diff --git a/bundles/org.openhab.core.automation.module.script.rulesupport/src/main/java/org/openhab/core/automation/module/script/rulesupport/loader/ScriptFileReference.java b/bundles/org.openhab.core.automation.module.script.rulesupport/src/main/java/org/openhab/core/automation/module/script/rulesupport/loader/ScriptFileReference.java
index f82e14987..cfb46a089 100644
--- a/bundles/org.openhab.core.automation.module.script.rulesupport/src/main/java/org/openhab/core/automation/module/script/rulesupport/loader/ScriptFileReference.java
+++ b/bundles/org.openhab.core.automation.module.script.rulesupport/src/main/java/org/openhab/core/automation/module/script/rulesupport/loader/ScriptFileReference.java
@@ -105,6 +105,10 @@ public class ScriptFileReference implements Comparable<ScriptFileReference> {
             String name2 = path2.getFileName().toString();
             LOGGER.trace("o2 [{}], path2 [{}], name2 [{}]", other.scriptFileURL, path2, name2);
 
+            int startLevelCompare = Integer.compare(getStartLevel(), other.getStartLevel());
+            if (startLevelCompare != 0) {
+                return startLevelCompare;
+            }
             int nameCompare = name1.compareToIgnoreCase(name2);
             if (nameCompare != 0) {
                 return nameCompare;
diff --git a/bundles/org.openhab.core.automation.module.script.rulesupport/src/test/java/org/openhab/core/automation/module/script/rulesupport/loader/ScriptFileWatcherTest.java b/bundles/org.openhab.core.automation.module.script.rulesupport/src/test/java/org/openhab/core/automation/module/script/rulesupport/loader/ScriptFileWatcherTest.java
index 5dc073c12..664211454 100644
--- a/bundles/org.openhab.core.automation.module.script.rulesupport/src/test/java/org/openhab/core/automation/module/script/rulesupport/loader/ScriptFileWatcherTest.java
+++ b/bundles/org.openhab.core.automation.module.script.rulesupport/src/test/java/org/openhab/core/automation/module/script/rulesupport/loader/ScriptFileWatcherTest.java
@@ -266,6 +266,33 @@ class ScriptFileWatcherTest {
                 p66.toFile().toURI().toString());
     }
 
+    @Test
+    public void testOrderingStartlevelFolders() {
+        when(scriptEngineManager.isSupported("js")).thenReturn(true);
+        ScriptEngineContainer scriptEngineContainer = mock(ScriptEngineContainer.class);
+        when(scriptEngineContainer.getScriptEngine()).thenReturn(mock(ScriptEngine.class));
+
+        when(scriptEngineManager.createScriptEngine(anyString(), anyString())).thenReturn(scriptEngineContainer);
+
+        Path p50 = getFile("a_script.js");
+        scriptFileWatcher.processWatchEvent(null, ENTRY_CREATE, p50);
+        Path p40 = getFile("sl40/b_script.js");
+        scriptFileWatcher.processWatchEvent(null, ENTRY_CREATE, p40);
+        Path p30 = getFile("sl30/script.js");
+        scriptFileWatcher.processWatchEvent(null, ENTRY_CREATE, p30);
+
+        updateStartLevel(70);
+
+        InOrder inOrder = inOrder(scriptEngineManager);
+
+        inOrder.verify(scriptEngineManager, timeout(10000).times(1)).createScriptEngine("js",
+                p30.toFile().toURI().toString());
+        inOrder.verify(scriptEngineManager, timeout(10000).times(1)).createScriptEngine("js",
+                p40.toFile().toURI().toString());
+        inOrder.verify(scriptEngineManager, timeout(10000).times(1)).createScriptEngine("js",
+                p50.toFile().toURI().toString());
+    }
+
     @Test
     public void testReloadActiveWhenDependencyChanged() {
         when(scriptEngineManager.isSupported("js")).thenReturn(true);