diff --git a/pandora/itemlist/models.py b/pandora/itemlist/models.py
index 083a5d0e4..d55c936f0 100644
--- a/pandora/itemlist/models.py
+++ b/pandora/itemlist/models.py
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ class List(models.Model):
     modified = models.DateTimeField(auto_now=True)
     user = models.ForeignKey(User, related_name='lists')
     name = models.CharField(max_length=255)
-    status = models.CharField(max_length=20, default='personal')
-    _status = ['personal', 'public', 'featured']
+    status = models.CharField(max_length=20, default='private')
+    _status = ['private', 'public', 'featured']
     query = DictField(default={"static": True})
     type= models.CharField(max_length=255, default='static')
     description = models.TextField(default='')
diff --git a/static/js/pandora/pandora.js b/static/js/pandora/pandora.js
index b140ae801..d351399a2 100644
--- a/static/js/pandora/pandora.js
+++ b/static/js/pandora/pandora.js
@@ -124,13 +124,14 @@ pandora.reloadList = function() {
     });
     app.$ui.list.bindEvent({
             init: function(event, data) {
-                app.$ui.folderList[listData.status]
-                    .value(listData.id, 'items', data.items);
+                var folder = listData.status == 'private' ? 'personal' : listData.status;
+                app.$ui.folderList[folder].value(listData.id, 'items', data.items);
             }
         })
         .bindEventOnce({
             load: function(event, data) {
-                app.$ui.list.gainFocus().options({selected: [data.items]});
+                app.$ui.list.gainFocus();
+                if (data) app.$ui.list.options({selected: [data.items]});
             }
         })
         .reloadList();