diff --git a/kcms/desktoptheme/kcm.cpp b/kcms/desktoptheme/kcm.cpp
--- a/kcms/desktoptheme/kcm.cpp
+++ b/kcms/desktoptheme/kcm.cpp
@@ -282,6 +282,9 @@
         }
     }
 
+    m_model->setSortRole(ThemeNameRole); // FIXME the model should really be just using Qt::DisplayRole
+    m_model->sort(0 /*column*/);
+
     KConfigGroup cg(KSharedConfig::openConfig(QStringLiteral("plasmarc")), "Theme");
     setSelectedPlugin(cg.readEntry("name", m_defaultTheme->themeName()));
 
diff --git a/kcms/icons/iconsmodel.cpp b/kcms/icons/iconsmodel.cpp
--- a/kcms/icons/iconsmodel.cpp
+++ b/kcms/icons/iconsmodel.cpp
@@ -170,6 +170,10 @@
         m_data.append(item);
     }
 
+    std::sort(m_data.begin(), m_data.end(), [](const IconsModelData &a, const IconsModelData &b) {
+        return a.display < b.display;
+    });
+
     endResetModel();
 
     // an item might have been added before the currently selected one
diff --git a/kcms/ksplash/kcm.cpp b/kcms/ksplash/kcm.cpp
--- a/kcms/ksplash/kcm.cpp
+++ b/kcms/ksplash/kcm.cpp
@@ -137,6 +137,7 @@
         row->setData(pkg.metadata().comment(), DescriptionRole);
         m_model->appendRow(row);
     }
+    m_model->sort(0 /*column*/);
     emit selectedPluginIndexChanged();
 }
 
diff --git a/kcms/lookandfeel/kcm.cpp b/kcms/lookandfeel/kcm.cpp
--- a/kcms/lookandfeel/kcm.cpp
+++ b/kcms/lookandfeel/kcm.cpp
@@ -244,6 +244,7 @@
 
         m_model->appendRow(row);
     }
+    m_model->sort(0 /*column*/);
     emit selectedPluginIndexChanged();
 }