diff --git a/cartridges/main.py b/cartridges/main.py
index de9eabc..5914208 100644
--- a/cartridges/main.py
+++ b/cartridges/main.py
@@ -161,13 +161,13 @@ class CartridgesApplication(Adw.Application):
         )
 
         sort_action = Gio.SimpleAction.new_stateful(
-            "sort_by", GLib.VariantType.new("s"), GLib.Variant("s", "a-z")
+            "sort_by",
+            GLib.VariantType.new("s"),
+            sort_mode := GLib.Variant("s", shared.state_schema.get_string("sort-mode")),
         )
         sort_action.connect("activate", shared.win.on_sort_action)
         shared.win.add_action(sort_action)
-        shared.win.on_sort_action(
-            sort_action, shared.state_schema.get_value("sort-mode")
-        )
+        shared.win.on_sort_action(sort_action, sort_mode)
 
         if self.init_search_term:  # For command line activation
             shared.win.search_bar.set_search_mode(True)
diff --git a/cartridges/window.py b/cartridges/window.py
index 9828d40..81350b1 100644
--- a/cartridges/window.py
+++ b/cartridges/window.py
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ class CartridgesWindow(Adw.ApplicationWindow):
     toasts: dict = {}
     active_game: Game
     details_view_game_cover: Optional[GameCover] = None
-    sort_state: str = "a-z"
+    sort_state: str = "last_played"
     filter_state: str = "all"
     source_rows: dict = {}
 
diff --git a/data/hu.kramo.Cartridges.gschema.xml.in b/data/hu.kramo.Cartridges.gschema.xml.in
index c8497e4..6ad2151 100644
--- a/data/hu.kramo.Cartridges.gschema.xml.in
+++ b/data/hu.kramo.Cartridges.gschema.xml.in
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@
         <choice value="oldest" />
         <choice value="last_played" />
       </choices>
-      <default>"a-z"</default>
+      <default>"last_played"</default>
     </key>
     <key name="show-sidebar" type="b">
       <default>false</default>