diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/directory/community_filter.html b/bookwyrm/templates/directory/community_filter.html
index bd0ba778..91783fd3 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/directory/community_filter.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/directory/community_filter.html
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
     {% trans "Local users" %}
 </label>
 <label class="is-block">
-    <input type="radio" class="radio" name="scope" value="federated" {% if not request.GET.sort or request.GET.scope == "federated" %}checked{% endif %}>
+    <input type="radio" class="radio" name="scope" value="federated" {% if request.GET.scope == "federated" %}checked{% endif %}>
     {% trans "Federated community" %}
 </label>
 {% endblock %}
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/directory/sort_filter.html b/bookwyrm/templates/directory/sort_filter.html
index 82b561fb..c7c19f6f 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/directory/sort_filter.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/directory/sort_filter.html
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@
 <label class="label" for="id_sort">{% trans "Order by" %}</label>
 <div class="select">
     <select name="sort" id="id_sort">
-        <option value="suggested" {% if not request.GET.sort or request.GET.sort == "suggested" %}checked{% endif %}>{% trans "Suggested" %}</option>
-        <option value="recent" {% if request.GET.sort == "suggested" %}checked{% endif %}>{% trans "Recently active" %}</option>
+        <option value="recent" {% if request.GET.sort == "recent" %}selected{% endif %}>{% trans "Recently active" %}</option>
+        <option value="suggested" {% if request.GET.sort == "suggested" %}selected{% endif %}>{% trans "Suggested" %}</option>
     </select>
 </div>
 {% endblock %}
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/directory.py b/bookwyrm/views/directory.py
index 8d893047..81898af2 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/directory.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/directory.py
@@ -25,10 +25,10 @@ class Directory(View):
 
         users = suggested_users.get_annotated_users(request.user, **filters)
         sort = request.GET.get("sort")
-        if sort == "recent":
-            users = users.order_by("-last_active_date")
-        else:
+        if sort == "suggested":
             users = users.order_by("-mutuals", "-last_active_date")
+        else:
+            users = users.order_by("-last_active_date")
 
         paginated = Paginator(users, 12)