diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/msgs/MessagesDialog.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/msgs/MessagesDialog.cpp
index 843d964ef..978deb8e4 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/msgs/MessagesDialog.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/msgs/MessagesDialog.cpp
@@ -231,6 +231,8 @@ MessagesDialog::MessagesDialog(QWidget *parent)
     // fill quick view
     fillQuickView();
 
+	sortColumn(RsMessageModel::COLUMN_THREAD_DATE,Qt::DescendingOrder);
+
     // load settings
     processSettings(true);