diff --git a/client/client_state.h b/client/client_state.h
index bd2e6b42b7..74ff594c74 100644
--- a/client/client_state.h
+++ b/client/client_state.h
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ using std::vector;
 struct CLIENT_STATE {
     vector<PLATFORM> platforms;
     vector<PROJECT*> projects;
+        // in alphabetical order, to improve display
     vector<APP*> apps;
     vector<FILE_INFO*> file_infos;
     vector<APP_VERSION*> app_versions;
@@ -456,6 +457,7 @@ struct CLIENT_STATE {
     int write_file_transfers_gui(MIOFILE&);
     int write_tasks_gui(MIOFILE&, bool);
     void sort_results();
+    void sort_projects();
 
 // --------------- cs_trickle.cpp:
     int read_trickle_files(PROJECT*, FILE*);
diff --git a/client/cs_account.cpp b/client/cs_account.cpp
index 15ed20e6ce..bd86d04749 100644
--- a/client/cs_account.cpp
+++ b/client/cs_account.cpp
@@ -353,6 +353,7 @@ int CLIENT_STATE::parse_account_files() {
             }
         }
     }
+    sort_projects();
     return 0;
 }
 
@@ -574,6 +575,7 @@ int CLIENT_STATE::add_project(
     retval = make_project_dir(*project);
     if (retval) return retval;
     projects.push_back(project);
+    sort_projects();
     project->sched_rpc_pending = RPC_REASON_INIT;
     set_client_state_dirty("Add project");
     return 0;
diff --git a/client/cs_statefile.cpp b/client/cs_statefile.cpp
index 10c4c74219..dbf80da189 100644
--- a/client/cs_statefile.cpp
+++ b/client/cs_statefile.cpp
@@ -568,6 +568,18 @@ void CLIENT_STATE::sort_results() {
     }
 }
 
+static inline bool project_name_compare(PROJECT* p0, PROJECT* p1) {
+    return strcasecmp(p0->project_name, p1->project_name) < 0;
+}
+
+void CLIENT_STATE::sort_projects() {
+    std::sort(
+        projects.begin(),
+        projects.end(),
+        project_name_compare
+    );
+}
+
 #ifndef SIM
 
 // Write the client_state.xml file
diff --git a/client/work_fetch.cpp b/client/work_fetch.cpp
index 7f73875a86..eb98c5f486 100644
--- a/client/work_fetch.cpp
+++ b/client/work_fetch.cpp
@@ -517,8 +517,8 @@ void WORK_FETCH::piggyback_work_request(PROJECT* p) {
         }
         if (check_higher_priority_projects) {
             PROJECT* p2 = NULL;
-            for (unsigned int j=0; j<gstate.projects.size(); j++) {
-                p2 = gstate.projects[j];
+            for (unsigned int j=0; j<projects_sorted.size(); j++) {
+                p2 = projects_sorted[j];
                 if (p2 == p) break;
                 if (p2->sched_priority == p->sched_priority) continue;
                 if (p2->pwf.project_reason) {
@@ -627,9 +627,10 @@ void WORK_FETCH::setup() {
         }
     }
 
+    projects_sorted = gstate.projects;
     std::sort(
-        gstate.projects.begin(),
-        gstate.projects.end(),
+        projects_sorted.begin(),
+        projects_sorted.end(),
         higher_priority
     );
     if (log_flags.work_fetch_debug) {
@@ -657,8 +658,8 @@ PROJECT* WORK_FETCH::choose_project() {
     // scan projects in order of decreasing priority
     //
     bool found = false;
-    for (unsigned int j=0; j<gstate.projects.size(); j++) {
-        p = gstate.projects[j];
+    for (unsigned int j=0; j<projects_sorted.size(); j++) {
+        p = projects_sorted[j];
         WF_DEBUG(msg_printf(p, MSG_INFO, "scanning");)
         if (p->pwf.project_reason) {
             WF_DEBUG(msg_printf(p, MSG_INFO, "skip: cfwr %d", p->pwf.project_reason);)
diff --git a/client/work_fetch.h b/client/work_fetch.h
index 6c0ece63dc..ea231365e9 100644
--- a/client/work_fetch.h
+++ b/client/work_fetch.h
@@ -299,6 +299,8 @@ struct PROJECT_WORK_FETCH {
 // global work fetch state
 //
 struct WORK_FETCH {
+    std::vector<PROJECT*> projects_sorted;
+        // projects in decreasing priority order
     void setup();
     PROJECT* choose_project();
         // Find a project to ask for work.