diff --git a/src/pytest_html/plugin.py b/src/pytest_html/plugin.py
index 3bca2fd6..224c2ff4 100644
--- a/src/pytest_html/plugin.py
+++ b/src/pytest_html/plugin.py
@@ -51,8 +51,8 @@ def pytest_addoption(parser):
     parser.addini(
         "render_collapsed",
         type="string",
-        default="",
-        help="Open the report with all rows collapsed. Useful for very large reports",
+        default="passed",
+        help="row(s) to render collapsed on open.",
     )
     parser.addini(
         "max_asset_filename_length",
@@ -63,9 +63,15 @@ def pytest_addoption(parser):
     parser.addini(
         "environment_table_redact_list",
         type="linelist",
-        help="A list of regexes corresponding to environment "
+        help="a list of regexes corresponding to environment "
         "table variables whose values should be redacted from the report",
     )
+    parser.addini(
+        "initial_sort",
+        type="string",
+        default="result",
+        help="column to initially sort on.",
+    )
 
 
 def pytest_configure(config):
diff --git a/src/pytest_html/report_data.py b/src/pytest_html/report_data.py
index 8e6278de..f16ea608 100644
--- a/src/pytest_html/report_data.py
+++ b/src/pytest_html/report_data.py
@@ -33,17 +33,21 @@ def __init__(self, config):
         }
 
         collapsed = config.getini("render_collapsed")
-        if collapsed:
-            if collapsed.lower() == "true":
-                warnings.warn(
-                    "'render_collapsed = True' is deprecated and support "
-                    "will be removed in the next major release. "
-                    "Please use 'render_collapsed = all' instead.",
-                    DeprecationWarning,
-                )
-            self.set_data(
-                "renderCollapsed", [outcome.lower() for outcome in collapsed.split(",")]
+        if collapsed.lower() == "true":
+            warnings.warn(
+                "'render_collapsed = True' is deprecated and support "
+                "will be removed in the next major release. "
+                "Please use 'render_collapsed = all' instead.",
+                DeprecationWarning,
             )
+            collapsed = "all"
+
+        self.set_data(
+            "renderCollapsed", [outcome.lower() for outcome in collapsed.split(",")]
+        )
+
+        initial_sort = config.getini("initial_sort")
+        self.set_data("initialSort", initial_sort)
 
     @property
     def title(self):
diff --git a/src/pytest_html/scripts/dom.js b/src/pytest_html/scripts/dom.js
index 667b3747..39a6da6c 100644
--- a/src/pytest_html/scripts/dom.js
+++ b/src/pytest_html/scripts/dom.js
@@ -40,9 +40,9 @@ const dom = {
 
         return envRow
     },
-    getListHeader: ({ resultsTableHeader }) => {
+    getListHeader: ({ initialSort, resultsTableHeader }) => {
         const header = listHeader.content.cloneNode(true)
-        const sortAttr = storageModule.getSort()
+        const sortAttr = storageModule.getSort(initialSort)
         const sortAsc = JSON.parse(storageModule.getSortDirection())
 
         resultsTableHeader.forEach((html) => {
diff --git a/src/pytest_html/scripts/sort.js b/src/pytest_html/scripts/sort.js
index 3eaf4bdd..a75fa795 100644
--- a/src/pytest_html/scripts/sort.js
+++ b/src/pytest_html/scripts/sort.js
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ const durationSort = (list, ascending) => {
 }
 
 const doInitSort = () => {
-    const type = storageModule.getSort()
+    const type = storageModule.getSort(manager.allData.initialSort)
     const ascending = storageModule.getSortDirection()
     const list = manager.testSubset
     const initialOrder = ['Error', 'Failed', 'Rerun', 'XFailed', 'XPassed', 'Skipped', 'Passed']
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ const doInitSort = () => {
 }
 
 const doSort = (type) => {
-    const newSortType = storageModule.getSort() !== type
+    const newSortType = storageModule.getSort(manager.allData.initialSort) !== type
     const currentAsc = storageModule.getSortDirection()
     const ascending = newSortType ? true : !currentAsc
     storageModule.setSort(type)
diff --git a/src/pytest_html/scripts/storage.js b/src/pytest_html/scripts/storage.js
index fd3cb4d1..bcb17cf0 100644
--- a/src/pytest_html/scripts/storage.js
+++ b/src/pytest_html/scripts/storage.js
@@ -48,9 +48,13 @@ const setFilter = (currentFilter) => {
     history.pushState({}, null, unescape(url.href))
 }
 
-const getSort = () => {
+const getSort = (initialSort) => {
     const url = new URL(window.location.href)
-    return new URLSearchParams(url.search).get('sort') || 'result'
+    let sort = new URLSearchParams(url.search).get('sort')
+    if (!sort) {
+        sort = initialSort || 'result'
+    }
+    return sort
 }
 const setSort = (type) => {
     const url = new URL(window.location.href)