diff --git a/picard/coverart/image.py b/picard/coverart/image.py
index a9efce366..4d78e78ba 100644
--- a/picard/coverart/image.py
+++ b/picard/coverart/image.py
@@ -414,8 +414,12 @@ class CoverArtImage:
         return self.datahash.filename
 
     def normalized_types(self):
-        if self.types:
-            types = sorted(set(self.types))
+        if self.types and self.support_types:
+            # ensure front type is first, if any
+            # the rest is sorted
+            types_front = ['front'] if 'front' in self.types else []
+            types_without_front = sorted(set(t for t in self.types if t != 'front'))
+            types = types_front + types_without_front
         elif self.is_front_image():
             types = ['front']
         else:
diff --git a/test/test_coverart_image.py b/test/test_coverart_image.py
index 4fa17b373..fd88f8ce8 100644
--- a/test/test_coverart_image.py
+++ b/test/test_coverart_image.py
@@ -124,6 +124,14 @@ class CoverArtImageTest(PicardTestCase):
         self.assertEqual("back", create_image(b'a', types=["back", "medium"], support_types=True).maintype)
         self.assertEqual("front", create_image(b'a', types=["back", "medium"], support_types=False).maintype)
 
+    def test_normalized_types(self):
+        self.assertEqual(["front"], create_image(b'a').normalized_types())
+        self.assertEqual(["-"], create_image(b'a', support_types=True).normalized_types())
+        self.assertEqual(["front"], create_image(b'a', types=["front"], support_types=True).normalized_types())
+        self.assertEqual(["front", "back"], create_image(b'a', types=["back", "front"], support_types=True).normalized_types())
+        self.assertEqual(["back", "medium"], create_image(b'a', types=["medium", "back"], support_types=True).normalized_types())
+        self.assertEqual(["front"], create_image(b'a', types=["back", "medium"], support_types=False).normalized_types())
+
     def test_id3_type_derived(self):
         self.assertEqual(Id3ImageType.COVER_FRONT, create_image(b'a').id3_type)
         self.assertEqual(Id3ImageType.COVER_FRONT, create_image(b'a', support_types=True).id3_type)