diff --git a/Code/Tools/ProjectManager/Source/GemCatalog/GemCatalogScreen.cpp b/Code/Tools/ProjectManager/Source/GemCatalog/GemCatalogScreen.cpp
index fb78736a3c..c76735d4f2 100644
--- a/Code/Tools/ProjectManager/Source/GemCatalog/GemCatalogScreen.cpp
+++ b/Code/Tools/ProjectManager/Source/GemCatalog/GemCatalogScreen.cpp
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@ namespace O3DE::ProjectManager
         m_gemModel = new GemModel(this);
         m_proxModel = new GemSortFilterProxyModel(m_gemModel, this);
 
+        // default to sort by gem name
+        m_proxModel->setSortRole(GemModel::RoleName);
+
         QVBoxLayout* vLayout = new QVBoxLayout();
         vLayout->setMargin(0);
         vLayout->setSpacing(0);
@@ -93,6 +96,8 @@ namespace O3DE::ProjectManager
         }
 
         m_proxModel->ResetFilters();
+        m_proxModel->sort(/*column=*/0);
+
         m_filterWidget = new GemFilterWidget(m_proxModel);
         m_filterWidgetLayout->addWidget(m_filterWidget);
 
@@ -198,6 +203,7 @@ namespace O3DE::ProjectManager
         }
 
         m_gemModel->UpdateGemDependencies();
+        m_proxModel->sort(/*column=*/0);
     }
 
     void GemCatalogScreen::OnGemStatusChanged(const QString& gemName, uint32_t numChangedDependencies) 
diff --git a/Code/Tools/ProjectManager/Source/GemCatalog/GemModel.h b/Code/Tools/ProjectManager/Source/GemCatalog/GemModel.h
index f4bc1ec502..9fac47d18e 100644
--- a/Code/Tools/ProjectManager/Source/GemCatalog/GemModel.h
+++ b/Code/Tools/ProjectManager/Source/GemCatalog/GemModel.h
@@ -26,6 +26,31 @@ namespace O3DE::ProjectManager
         explicit GemModel(QObject* parent = nullptr);
         QItemSelectionModel* GetSelectionModel() const;
 
+        enum UserRole
+        {
+            RoleName = Qt::UserRole,
+            RoleDisplayName,
+            RoleCreator,
+            RoleGemOrigin,
+            RolePlatforms,
+            RoleSummary,
+            RoleWasPreviouslyAdded,
+            RoleWasPreviouslyAddedDependency,
+            RoleIsAdded,
+            RoleIsAddedDependency,
+            RoleDirectoryLink,
+            RoleDocLink,
+            RoleDependingGems,
+            RoleVersion,
+            RoleLastUpdated,
+            RoleBinarySize,
+            RoleFeatures,
+            RoleTypes,
+            RolePath,
+            RoleRequirement,
+            RoleDownloadStatus
+        };
+
         void AddGem(const GemInfo& gemInfo);
         void Clear();
         void UpdateGemDependencies();
@@ -88,31 +113,6 @@ namespace O3DE::ProjectManager
         void GetAllDependingGems(const QModelIndex& modelIndex, QSet<QModelIndex>& inOutGems);
         QStringList GetDependingGems(const QModelIndex& modelIndex);
 
-        enum UserRole
-        {
-            RoleName = Qt::UserRole,
-            RoleDisplayName,
-            RoleCreator,
-            RoleGemOrigin,
-            RolePlatforms,
-            RoleSummary,
-            RoleWasPreviouslyAdded,
-            RoleWasPreviouslyAddedDependency,
-            RoleIsAdded,
-            RoleIsAddedDependency,
-            RoleDirectoryLink,
-            RoleDocLink,
-            RoleDependingGems,
-            RoleVersion,
-            RoleLastUpdated,
-            RoleBinarySize,
-            RoleFeatures,
-            RoleTypes,
-            RolePath,
-            RoleRequirement,
-            RoleDownloadStatus
-        };
-
         QHash<QString, QModelIndex> m_nameToIndexMap;
         QItemSelectionModel* m_selectionModel = nullptr;
         QHash<QString, QSet<QModelIndex>> m_gemDependencyMap;