diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 91d2d86cc..f62a081fa 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ set(CPP_SOURCE_FILES
   src/FlowScene.cpp
   src/FlowView.cpp
   src/FlowViewStyle.cpp
+  src/ModelSelectionWidget.cpp
   src/Node.cpp
   src/NodeConnectionInteraction.cpp
   src/NodeDataModel.cpp
diff --git a/include/nodes/internal/DataModelRegistry.hpp b/include/nodes/internal/DataModelRegistry.hpp
index 35fdbddc2..b786fa992 100644
--- a/include/nodes/internal/DataModelRegistry.hpp
+++ b/include/nodes/internal/DataModelRegistry.hpp
@@ -36,7 +36,9 @@ class NODE_EDITOR_PUBLIC DataModelRegistry
   using RegistryItemCreator = std::function<RegistryItemPtr()>;
   using RegisteredModelCreatorsMap = std::unordered_map<QString, RegistryItemCreator>;
   using RegisteredModelsCategoryMap = std::unordered_map<QString, QString>;
+  using RegisteredModelsOrder = std::vector<QString>;
   using CategoriesSet = std::set<QString>;
+  using CategoriesOrder = std::vector<QString>;
 
   using RegisteredTypeConvertersMap = std::map<TypeConverterId, TypeConverter>;
 
@@ -82,10 +84,16 @@ class NODE_EDITOR_PUBLIC DataModelRegistry
 
   RegisteredModelCreatorsMap const &registeredModelCreators() const;
 
+  RegisteredModelsOrder const& registeredModelsOrder() const;
+
   RegisteredModelsCategoryMap const &registeredModelsCategoryAssociation() const;
 
   CategoriesSet const &categories() const;
 
+  CategoriesOrder const &categoriesOrder() const;
+
+  void sortCategories();
+
   TypeConverter getTypeConverter(NodeDataType const & d1,
                                  NodeDataType const & d2) const;
 
@@ -97,6 +105,10 @@ class NODE_EDITOR_PUBLIC DataModelRegistry
 
   RegisteredModelCreatorsMap _registeredItemCreators;
 
+  CategoriesOrder _categoriesOrder;
+
+  RegisteredModelsOrder _registeredModelsOrder;
+
   RegisteredTypeConvertersMap _registeredTypeConverters;
 
 private:
@@ -125,11 +137,16 @@ class NODE_EDITOR_PUBLIC DataModelRegistry
   registerModelImpl(RegistryItemCreator creator, QString const &category )
   {
     const QString name = ModelType::Name();
-    if (_registeredItemCreators.count(name) == 0)
+    if (!_registeredItemCreators.count(name))
     {
       _registeredItemCreators[name] = std::move(creator);
-      _categories.insert(category);
+      _registeredModelsOrder.push_back(name);
       _registeredModelsCategory[name] = category;
+
+      if (!_categories.count(category)) {
+        _categories.insert(category);
+        _categoriesOrder.push_back(category);
+      }
     }
   }
 
@@ -138,11 +155,16 @@ class NODE_EDITOR_PUBLIC DataModelRegistry
   registerModelImpl(RegistryItemCreator creator, QString const &category )
   {
     const QString name = creator()->name();
-    if (_registeredItemCreators.count(name) == 0)
+    if (!_registeredItemCreators.count(name))
     {
       _registeredItemCreators[name] = std::move(creator);
-      _categories.insert(category);
+      _registeredModelsOrder.push_back(name);
       _registeredModelsCategory[name] = category;
+
+      if (!_categories.count(category)) {
+        _categories.insert(category);
+        _categoriesOrder.push_back(category);
+      }
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/include/nodes/internal/FlowView.hpp b/include/nodes/internal/FlowView.hpp
index 378ff2e6d..44959eaef 100644
--- a/include/nodes/internal/FlowView.hpp
+++ b/include/nodes/internal/FlowView.hpp
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 #pragma once
 
+#include <QtCore/QPoint>
+
 #include <QtWidgets/QGraphicsView>
+#include <QtWidgets/QTreeWidget>
 
