diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4ef4f59..d774f13 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ Tokens are stored in your user config directory with strict file permissions (`0
 ## Core Commands
 
 ```bash
-rollbaz                 # default: list active issues for active project
+rollbaz                 # default: list recent active issues for active project
 rollbaz active --limit 20
 rollbaz recent --limit 20
 rollbaz show 274
diff --git a/internal/app/service.go b/internal/app/service.go
index 8dd4a55..86dd9e1 100644
--- a/internal/app/service.go
+++ b/internal/app/service.go
@@ -82,8 +82,8 @@ func (s *Service) Recent(ctx context.Context, limit int, filters IssueFilters) (
 			return leftTS > rightTS
 		}
 
-		leftOccurrence := uint64Value(items[i].LastOccurrenceID)
-		rightOccurrence := uint64Value(items[j].LastOccurrenceID)
+		leftOccurrence := totalOccurrences(items[i])
+		rightOccurrence := totalOccurrences(items[j])
 
 		return leftOccurrence > rightOccurrence
 	})
@@ -225,10 +225,7 @@ func matchesTimeFilter(timestamp *uint64, sinceUnix *int64, untilUnix *int64) bo
 }
 
 func matchesOccurrenceFilter(item rollbar.Item, minOccurrences *uint64, maxOccurrences *uint64) bool {
-	occurrences := uint64Value(item.TotalOccurrences)
-	if occurrences == 0 {
-		occurrences = uint64Value(item.Occurrences)
-	}
+	occurrences := totalOccurrences(item)
 	if minOccurrences != nil && occurrences < *minOccurrences {
 		return false
 	}
@@ -257,6 +254,14 @@ func mapSummary(item rollbar.Item) IssueSummary {
 	}
 }
 
+func totalOccurrences(item rollbar.Item) uint64 {
+	if item.TotalOccurrences != nil {
+		return *item.TotalOccurrences
+	}
+
+	return uint64Value(item.Occurrences)
+}
+
 func uint64Value(value *uint64) uint64 {
 	if value == nil {
 		return 0
diff --git a/internal/app/service_test.go b/internal/app/service_test.go
index b31c46c..86391ea 100644
--- a/internal/app/service_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/service_test.go
@@ -70,17 +70,36 @@ func TestServiceActive(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestServiceRecentSortsByTimestampThenOccurrence(t *testing.T) {
+func TestServiceRecentSortsByTimestamp(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
 	ts1 := uint64(100)
 	ts2 := uint64(200)
-	o1 := uint64(10)
-	o2 := uint64(20)
 
 	service := NewService(fakeAPI{listItems: []rollbar.Item{
-		{ID: 1, Counter: 1, LastOccurrenceTimestamp: &ts1, LastOccurrenceID: &o1},
-		{ID: 2, Counter: 2, LastOccurrenceTimestamp: &ts2, LastOccurrenceID: &o2},
+		{ID: 1, Counter: 1, LastOccurrenceTimestamp: &ts1},
+		{ID: 2, Counter: 2, LastOccurrenceTimestamp: &ts2},
+	}})
+
+	issues, err := service.Recent(context.Background(), 10, IssueFilters{})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Recent() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(issues) < 2 || issues[0].Counter != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected sort order: %+v", issues)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestServiceRecentSortsByTimestampThenTotalOccurrences(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	ts := uint64(100)
+	totalLow := uint64(10)
+	totalHigh := uint64(20)
+
+	service := NewService(fakeAPI{listItems: []rollbar.Item{
+		{ID: 1, Counter: 1, LastOccurrenceTimestamp: &ts, TotalOccurrences: &totalLow},
+		{ID: 2, Counter: 2, LastOccurrenceTimestamp: &ts, TotalOccurrences: &totalHigh},
 	}})
 
 	issues, err := service.Recent(context.Background(), 10, IssueFilters{})
@@ -95,19 +114,21 @@ func TestServiceRecentSortsByTimestampThenOccurrence(t *testing.T) {
 func TestServiceRecentLimitAndOccurrenceFallback(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
-	o1 := uint64(10)
-	o2 := uint64(20)
+	ts := uint64(100)
+	totalLow := uint64(10)
+	fallbackHigh := uint64(20)
+	ignoredOccurrence := uint64(999)
 
 	service := NewService(fakeAPI{listItems: []rollbar.Item{
-		{ID: 1, Counter: 1, LastOccurrenceID: &o1},
-		{ID: 2, Counter: 2, LastOccurrenceID: &o2},
+		{ID: 1, Counter: 1, LastOccurrenceTimestamp: &ts, Occurrences: &fallbackHigh},
+		{ID: 2, Counter: 2, LastOccurrenceTimestamp: &ts, TotalOccurrences: &totalLow, Occurrences: &ignoredOccurrence},
 	}})
 
 	issues, err := service.Recent(context.Background(), 1, IssueFilters{})
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Recent() error = %v", err)
 	}
-	if len(issues) != 1 || issues[0].Counter != 2 {
+	if len(issues) != 1 || issues[0].Counter != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected fallback sort/limit: %+v", issues)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/internal/cli/root.go b/internal/cli/root.go
index 30d992d..a0d566d 100644
--- a/internal/cli/root.go
+++ b/internal/cli/root.go
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ func NewRootCmd() *cobra.Command {
 		Short:        "Fast Rollbar triage from your terminal",
 		SilenceUsage: true,
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
-			return runActive(cmd.Context(), *flags)
+			return runRecent(cmd.Context(), *flags)
 		},
 	}
 	cmd.Version = version
diff --git a/internal/cli/root_test.go b/internal/cli/root_test.go
index 53ecad9..4adfe44 100644
--- a/internal/cli/root_test.go
+++ b/internal/cli/root_test.go
@@ -219,11 +219,11 @@ func TestProjectRemoveValidation(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestRootCommandDefaultRunsActive(t *testing.T) {
+func TestRootCommandDefaultRunsRecent(t *testing.T) {
 	stdout := setupServerAndStdout(t, http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		switch r.URL.Path {
-		case "/api/1/reports/top_active_items":
-			_, _ = fmt.Fprint(w, `{"err":0,"result":[{"item":{"id":1,"counter":2,"title":"x","status":"active","environment":"production"}}]}`)
+		case "/api/1/items":
+			_, _ = fmt.Fprint(w, `{"err":0,"result":{"items":[{"id":1,"counter":3,"title":"y","status":"active","environment":"production"}]}}`)
 		default:
 			t.Fatalf("unexpected path: %s", r.URL.Path)
 		}
@@ -234,8 +234,8 @@ func TestRootCommandDefaultRunsActive(t *testing.T) {
 	if err := cmd.Execute(); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("root execute error = %v", err)
 	}
-	if !strings.Contains(stdout.String(), "COUNTER") || !strings.Contains(stdout.String(), "x") {
-		t.Fatalf("expected active list output, got %q", stdout.String())
+	if !strings.Contains(stdout.String(), "COUNTER") || !strings.Contains(stdout.String(), "y") {
+		t.Fatalf("expected recent list output, got %q", stdout.String())
 	}
 }