diff --git a/lisp/simple.el b/lisp/simple.el
index 80bc968950..838f344ab5 100644
--- a/lisp/simple.el
+++ b/lisp/simple.el
@@ -1969,6 +1969,23 @@ read-extended-command
        (lambda (string pred action)
          (if (and suggest-key-bindings (eq action 'metadata))
 	     '(metadata
+               (display-sort-function
+                . (lambda (commands)
+                    (if (minibufferp)
+                        ;; Prefer recently used completions and put the default,
+                        ;; if it exists, on top.
+                        (let ((hist (symbol-value minibuffer-history-variable)))
+                          (sort commands
+                                (lambda (c1 c2)
+                                  (cond ((equal c1 minibuffer-default) t)
+                                        ((equal c2 minibuffer-default) nil)
+                                        ((and (member c1 hist) (member c2 hist))
+                                         (> (length (member c1 hist))
+                                            (length (member c2 hist))))
+                                        ((member c1 hist) t)
+                                        ((member c2 hist) nil)
+                                        (t (string-lessp c1 c2))))))
+                      commands)))
 	       (affixation-function . read-extended-command--affixation)
 	       (category . command))
            (complete-with-action action obarray string pred)))