 #include "Export.hpp"
 
diff --git a/src/DataModelRegistry.cpp b/src/DataModelRegistry.cpp
index 4a8b202d8..c7c271fb2 100644
--- a/src/DataModelRegistry.cpp
+++ b/src/DataModelRegistry.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 #include "DataModelRegistry.hpp"
 
+#include <algorithm>
+
 #include <QtCore/QFile>
 #include <QtWidgets/QMessageBox>
 
@@ -30,6 +32,12 @@ registeredModelCreators() const
   return _registeredItemCreators;
 }
 
+DataModelRegistry::RegisteredModelsOrder const &
+DataModelRegistry::
+registeredModelsOrder() const
+{
+  return _registeredModelsOrder;
+}
 
 DataModelRegistry::RegisteredModelsCategoryMap const &
 DataModelRegistry::
@@ -47,6 +55,21 @@ categories() const
 }
 
 
+DataModelRegistry::CategoriesOrder const &
+DataModelRegistry::
+categoriesOrder() const
+{
+  return _categoriesOrder;
+}
+
+void
+DataModelRegistry::
+sortCategories()
+{
+  std::sort(_categoriesOrder.begin(), _categoriesOrder.end());
+}
+
+
 TypeConverter
 DataModelRegistry::
 getTypeConverter(NodeDataType const & d1,
diff --git a/src/FlowView.cpp b/src/FlowView.cpp
index 2e94d8875..5f34d6a05 100644
--- a/src/FlowView.cpp
+++ b/src/FlowView.cpp
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 
 #include <QtOpenGL>
 #include <QtWidgets>
+#include <QtGlobal>
 
 #include <QDebug>
 #include <iostream>
@@ -22,9 +23,15 @@
 #include "NodeGraphicsObject.hpp"
 #include "ConnectionGraphicsObject.hpp"
 #include "StyleCollection.hpp"
+#include "ModelSelectionWidget.hpp"
 
 using QtNodes::FlowView;
 using QtNodes::FlowScene;
+using QtNodes::ModelSelectionWidget;
+
+
+static auto const SkipText = QStringLiteral("skip me");
+
 
 FlowView::
 FlowView(QWidget *parent)
@@ -100,7 +107,7 @@ FlowView::setScene(FlowScene *scene)
 
 void
 FlowView::
-contextMenuEvent(QContextMenuEvent *event)
+contextMenuEvent(QContextMenuEvent* event)
 {
   if (itemAt(event->pos()))
   {
@@ -110,56 +117,14 @@ contextMenuEvent(QContextMenuEvent *event)
 
   QMenu modelMenu;
 
-  auto skipText = QStringLiteral("skip me");
-
-  //Add filterbox to the context menu
-  auto *txtBox = new QLineEdit(&modelMenu);
-
-  txtBox->setPlaceholderText(QStringLiteral("Filter"));
-  txtBox->setClearButtonEnabled(true);
-
-  auto *txtBoxAction = new QWidgetAction(&modelMenu);
-  txtBoxAction->setDefaultWidget(txtBox);
-
-  modelMenu.addAction(txtBoxAction);
+  auto* modelSelectionWidget = new ModelSelectionWidget(_scene->registry(), &modelMenu);
 
-  //Add result treeview to the context menu
-  auto *treeView = new QTreeWidget(&modelMenu);
-  treeView->header()->close();
-
-  auto *treeViewAction = new QWidgetAction(&modelMenu);
-  treeViewAction->setDefaultWidget(treeView);
-
-  modelMenu.addAction(treeViewAction);
-
-  QMap<QString, QTreeWidgetItem*> topLevelItems;
-  for (auto const &cat : _scene->registry().categories())
+  for (QAction* action : modelSelectionWidget->actions())
   {
-    auto item = new QTreeWidgetItem(treeView);
-    item->setText(0, cat);
-    item->setData(0, Qt::UserRole, skipText);
-    topLevelItems[cat] = item;
+    modelMenu.addAction(action);
   }
 
