diff --git a/veilid-core/src/veilid_api/api.rs b/veilid-core/src/veilid_api/api.rs
index 03b1d29d..5789a5ef 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/veilid_api/api.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/veilid_api/api.rs
@@ -234,8 +234,8 @@ impl VeilidAPI {
     pub async fn new_private_route(&self) -> VeilidAPIResult<(RouteId, Vec<u8>)> {
         self.new_custom_private_route(
             &VALID_CRYPTO_KINDS,
-            Stability::default(),
-            Sequencing::default(),
+            Stability::Reliable,
+            Sequencing::PreferOrdered,
         )
         .await
     }
diff --git a/veilid-core/src/veilid_api/routing_context.rs b/veilid-core/src/veilid_api/routing_context.rs
index 65d72090..b4eeb620 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/veilid_api/routing_context.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/veilid_api/routing_context.rs
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ impl RoutingContext {
                     preferred_route: None,
                     hop_count: c.network.rpc.default_route_hop_count as usize,
                     stability: Stability::default(),
-                    sequencing: Sequencing::default(),
+                    sequencing: Sequencing::PreferOrdered,
                 }),
             }),
         })
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ impl RoutingContext {
     ///
     /// * Hop count default is dependent on config, but is set to 1 extra hop.
     /// * Stability default is to choose 'low latency' routes, preferring them over long-term reliability.
-    /// * Sequencing default is to have no preference for ordered vs unordered message delivery
+    /// * Sequencing default is to prefer ordered before unordered message delivery
     ///
     /// To customize the safety selection in use, use [RoutingContext::with_safety()].
     pub fn with_default_safety(self) -> VeilidAPIResult<Self> {
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ impl RoutingContext {
             preferred_route: None,
             hop_count: c.network.rpc.default_route_hop_count as usize,
             stability: Stability::default(),
-            sequencing: Sequencing::default(),
+            sequencing: Sequencing::PreferOrdered,
         }))
     }
 
diff --git a/veilid-python/tests/test_routing_context.py b/veilid-python/tests/test_routing_context.py
index da376b95..3266e4bb 100644
--- a/veilid-python/tests/test_routing_context.py
+++ b/veilid-python/tests/test_routing_context.py
@@ -104,10 +104,8 @@ async def test_routing_context_app_call_loopback():
         # purge routes to ensure we start fresh
         await api.debug("purge routes")
 
-        # make a routing context that uses a safety route
-        rc = await (await api.new_routing_context()).with_sequencing(
-            veilid.Sequencing.ENSURE_ORDERED
-        )
+        # make a routing context
+        rc = await api.new_routing_context()
         async with rc:
             # make a new local private route
             prl, blob = await api.new_private_route()
@@ -160,15 +158,10 @@ async def test_routing_context_app_message_loopback_big_packets():
         await api.debug("purge routes")
 
         # make a routing context that uses a safety route
-        rc = await (await api.new_routing_context()).with_sequencing(
-            veilid.Sequencing.ENSURE_ORDERED
-        )
+        rc = await api.new_routing_context()
         async with rc:
             # make a new local private route
-            prl, blob = await api.new_custom_private_route(
-                [veilid.CryptoKind.CRYPTO_KIND_VLD0], 
-                veilid.Stability.RELIABLE, 
-                veilid.Sequencing.ENSURE_ORDERED)
+            prl, blob = await api.new_private_route()
 
             # import it as a remote route as well so we can send to it
             prr = await api.import_remote_private_route(blob)
@@ -269,8 +262,6 @@ async def test_routing_context_app_message_loopback_bandwidth():
         await api.debug("purge routes")
 
         # make a routing context that uses a safety route
-        # rc = await (await api.new_routing_context()).with_sequencing(veilid.Sequencing.ENSURE_ORDERED)
-        # rc = await api.new_routing_context()
         rc = await api.new_routing_context()
         async with rc:
             # make a new local private route