diff --git a/binaries/data/mods/mod/gui/gui.rng b/binaries/data/mods/mod/gui/gui.rng
index 49f06af370..268245708e 100644
--- a/binaries/data/mods/mod/gui/gui.rng
+++ b/binaries/data/mods/mod/gui/gui.rng
@@ -107,6 +107,12 @@
       <data type="decimal"/>
     </list>
   </define>
+  <define name="sort_order">
+    <choice>
+      <value>asc</value>
+      <value>desc</value>
+    </choice>
+  </define>
   <define name="unique_settings">
     <a:documentation/>
     <!-- Defines # -->
@@ -596,6 +602,11 @@
             <ref name="bool"/>
           </attribute>
         </optional>
+        <optional>
+          <attribute name="sort_order">
+            <ref name="sort_order"/>
+          </attribute>
+        </optional>
       </interleave>
     </element>
   </define>
diff --git a/source/gui/ObjectTypes/COList.cpp b/source/gui/ObjectTypes/COList.cpp
index 938fb9804b..e6318a7777 100644
--- a/source/gui/ObjectTypes/COList.cpp
+++ b/source/gui/ObjectTypes/COList.cpp
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ void COList::HandleMessage(SGUIMessage& Message)
 			{
 				if (column.m_Id != static_cast<CStr>(m_SelectedColumn))
 				{
-					m_SelectedColumnOrder.Set(-1, true);
+					m_SelectedColumnOrder.Set(column.m_SortOrder, true);
 					CStr selected_column = column.m_Id;
 					m_SelectedColumn.Set(selected_column, true);
 				}
@@ -244,6 +244,10 @@ bool COList::HandleAdditionalChildren(const XMBData& xmb, const XMBElement& chil
 			{
 				column.m_Heading.Set(attr_value.FromUTF8(), false);
 			}
+			else if (attr_name == "sort_order")
+			{
+				column.m_SortOrder.Set(attr_value == "desc" ? -1 : 1, false);
+			}
 		}
 
 		for (XMBElement grandchild : child.GetChildNodes())
diff --git a/source/gui/ObjectTypes/COList.h b/source/gui/ObjectTypes/COList.h
index 8fce3510ac..5b3fab9a61 100644
--- a/source/gui/ObjectTypes/COList.h
+++ b/source/gui/ObjectTypes/COList.h
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ class COListColumn
 public:
 	COListColumn(IGUIObject* owner, const CStr& cid)
 		: m_Id(cid), m_Width(0), m_Heading(owner, "heading_" + cid), m_List(owner, "list_" + cid),
-		m_Hidden(owner, "hidden_" + cid, false)
+		m_Hidden(owner, "hidden_" + cid, false), m_SortOrder(owner, " sort_order_" + cid, -1)
 	{}
 	// Avoid copying the strings.
 	NONCOPYABLE(COListColumn);
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ public:
 	CGUISimpleSetting<CStrW> m_Heading; // CGUIString??
 	CGUISimpleSetting<CGUIList> m_List;
 	CGUISimpleSetting<bool> m_Hidden;
+	CGUISimpleSetting<i32> m_SortOrder;
 };
 
 /**