-  for (auto const &assoc : _scene->registry().registeredModelsCategoryAssociation())
-  {
-    auto parent = topLevelItems[assoc.second];
-    auto item   = new QTreeWidgetItem(parent);
-    item->setText(0, assoc.first);
-    item->setData(0, Qt::UserRole, assoc.first);
-  }
-
-  treeView->expandAll();
-
-  connect(treeView, &QTreeWidget::itemClicked, [&](QTreeWidgetItem *item, int)
-  {
-    QString modelName = item->data(0, Qt::UserRole).toString();
-
-    if (modelName == skipText)
-    {
-      return;
-    }
-
+  connect(modelSelectionWidget, &ModelSelectionWidget::modelSelected, [&](QString modelName) {
     auto type = _scene->registry().create(modelName);
 
     if (type)
@@ -180,30 +145,6 @@ contextMenuEvent(QContextMenuEvent *event)
     modelMenu.close();
   });
 
-  //Setup filtering
-  connect(txtBox, &QLineEdit::textChanged, [&](const QString &text)
-  {
-    for (auto& topLvlItem : topLevelItems)
-    {
-      for (int i = 0; i < topLvlItem->childCount(); ++i)
-      {
-        auto child = topLvlItem->child(i);
-        auto modelName = child->data(0, Qt::UserRole).toString();
-        if (modelName.contains(text, Qt::CaseInsensitive))
-        {
-          child->setHidden(false);
-        }
-        else
-        {
-          child->setHidden(true);
-        }
-      }
-    }
-  });
-
-  // make sure the text box gets focus so the user doesn't have to click on it
-  txtBox->setFocus();
-
   modelMenu.exec(event->globalPos());
 }
 
