diff --git a/boot/bootmeth_extlinux.c b/boot/bootmeth_extlinux.c
index 6b2b840038..aa2a4591eb 100644
--- a/boot/bootmeth_extlinux.c
+++ b/boot/bootmeth_extlinux.c
@@ -184,7 +184,8 @@ static const struct udevice_id extlinux_bootmeth_ids[] = {
 	{ }
 };
 
-U_BOOT_DRIVER(bootmeth_extlinux) = {
+/* Put an number before 'extlinux' to provide a default ordering */
+U_BOOT_DRIVER(bootmeth_1extlinux) = {
 	.name		= "bootmeth_extlinux",
 	.id		= UCLASS_BOOTMETH,
 	.of_match	= extlinux_bootmeth_ids,
diff --git a/boot/bootmeth_script.c b/boot/bootmeth_script.c
index a4050c384d..58c57a2d4b 100644
--- a/boot/bootmeth_script.c
+++ b/boot/bootmeth_script.c
@@ -243,7 +243,8 @@ static const struct udevice_id script_bootmeth_ids[] = {
 	{ }
 };
 
-U_BOOT_DRIVER(bootmeth_script) = {
+/* Put an number before 'script' to provide a default ordering */
+U_BOOT_DRIVER(bootmeth_2script) = {
 	.name		= "bootmeth_script",
 	.id		= UCLASS_BOOTMETH,
 	.of_match	= script_bootmeth_ids,
diff --git a/doc/develop/bootstd.rst b/doc/develop/bootstd.rst
index ec31365357..c47de273ab 100644
--- a/doc/develop/bootstd.rst
+++ b/doc/develop/bootstd.rst
@@ -132,6 +132,9 @@ above bootdev scanning.
 Controlling ordering
 --------------------
 
+By default, faster bootdevs (or those which are assumed to be faster) are used
+first, since they are more likely to be able to boot the device quickly.
+
 Several options are available to control the ordering of boot scanning:
 
 
@@ -151,6 +154,10 @@ bootdevs and their sequence numbers.
 bootmeths
 ~~~~~~~~~
 
+By default bootmeths are checked in name order. Use `bootmeth list` to see the
+ordering. Note that the `extlinux` and `script` bootmeth is first, to preserve the behaviour
+used by the old distro scripts.
+
 This environment variable can be used to control the list of bootmeths used and
 their ordering for example::
 
@@ -164,7 +171,6 @@ controlled by aliases.
 The :ref:`usage/cmd/bootmeth:bootmeth command` (`bootmeth order`) operates in
 the same way as setting this variable.
 
-
 Bootdev uclass
 --------------
 
diff --git a/test/boot/bootflow.c b/test/boot/bootflow.c
index 8a4e090e9b..1c91a942e9 100644
--- a/test/boot/bootflow.c
+++ b/test/boot/bootflow.c
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 
 DECLARE_GLOBAL_DATA_PTR;
 
-extern U_BOOT_DRIVER(bootmeth_script);
+extern U_BOOT_DRIVER(bootmeth_2script);
 
 static int inject_response(struct unit_test_state *uts)
 {
@@ -525,7 +525,7 @@ static int prep_mmc4_bootdev(struct unit_test_state *uts)
 
 	/* Enable the script bootmeth too */
 	ut_assertok(uclass_first_device_err(UCLASS_BOOTSTD, &bootstd));
-	ut_assertok(device_bind(bootstd, DM_DRIVER_REF(bootmeth_script),
+	ut_assertok(device_bind(bootstd, DM_DRIVER_REF(bootmeth_2script),
 				"bootmeth_script", 0, ofnode_null(), &dev));
 
 	/* Change the order to include mmc4 */