diff --git a/src/quacc/settings.py b/src/quacc/settings.py
index 416c1a3f9f..0346edc69c 100644
--- a/src/quacc/settings.py
+++ b/src/quacc/settings.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 from quacc.calculators.presets import vasp as vasp_defaults
 
 installed_engine = "local"
-for wflow_engine in ["covalent", "parsl", "prefect", "redun", "jobflow"]:
+for wflow_engine in ["parsl", "prefect", "redun", "jobflow", "covalent"]:
     try:
         import_module(wflow_engine)
         installed_engine = wflow_engine