Index: src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-list-table.php
===================================================================
--- src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-list-table.php	(revision 33893)
+++ src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-list-table.php	(working copy)
@@ -1003,12 +1003,14 @@
 		if ( isset( $_GET['orderby'] ) )
 			$current_orderby = $_GET['orderby'];
 		else
-			$current_orderby = '';
+			$current_orderby = 'date';
 
-		if ( isset( $_GET['order'] ) && 'desc' == $_GET['order'] )
+		$order = strtolower( get_query_var( 'order' ) );
+		if ( $order && 'desc' == $order ) {
 			$current_order = 'desc';
-		else
+		} else {
 			$current_order = 'asc';
+		}
 
 		if ( ! empty( $columns['cb'] ) ) {
 			static $cb_counter = 1;