diff --git a/IPython/html/services/clusters/clustermanager.py b/IPython/html/services/clusters/clustermanager.py
index 3b12a1a..361cffe 100644
--- a/IPython/html/services/clusters/clustermanager.py
+++ b/IPython/html/services/clusters/clustermanager.py
@@ -87,7 +87,9 @@ class ClusterManager(LoggingConfigurable):
 
     def list_profiles(self):
         self.update_profiles()
-        result = [self.profile_info(p) for p in sorted(self.profiles.keys())]
+        # sorted list, but ensure that 'default' always comes first
+        default_first = lambda name: name if name != 'default' else ''
+        result = [self.profile_info(p) for p in sorted(self.profiles, key=default_first)]
         return result
 
     def check_profile(self, profile):