diff --git src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-plugins-list-table.php src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-plugins-list-table.php
index 9b12644..334c5fd 100644
--- src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-plugins-list-table.php
+++ src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-plugins-list-table.php
@@ -199,6 +199,10 @@ class WP_Plugins_List_Table extends WP_List_Table {
 
 		$total_this_page = $totals[ $status ];
 
+		if( '' === $orderby ) {
+			$orderby = 'name';
+		}
+
 		if ( $orderby ) {
 			$orderby = ucfirst( $orderby );
 			$order = strtoupper( $order );