diff --git a/changelog.txt b/changelog.txt
index 9f7b08e0b..a4443f1ea 100644
--- a/changelog.txt
+++ b/changelog.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,10 @@
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+Version: a.b.c
+Date: ???
+  Changes:
+    - Change order for muddy-sludge to set it as the default recipe. Resolves https://github.com/pyanodon/pybugreports/issues/1193
+    - Update recipe icon for muddy-sludge.
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Version: 3.0.42
 Date: 2025-08-23
   Changes:
diff --git a/data-updates.lua b/data-updates.lua
index d135e514c..80f47a833 100644
--- a/data-updates.lua
+++ b/data-updates.lua
@@ -51,6 +51,9 @@ end
 data.raw["item-subgroup"]["science-pack"].group = "production"
 data.raw["item-subgroup"]["science-pack"].order = "y"
 
+-- has to be added here due to fluid/recipe load order shenanigans
+data.raw.recipe["muddy-sludge"].icons = py.composite_icon("muddy-sludge", "water", "soil")
+
 --gather recipes for module changes
 local recipes_list =
 {
diff --git a/prototypes/recipes/recipes.lua b/prototypes/recipes/recipes.lua
index a8e815d98..9efa9ac04 100644
--- a/prototypes/recipes/recipes.lua
+++ b/prototypes/recipes/recipes.lua
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ RECIPE {
     },
     -- main_product = "sand",
     subgroup = "py-washer",
-    order = "z"
+    order = "a",
 }
 
 RECIPE {