diff --git a/default_config.py b/default_config.py
index 3c5c208..1d42e92 100644
--- a/default_config.py
+++ b/default_config.py
@@ -118,7 +118,8 @@ def initialize_config():
         "theme": "dark",
         "COLOR_CONFIG_DARK": COLOR_CONFIG_DARK,
         "COLOR_CONFIG_LIGHT": COLOR_CONFIG_LIGHT,
-        "COLOR_CONFIG_GREEN": COLOR_CONFIG_GREEN
+        "COLOR_CONFIG_GREEN": COLOR_CONFIG_GREEN,
+        "node_sort": "lastHeard"
     }
 
     if not os.path.exists(json_file_path):
@@ -148,6 +149,7 @@ def assign_config_variables(loaded_config):
     global db_file_path, log_file_path, message_prefix, sent_message_prefix
     global notification_symbol, ack_implicit_str, ack_str, nak_str, ack_unknown_str
     global theme, COLOR_CONFIG
+    global node_sort
 
     db_file_path = loaded_config["db_file_path"]
     log_file_path = loaded_config["log_file_path"]
@@ -165,6 +167,7 @@ def assign_config_variables(loaded_config):
         COLOR_CONFIG = loaded_config["COLOR_CONFIG_LIGHT"]
     elif theme == "green":
         COLOR_CONFIG = loaded_config["COLOR_CONFIG_GREEN"]
+    node_sort = loaded_config["node_sort"]
 
 
 # Call the function when the script is imported
diff --git a/message_handlers/rx_handler.py b/message_handlers/rx_handler.py
index 4e0e311..d8dc31e 100644
--- a/message_handlers/rx_handler.py
+++ b/message_handlers/rx_handler.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import logging
 import time
-from utilities.utils import get_node_list
+from utilities.utils import refresh_node_list
+from datetime import datetime
 from ui.curses_ui import draw_packetlog_win, draw_node_list, draw_messages_window, draw_channel_list, add_notification
 from db_handler import save_message_to_db, maybe_store_nodeinfo_in_db, get_name_from_database
 import default_config as config
@@ -24,9 +25,8 @@ def on_receive(packet, interface):
             return
 
         # Assume any incoming packet could update the last seen time for a node
-        new_node_list = get_node_list()
-        if new_node_list != globals.node_list:
-            globals.node_list = new_node_list
+        changed = refresh_node_list()
+        if(changed):
             draw_node_list()
 
         if packet['decoded']['portnum'] == 'NODEINFO_APP':
@@ -99,4 +99,4 @@ def on_receive(packet, interface):
             save_message_to_db(globals.channel_list[channel_number], message_from_id, message_string)
 
     except KeyError as e:
-        logging.error(f"Error processing packet: {e}")
\ No newline at end of file
+        logging.error(f"Error processing packet: {e}")
diff --git a/ui/curses_ui.py b/ui/curses_ui.py
index ace7f2a..1b413c9 100644
--- a/ui/curses_ui.py
+++ b/ui/curses_ui.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import curses
 import textwrap
-from utilities.utils import get_channels, get_time_ago
+from utilities.utils import get_channels, get_time_ago, refresh_node_list
 from settings import settings_menu
 from message_handlers.tx_handler import send_message, send_traceroute
 from ui.colors import setup_colors, get_color
@@ -608,6 +608,7 @@ def main_ui(stdscr):
             curses.curs_set(0)
             settings_menu(stdscr, globals.interface)
             curses.curs_set(1)
+            refresh_node_list()
             handle_resize(stdscr, False)
         
         elif char == chr(16):
diff --git a/user_config.py b/user_config.py
index 4bed606..a7abdc9 100644
--- a/user_config.py
+++ b/user_config.py
@@ -49,6 +49,9 @@ def edit_value(key, current_value):
         # Load theme names dynamically from the JSON
         theme_options = [k.split("_", 2)[2].lower() for k in loaded_config.keys() if k.startswith("COLOR_CONFIG")]
         return select_from_list("Select Theme", current_value, theme_options)
+    elif key == "node_sort":
+        sort_options = ['lastHeard', 'name', 'hops']
+        return select_from_list("Sort By", current_value, sort_options)
 
     # Standard Input Mode (Scrollable)
     edit_win.addstr(7, 2, "New Value: ", get_color("settings_default"))
diff --git a/utilities/utils.py b/utilities/utils.py
index 02a1e72..738d80d 100644
--- a/utilities/utils.py
+++ b/utilities/utils.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import globals
 from datetime import datetime
 from meshtastic.protobuf import config_pb2
+import default_config as config
 
 def get_channels():
     """Retrieve channels from the node and update globals.channel_list and globals.all_messages."""
@@ -36,14 +37,28 @@ def get_channels():
 def get_node_list():
     if globals.interface.nodes:
         my_node_num = globals.myNodeNum
-        sorted_nodes = sorted(
-            globals.interface.nodes.values(),
-            key = lambda node: (node['lastHeard'] if ('lastHeard' in node and isinstance(node['lastHeard'], int)) else 0),
-            reverse = True)
+
+        def node_sort(node):
+            if(config.node_sort == 'lastHeard'):
+                return -node['lastHeard'] if ('lastHeard' in node and isinstance(node['lastHeard'], int)) else 0
+            elif(config.node_sort == "name"):
+                return node['user']['longName']
+            elif(config.node_sort == "hops"):
+                return node['hopsAway'] if 'hopsAway' in node else 100
+            else:
+                return node
+        sorted_nodes = sorted(globals.interface.nodes.values(), key = node_sort)
         node_list = [node['num'] for node in sorted_nodes if node['num'] != my_node_num]
         return [my_node_num] + node_list  # Ensuring your node is always first
     return []
 
+def refresh_node_list():
+    new_node_list = get_node_list()
+    if new_node_list != globals.node_list:
+        globals.node_list = new_node_list
+        return True
+    return False
+
 def get_nodeNum():
     myinfo = globals.interface.getMyNodeInfo()
     myNodeNum = myinfo['num']