elem.tag == "maintainer":
                 email = elem.findtext("email")
                 if not email:
@@ -75,6 +76,7 @@ def get_maintainer_for(directory):
                         cc.remove(email)
                 else:
                     cc.append(email)
+        cc.extend(hcc)
 
     except Exception:
         pass