diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index df3eda10e..b848714d9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ the *default* of `To RAM`
     {"name":"+7chname","url":"my-great-app.json"},
     {"name":"-7chname","url":"my-great-app.js"},
     {"name":"*7chname","url":"my-great-app.js","evaluate":true}
-  ]
+  ],
 },
 ```
 
@@ -74,7 +74,9 @@ the *default* of `To RAM`
      "evaluate":true          // if supplied, data isn't quoted into a String before upload
                               // (eg it's evaluated as JS)
     },
-
+  "sortorder" : 0,            // optional - choose where in the list this goes.
+                              // this should only really be used to put system
+                              // stuff at the top
   ]
 }
 ```
diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index 322a20b71..90ca156b0 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -2,7 +2,12 @@ var appJSON = []; // List of apps and info from apps.json
 var appsInstalled = []; // list of app IDs
 
 httpGet("apps.json").then(apps=>{
-  appJSON = JSON.parse(apps);
+  try {
+    appJSON = JSON.parse(apps);
+  } catch(e) {
+    console.log(e);
+    showToast("App List Corrupted","error");
+  }
   appJSON.sort(appSorter);
   refreshLibrary();
 });
diff --git a/utils.js b/utils.js
index 44a1479ab..51173d9d0 100644
--- a/utils.js
+++ b/utils.js
@@ -33,5 +33,9 @@ function toJS(txt) {
 function appSorter(a,b) {
   if (a.unknown || b.unknown)
     return (a.unknown)? 1 : -1;
+  var sa = 0|a.sortorder;
+  var sb = 0|b.sortorder;
+  if (sa<sb) return -1;
+  if (sa>sb) return 1;
   return (a.name==b.name) ? 0 : ((a.name<b.name) ? -1 : 1);
 }