diff --git a/osbase/logtree/journal.go b/osbase/logtree/journal.go
index c6cc503..55977bf 100644
--- a/osbase/logtree/journal.go
+++ b/osbase/logtree/journal.go
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
 
 import (
 	"errors"
-	"sort"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
 
@@ -197,10 +196,6 @@
 		cur = cur.prevGlobal
 	}
 
-	// Reverse entries back into chronological order.
-	sort.SliceStable(res, func(i, j int) bool {
-		return i > j
-	})
 	return
 }
 
@@ -233,10 +228,6 @@
 		cur = cur.prevLocal
 	}
 
-	// Reverse entries back into chronological order.
-	sort.SliceStable(res, func(i, j int) bool {
-		return i > j
-	})
 	return
 }
 
diff --git a/osbase/logtree/journal_test.go b/osbase/logtree/journal_test.go
index 826f2e7..944e4fb 100644
--- a/osbase/logtree/journal_test.go
+++ b/osbase/logtree/journal_test.go
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
 		t.Fatalf("wanted %d entries, got %d", want, got)
 	}
 	for i, entry := range entries {
-		want := fmt.Sprintf("test %d", (9000-defaultDNQuota)+i)
+		want := fmt.Sprintf("test %d", 9000-1-i)
 		got := strings.Join(entry.leveled.messages, "\n")
 		if want != got {
 			t.Fatalf("wanted entry %q, got %q", want, got)
diff --git a/osbase/logtree/logtree_access.go b/osbase/logtree/logtree_access.go
index 1582a8f..6c42452 100644
--- a/osbase/logtree/logtree_access.go
+++ b/osbase/logtree/logtree_access.go
@@ -5,11 +5,19 @@
 
 import (
 	"errors"
+	"slices"
 	"sync/atomic"
 
 	"source.monogon.dev/go/logging"
 )
 
+type BacklogOrder int
+
+const (
+	BacklogOrderLatestFirst BacklogOrder = iota
+	BacklogOrderOldestFirst
+)
+
 // LogReadOption describes options for the LogTree.Read call.
 type LogReadOption func(*logReaderOptions)
 
@@ -17,6 +25,7 @@
 	withChildren               bool
 	withStream                 bool
 	withBacklog                int
+	withBacklogOrder           BacklogOrder
 	onlyLeveled                bool
 	onlyRaw                    bool
 	leveledWithMinimumSeverity logging.Severity
@@ -54,6 +63,12 @@
 	return func(lro *logReaderOptions) { lro.withBacklog = count }
 }
 
+// WithBacklogOrder makes Read return log entries in the given order,
+// default being latest messages first.
+func WithBacklogOrder(order BacklogOrder) LogReadOption {
+	return func(lro *logReaderOptions) { lro.withBacklogOrder = order }
+}
+
 // BacklogAllAvailable makes WithBacklog return all backlogged log data that
 // logtree possesses.
 const BacklogAllAvailable int = -1
@@ -156,6 +171,11 @@
 		}
 	}
 
+	if lro.withBacklogOrder == BacklogOrderLatestFirst {
+		// Reverse entries back into chronological order.
+		slices.Reverse(entries)
+	}
+
 	lr := &LogReader{}
 	if lro.withStream {
 		sub := &subscriber{