diff --git a/addons/mail/static/src/core/common/thread_service.js b/addons/mail/static/src/core/common/thread_service.js
index 04f4f2138cb..7eb371c93cc 100644
--- a/addons/mail/static/src/core/common/thread_service.js
+++ b/addons/mail/static/src/core/common/thread_service.js
@@ -546,11 +546,13 @@ export class ThreadService {
         const data = await this.orm.call("discuss.channel", "channel_get", [], {
             partners_to: [id],
         });
-        return this.store.Thread.insert({
+        const thread = this.store.Thread.insert({
             ...data,
             model: "discuss.channel",
             type: "chat",
         });
+        this.sortChannels();
+        return thread;
     }
 
     executeCommand(thread, command, body = "") {
diff --git a/addons/mail/static/tests/discuss_app/discuss_tests.js b/addons/mail/static/tests/discuss_app/discuss_tests.js
index 21eb3f09a36..7765ddc0483 100644
--- a/addons/mail/static/tests/discuss_app/discuss_tests.js
+++ b/addons/mail/static/tests/discuss_app/discuss_tests.js
@@ -1918,3 +1918,42 @@ QUnit.test("Notification settings: mute/unmute channel works correctly", async (
     await click("[title='Notification Settings']");
     await contains("span", { text: "Unmute Channel" });
 });
+
+QUnit.test("Newly created chat should be at the top of the direct message list", async () => {
+    const pyEnv = await startServer();
+    const [userId1, userId2] = pyEnv["res.users"].create([
+        { name: "Jerry Golay" },
+        { name: "Albert" }
+    ]);
+    const [partnerId1] = pyEnv["res.partner"].create([
+        {
+            name: "Albert",
+            user_ids: [userId2],
+        },
+        {
+            name: "Jerry Golay",
+            user_ids: [userId1],
+        }
+    ]);
+    pyEnv["discuss.channel"].create({
+        channel_member_ids: [
+            Command.create({
+                is_pinned: true,
+                last_interest_dt: "2021-01-01 10:00:00",
+                partner_id: pyEnv.currentPartnerId,
+            }),
+            Command.create({ partner_id: partnerId1 }),
+        ],
+        channel_type: "chat",
+    });
+    const { openDiscuss } = await start();
+    await openDiscuss();
+    await click(".o-mail-DiscussSidebarCategory-add[title='Start a conversation']");
+    await insertText(".o-discuss-ChannelSelector input", "Jer");
+    await click(".o-discuss-ChannelSelector-suggestion");
+    await triggerHotkey("Enter");
+    await contains(".o-mail-DiscussSidebar-item", {
+        text: "Jerry Golay",
+        before: [".o-mail-DiscussSidebar-item", { text: "Albert" }]
+    });
+});