diff --git a/files/classes/private_chats.py b/files/classes/private_chats.py
index 19b0b5652..2459fd591 100644
--- a/files/classes/private_chats.py
+++ b/files/classes/private_chats.py
@@ -14,8 +14,6 @@ class Chat(Base):
 	name = Column(String)
 	created_utc = Column(Integer)
 
-	memberships = relationship("ChatMembership")
-
 	def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
 		if "created_utc" not in kwargs: kwargs["created_utc"] = int(time.time())
 		super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
diff --git a/files/routes/private_chats.py b/files/routes/private_chats.py
index a6a78d530..867af17ec 100644
--- a/files/routes/private_chats.py
+++ b/files/routes/private_chats.py
@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@ def chat_user(v, username):
 		abort(403, f"@{user.username} is muting notifications from you, so you can't chat with them!")
 
 
-	sq = g.db.query(Chat.id).join(Chat.memberships).filter(ChatMembership.user_id.in_((v.id, user.id))).group_by(Chat.id).having(func.count(Chat.id) == 2).subquery()
-	existing = g.db.query(Chat.id).join(Chat.memberships).filter(Chat.id == sq.c.id).group_by(Chat.id).having(func.count(Chat.id) == 2).one_or_none()
+	sq = g.db.query(Chat.id).join(ChatMembership, ChatMembership.chat_id == Chat.id).filter(ChatMembership.user_id.in_((v.id, user.id))).group_by(Chat.id).having(func.count(Chat.id) == 2).subquery()
+	existing = g.db.query(Chat.id).join(ChatMembership, ChatMembership.chat_id == Chat.id).filter(Chat.id == sq.c.id).group_by(Chat.id).having(func.count(Chat.id) == 2).one_or_none()
 	if existing:
 		return redirect(f"/chat/{existing.id}")
 
@@ -71,7 +71,10 @@ def private_chat(v, chat_id):
 		g.db.add(membership)
 		g.db.commit() #to clear notif count
 
-	return render_template("private_chat.html", v=v, messages=displayed_messages, chat=chat)
+	query = g.db.query(ChatMembership).filter_by(chat_id=chat.id)
+	sorted_memberships = [query.filter_by(user_id=chat.owner_id).one()] + query.filter(ChatMembership.user_id != chat.owner_id).join(ChatMembership.user).order_by(func.lower(User.username)).all()
+
+	return render_template("private_chat.html", v=v, messages=displayed_messages, chat=chat, sorted_memberships=sorted_memberships)
 
 
 @app.post("/chat/<int:chat_id>/name")
diff --git a/files/templates/header.html b/files/templates/header.html
index 8530dd683..4de60b725 100644
--- a/files/templates/header.html
+++ b/files/templates/header.html
@@ -532,9 +532,9 @@
 								<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>
 							{% elif request.path.startswith('/chat/') %}
 								<div class="mx-2">
-									<h5 class="mt-2 mb-3">Members ({{chat.memberships|length}})</h5>
+									<h5 class="mt-2 mb-3">Members ({{sorted_memberships|length}})</h5>
 									<ul class="col text-left d-lg-none bg-white mb-4 pb-2" style="max-width:300px;list-style-type:none">
-										{% for membership in chat.memberships %}
+										{% for membership in sorted_memberships %}
 											{% set user = membership.user %}
 											{% set patron = '' %}
 											{% if user.patron %}
diff --git a/files/templates/private_chat.html b/files/templates/private_chat.html
index 68a904dce..2f5058e6b 100644
--- a/files/templates/private_chat.html
+++ b/files/templates/private_chat.html
@@ -42,9 +42,9 @@
 		</div>
 
 		<div class="col text-left d-none d-lg-block pt-3 pb-5" style="max-width:313px">
-			<h5>Members ({{chat.memberships|length}})</h5>
+			<h5>Members ({{sorted_memberships|length}})</h5>
 			<div id="members" class="mt-2">
-				{% for membership in chat.memberships %}
+				{% for membership in sorted_memberships %}
 					{% set user = membership.user %}
 					{% set patron = '' %}
 					{% if user.patron %}