diff --git a/src/core/settings.c b/src/core/settings.c
index 68e5de75..edf87953 100644
--- a/src/core/settings.c
+++ b/src/core/settings.c
@@ -473,6 +473,12 @@ static int backwards_compatibility(const char *module, CONFIG_NODE *node,
 			g_free(new_value);
 			config_changed = TRUE;
 			return new_key != NULL;
+		} else if (strcasecmp(node->key, "actlist_moves") == 0 &&
+			   node->value != NULL && strcasecmp(node->value, "yes") == 0) {
+			config_node_set_str(mainconfig, parent, "actlist_sort", "recent");
+			config_node_set_str(mainconfig, parent, node->key, NULL);
+			config_changed = TRUE;
+			return TRUE;
 		}
 	}
 	new_value = NULL, new_key = NULL;
diff --git a/src/fe-text/statusbar-items.c b/src/fe-text/statusbar-items.c
index 01b882c5..62a7d940 100644
--- a/src/fe-text/statusbar-items.c
+++ b/src/fe-text/statusbar-items.c
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 #define LAG_REFRESH_TIME 10
 
 static GList *activity_list;
+static guint8 actlist_sort;
 static GSList *more_visible; /* list of MAIN_WINDOW_RECs which have --more-- */
 static GHashTable *input_entries;
 static int last_lag, last_lag_unknown, lag_timeout_tag;
@@ -151,6 +152,15 @@ static void item_act(SBAR_ITEM_REC *item, int get_size_only)
 	g_free_not_null(actlist);
 }
 
+static int window_level_cmp(WINDOW_REC *w1, WINDOW_REC *w2)
+{
+	if (w1->data_level > w2->data_level ||
+	    (w1->data_level == w2->data_level && w1->refnum < w2->refnum))
+		return -1;
+	else
+		return 1;
+}
+
 static void sig_statusbar_activity_hilight(WINDOW_REC *window, gpointer oldlevel)
 {
 	GList *node;
@@ -159,7 +169,7 @@ static void sig_statusbar_activity_hilight(WINDOW_REC *window, gpointer oldlevel
 
 	node = g_list_find(activity_list, window);
 
-	if (settings_get_bool("actlist_moves")) {
+	if (actlist_sort == 1) {
 		/* Move the window to the first in the activity list */
 		if (node != NULL)
 			activity_list = g_list_delete_link(activity_list, node);
@@ -169,6 +179,22 @@ static void sig_statusbar_activity_hilight(WINDOW_REC *window, gpointer oldlevel
 		return;
 	}
 
+	if (actlist_sort == 2) {
+		if (node != NULL) {
+			if (window->data_level == GPOINTER_TO_INT(oldlevel)) {
+				if (window->hilight_color != 0)
+					statusbar_items_redraw("act");
+				return;
+			}
+			activity_list = g_list_delete_link(activity_list, node);
+		}
+		if (window->data_level != 0)
+			activity_list = g_list_insert_sorted(activity_list, window, (GCompareFunc)
+							     window_level_cmp);
+		statusbar_items_redraw("act");
+		return;
+	}
+
 	if (node != NULL) {
 		/* already in activity list */
 		if (window->data_level == 0) {
@@ -360,14 +386,26 @@ static void item_input(SBAR_ITEM_REC *item, int get_size_only)
 
 static void read_settings(void)
 {
+	const char *str;
+
 	if (active_entry != NULL)
 		gui_entry_set_utf8(active_entry, term_type == TERM_TYPE_UTF8);
+
+	str = settings_get_str("actlist_sort");
+	if (strcasecmp(str, "recent") == 0)
+		actlist_sort = 1;
+	else if (strcasecmp(str, "level") == 0)
+		actlist_sort = 2;
+	else {
+		settings_set_str("actlist_sort", "refnum");
+		actlist_sort = 0;
+	}
 }
 
 void statusbar_items_init(void)
 {
 	settings_add_time("misc", "lag_min_show", "1sec");
-	settings_add_bool("lookandfeel", "actlist_moves", FALSE);
+	settings_add_str("lookandfeel", "actlist_sort", "refnum");
 
 	statusbar_item_register("window", NULL, item_window_active);
 	statusbar_item_register("window_empty", NULL, item_window_empty);