diff --git a/appview/state/repo.go b/appview/state/repo.go
index f0c69c4c..cc56f9d1 100644
--- a/appview/state/repo.go
+++ b/appview/state/repo.go
@@ -94,6 +94,9 @@ func (s *State) RepoIndex(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		if a.IsDefault {
 			return -1
 		}
+		if b.IsDefault {
+			return 1
+		}
 		if a.Commit != nil {
 			if a.Commit.Author.When.Before(b.Commit.Author.When) {
 				return 1
@@ -495,6 +498,9 @@ func (s *State) RepoBranches(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		if a.IsDefault {
 			return -1
 		}
+		if b.IsDefault {
+			return 1
+		}
 		if a.Commit != nil {
 			if a.Commit.Author.When.Before(b.Commit.Author.When) {
 				return 1