diff --git a/src/ModelSelectionWidget.cpp b/src/ModelSelectionWidget.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d7bf30ad8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ModelSelectionWidget.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+#include "ModelSelectionWidget.hpp"
+
+#include <utility>
+
+#include <QtWidgets/QHeaderView>
+#include <QtWidgets/QLineEdit>
+#include <QtWidgets/QTreeWidget>
+#include <QtWidgets/QVBoxLayout>
+#include <QtWidgets/QWidgetAction>
+
+#include <nodes/DataModelRegistry>
+
+using QtNodes::DataModelRegistry;
+using QtNodes::ModelSelectionWidget;
+
+
+static auto const SkipText = QStringLiteral("skip me");
+
+
+ModelSelectionWidget::
+ModelSelectionWidget(DataModelRegistry& registry, QWidget* parent)
+  : QWidget(parent)
+{
+  auto* layout = new QVBoxLayout(this);
+  setLayout(layout);
+
+  // Add filterbox to the context menu
+  auto* filter = new QLineEdit(this);
+
+  filter->setPlaceholderText(QStringLiteral("Filter"));
+  filter->setClearButtonEnabled(true);
+
+  auto* filterAction = new QWidgetAction(this);
+  filterAction->setDefaultWidget(filter);
+
+  addAction(filterAction);
+  layout->addWidget(filter);
+
+  // Add result treeview to the context menu
+  auto* treeView = new QTreeWidget(this);
+  treeView->header()->close();
+
+  auto* treeViewAction = new QWidgetAction(this);
+  treeViewAction->setDefaultWidget(treeView);
+
+  addAction(treeViewAction);
+  layout->addWidget(treeView);
+
+  QMap<QString, QTreeWidgetItem*> topLevelItems;
+  for (auto const& cat : registry.categoriesOrder())
+  {
+    auto item = new QTreeWidgetItem(treeView);
+    item->setText(0, cat);
+    item->setData(0, Qt::UserRole, SkipText);
+    topLevelItems[cat] = item;
+  }
+
+  auto const& assocCategory = registry.registeredModelsCategoryAssociation();
+  for (auto const& name : registry.registeredModelsOrder())
+  {
+    auto topLevelParent = topLevelItems[assocCategory.at(name)];
+    auto item           = new QTreeWidgetItem(topLevelParent);
+    item->setText(0, name);
+    item->setData(0, Qt::UserRole, name);
+  }
+
+  treeView->expandAll();
+
+  connect(treeView, &QTreeWidget::itemClicked, this, [this](QTreeWidgetItem* item) {
+    QString modelName = item->data(0, Qt::UserRole).toString();
+
+    if (modelName == SkipText)
+    {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    emit modelSelected(modelName);
+  });
+
+  // Setup filtering
+  connect(filter, &QLineEdit::textChanged, [topLevelItems = std::move(topLevelItems)](const QString& text) {
+    for (auto& topLvlItem : topLevelItems)
+    {
+      for (int i = 0; i < topLvlItem->childCount(); ++i)
+      {
+        auto child     = topLvlItem->child(i);
+        auto modelName = child->data(0, Qt::UserRole).toString();
+        if (modelName.contains(text, Qt::CaseInsensitive))
+        {
+          child->setHidden(false);
+        }
+        else
+        {
+          child->setHidden(true);
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  });
+
+  // make sure the text box gets focus so the user doesn't have to click on it
+  filter->setFocus();
+}
diff --git a/src/ModelSelectionWidget.hpp b/src/ModelSelectionWidget.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cc37600be
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ModelSelectionWidget.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <QtCore/QString>
+#include <QtWidgets/QTreeWidgetItem>
+#include <QtWidgets/QWidget>
+
+#include "Export.hpp"
+
+namespace QtNodes
+{
+
+class DataModelRegistry;
+
+class NODE_EDITOR_PUBLIC ModelSelectionWidget : public QWidget
+{
+  Q_OBJECT
+
+public:
+  explicit ModelSelectionWidget(DataModelRegistry& registry, QWidget* parent = Q_NULLPTR);
+
+signals:
+  void
+  modelSelected(QString modelName);
+};
+
+}
diff --git a/test/CMakeLists.txt b/test/CMakeLists.txt
index d93b391f2..368a1fd58 100644
--- a/test/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/test/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -5,14 +5,14 @@ add_executable(test_nodes
   test_main.cpp
   src/test_dragging.cpp
   src/TestDataModelRegistry.cpp
+  src/TestModelSelectionWidget.cpp
   src/TestNodeGraphicsObject.cpp
 )
 
 target_include_directories(test_nodes
   PRIVATE
-    ../src
-    ../include/internal
     include
+    $<TARGET_PROPERTY:NodeEditor::nodes,INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES>
 )
 
 target_link_libraries(test_nodes
diff --git a/test/include/Stringify.hpp b/test/include/Stringify.hpp
index f6f349524..dee051e30 100644
--- a/test/include/Stringify.hpp
+++ b/test/include/Stringify.hpp
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 #include <QtCore/QPoint>
 #include <QtCore/QPointF>
+#include <QtCore/QString>
 
