diff --git a/beets/ui/commands.py b/beets/ui/commands.py
index bf38c5c2c..7dc54b953 100644
--- a/beets/ui/commands.py
+++ b/beets/ui/commands.py
@@ -437,8 +437,9 @@ def summarize_items(items, singleton):
         # A single format.
         summary_parts.append(items[0].format)
     else:
-        # Enumerate all the formats.
-        for fmt, count in format_counts.iteritems():
+        # Enumerate all the formats by decreasing frequencies:
+        for fmt, count in sorted(format_counts.items(),
+                                 key=lambda (f, c): (-c, f)):
             summary_parts.append('{0} {1}'.format(fmt, count))
 
     if items:
diff --git a/test/test_ui.py b/test/test_ui.py
index 181ee25f6..14cb4081f 100644
--- a/test/test_ui.py
+++ b/test/test_ui.py
@@ -1005,7 +1005,10 @@ class SummarizeItemsTest(_common.TestCase):
 
         i2.format = "G"
         summary = commands.summarize_items([self.item, i2], False)
-        self.assertEqual(summary, "2 items, G 1, F 1, 4kbps, 21:48, 1.9 KB")
+        self.assertEqual(summary, "2 items, F 1, G 1, 4kbps, 21:48, 1.9 KB")
+
+        summary = commands.summarize_items([self.item, i2, i2], False)
+        self.assertEqual(summary, "3 items, G 2, F 1, 4kbps, 32:42, 2.9 KB")
 
 
 class PathFormatTest(_common.TestCase):