diff --git a/database/video_database.py b/database/video_database.py
index d8224198..dec191f8 100644
--- a/database/video_database.py
+++ b/database/video_database.py
@@ -2044,8 +2044,10 @@ class VideoDatabase:
         if sort == "added":   # opt-in: explicit follows (have a date) newest-first
             items.sort(key=lambda it: (it.get("date_added") or ""), reverse=True)
         else:   # "default" / "title": alphabetical by name — a manual follow is no more
-                # special than an auto-added airing show, so they sort together A–Z
-            items.sort(key=lambda it: (it.get("sort_title") or it.get("title") or "").lower())
+                # special than an auto-added airing show, so they sort together A–Z.
+                # .strip() guards against dirty titles (e.g. a leading space from the
+                # scan, which would otherwise sort before 'a').
+            items.sort(key=lambda it: (it.get("sort_title") or it.get("title") or "").strip().lower())
         total = len(items)
         total_pages = max(1, (total + limit - 1) // limit)
         page = min(page, total_pages)
diff --git a/tests/test_video_database.py b/tests/test_video_database.py
index eb34007c..17043371 100644
--- a/tests/test_video_database.py
+++ b/tests/test_video_database.py
@@ -851,11 +851,13 @@ def test_query_watchlist_default_sort_is_alphabetical(db):
     db.add_to_watchlist("show", 1, "Welcome to Widows Bay")
     db.add_to_watchlist("show", 2, "From")
     db.add_to_watchlist("show", 3, "Andor")
-    titles = [it["title"] for it in db.query_watchlist("show")["items"]]
-    assert titles == ["Andor", "From", "Welcome to Widows Bay"]
+    db.add_to_watchlist("show", 4, " Holy Marvels with Dennis Quaid")   # dirty leading space
+    titles = [it["title"].strip() for it in db.query_watchlist("show")["items"]]
+    # a leading-space title must NOT jump the queue — sorts under H
+    assert titles == ["Andor", "From", "Holy Marvels with Dennis Quaid", "Welcome to Widows Bay"]
     # 'added' is still available opt-in (newest first)
-    added = [it["title"] for it in db.query_watchlist("show", sort="added")["items"]]
-    assert added[0] == "Andor"   # most recently added
+    added = [it["title"].strip() for it in db.query_watchlist("show", sort="added")["items"]]
+    assert added[0] == "Holy Marvels with Dennis Quaid"   # most recently added
 
 
 # ── wishlist (movies + episodes; show/season are bulk ops over episodes) ──────