diff --git a/frontend_tests/node_tests/alert_words_ui.js b/frontend_tests/node_tests/alert_words_ui.js
index ce7017b9cd..2d99fb31d6 100644
--- a/frontend_tests/node_tests/alert_words_ui.js
+++ b/frontend_tests/node_tests/alert_words_ui.js
@@ -30,9 +30,9 @@ run_test('render_alert_words_ui', () => {
     alert_words_ui.render_alert_words_ui();
 
     assert.deepEqual(appended, [
-        'stub-foo',
-        'stub-bar',
         'stub-',
+        'stub-bar',
+        'stub-foo',
     ]);
     assert(new_alert_word.is_focused());
 });
diff --git a/static/js/alert_words_ui.js b/static/js/alert_words_ui.js
index 105defd785..afbd61b8fc 100644
--- a/static/js/alert_words_ui.js
+++ b/static/js/alert_words_ui.js
@@ -2,10 +2,17 @@ const render_alert_word_settings_item = require('../templates/alert_word_setting
 
 exports.render_alert_words_ui = function () {
     const words = alert_words.get_word_list();
+    words.sort();
     const word_list = $('#alert_words_list');
 
     word_list.find('.alert-word-item').remove();
 
+    const new_alert_word_form = render_alert_word_settings_item({
+        word: '',
+        editing: true,
+    });
+    word_list.append(new_alert_word_form);
+
     for (const alert_word of words) {
         const rendered_alert_word = render_alert_word_settings_item({
             word: alert_word,
@@ -14,12 +21,6 @@ exports.render_alert_words_ui = function () {
         word_list.append(rendered_alert_word);
     }
 
-    const new_alert_word_form = render_alert_word_settings_item({
-        word: '',
-        editing: true,
-    });
-    word_list.append(new_alert_word_form);
-
     // Focus new alert word name text box.
     $('#create_alert_word_name').focus();
 };
diff --git a/static/styles/settings.scss b/static/styles/settings.scss
index 1bd40d69d0..e7ccf23b60 100644
--- a/static/styles/settings.scss
+++ b/static/styles/settings.scss
@@ -1046,7 +1046,7 @@ input[type=checkbox].inline-block {
     list-style-type: none;
 }
 
-#alert_words_list li.alert-word-item:last-child {
+#alert_words_list li.alert-word-item:first-child {
     background: none;
     margin-top: 8px;
 }