 #include <catch.hpp>
 
@@ -28,4 +29,14 @@ struct StringMaker<QPoint>
     return std::string(QTest::toString(p));
   }
 };
+
+template <>
+struct StringMaker<QString>
+{
+  static std::string
+  convert(QString const& str)
+  {
+    return str.toStdString();
+  }
+};
 }
diff --git a/test/src/TestModelSelectionWidget.cpp b/test/src/TestModelSelectionWidget.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7f0bb7fe9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/src/TestModelSelectionWidget.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,141 @@
+#include "ModelSelectionWidget.hpp"
+
+#include <nodes/DataModelRegistry>
+
+#include <QtCore/QObject>
+#include <QtTest>
+#include <QtWidgets/QTreeWidget>
+
+#include <catch.hpp>
+
+#include "ApplicationSetup.hpp"
+#include "Stringify.hpp"
+#include "StubNodeDataModel.hpp"
+
+using QtNodes::DataModelRegistry;
+using QtNodes::ModelSelectionWidget;
+
+#include <iostream>
+#include <typeinfo>
+
+TEST_CASE("ModelSelectionWidget models order (within a category)", "[gui]")
+{
+  class StubModel : public StubNodeDataModel
+  {
+  public:
+    StubModel(QString modelName)
+      : modelName(modelName)
+    {
+    }
+
+    QString
+    name() const override
+    {
+      return modelName;
+    }
+
+    QString modelName;
+  };
+
+  auto setup = applicationSetup();
+
+  DataModelRegistry registry;
+  registry.registerModel<StubModel>([] {
+    return std::make_unique<StubModel>("a");
+  });
+  registry.registerModel<StubModel>([] {
+    return std::make_unique<StubModel>("c");
+  });
+  registry.registerModel<StubModel>([] {
+    return std::make_unique<StubModel>("b");
+  });
+
+  auto widget = std::make_unique<ModelSelectionWidget>(registry);
+
+  auto tree = widget->findChild<QTreeWidget*>();
+
+  {
+    INFO("Test out of date. ModelSelectionWidget doesn't use QTreeWidget");
+    REQUIRE(tree != nullptr);
+  }
+
+  REQUIRE(tree->topLevelItemCount() == 1);
+
+  QTreeWidgetItem* mainCategory = tree->topLevelItem(0);
+
+  REQUIRE(mainCategory->childCount() == 3);
+  CHECK(mainCategory->child(0)->data(0, Qt::UserRole).toString().toStdString() == "a");
+  CHECK(mainCategory->child(1)->data(0, Qt::UserRole).toString().toStdString() == "c");
+  CHECK(mainCategory->child(2)->data(0, Qt::UserRole).toString().toStdString() == "b");
+}
+
+#include <nodes/FlowScene>
+#include <nodes/FlowView>
+
+TEST_CASE("ModelSelectionWidget category order", "[gui]")
+{
+  auto setup = applicationSetup();
+
+  DataModelRegistry registry;
+
+  registry.registerModel<StubNodeDataModel>("Category A", [] {
+    auto result = std::make_unique<StubNodeDataModel>();
+
+    result->name("A");
+
+    return result;
+  });
+
+  registry.registerModel<StubNodeDataModel>("Category C", [] {
+    auto result = std::make_unique<StubNodeDataModel>();
+
+    result->name("C");
+
+    return result;
+  });
+
+  registry.registerModel<StubNodeDataModel>("Category B", [] {
+    auto result = std::make_unique<StubNodeDataModel>();
+
+    result->name("B");
+
+    return result;
+  });
+
+  SECTION("unsorted categories")
+  {
+    auto widget = std::make_unique<ModelSelectionWidget>(registry);
+
+    auto tree = widget->findChild<QTreeWidget*>();
+
+    {
+      INFO("Test out of date. ModelSelectionWidget doesn't use QTreeWidget");
+      REQUIRE(tree != nullptr);
+    }
+
+    REQUIRE(tree->topLevelItemCount() == 3);
+
+    CHECK(tree->topLevelItem(0)->text(0).toStdString() == "Category A");
+    CHECK(tree->topLevelItem(1)->text(0).toStdString() == "Category C");
+    CHECK(tree->topLevelItem(2)->text(0).toStdString() == "Category B");
+  }
+  SECTION("sorted categories")
+  {
+    registry.sortCategories();
+
+    auto widget = std::make_unique<ModelSelectionWidget>(registry);
+
+    auto tree = widget->findChild<QTreeWidget*>();
+
+    {
+      INFO("Test out of date. ModelSelectionWidget doesn't use QTreeWidget");
+      REQUIRE(tree != nullptr);
+    }
+
+    REQUIRE(tree->topLevelItemCount() == 3);
+
+    CHECK(tree->topLevelItem(0)->text(0).toStdString() == "Category A");
+    CHECK(tree->topLevelItem(1)->text(0).toStdString() == "Category B");
+    CHECK(tree->topLevelItem(2)->text(0).toStdString() == "Category C");
+  }
+}