diff --git a/awx/main/models/unified_jobs.py b/awx/main/models/unified_jobs.py
index f9f5d0a133..2cb2fd28af 100644
--- a/awx/main/models/unified_jobs.py
+++ b/awx/main/models/unified_jobs.py
@@ -1435,9 +1435,13 @@ class UnifiedJob(
         if not settings.IS_K8S:
             default_instance_group_names.append(settings.DEFAULT_CONTROL_PLANE_QUEUE_NAME)
 
-        default_instance_groups = InstanceGroup.objects.filter(name__in=default_instance_group_names)
+        default_instance_groups = list(InstanceGroup.objects.filter(name__in=default_instance_group_names))
 
-        return list(default_instance_groups)
+        # assure deterministic precedence by making sure the default group is first
+        if (not settings.IS_K8S) and default_instance_groups and default_instance_groups[0].name != settings.DEFAULT_EXECUTION_QUEUE_NAME:
+            default_instance_groups.reverse()
+
+        return default_instance_groups
 
     def awx_meta_vars(self):
         """
diff --git a/awx/main/tests/functional/test_instances.py b/awx/main/tests/functional/test_instances.py
index bac6259694..a0a06b4ae5 100644
--- a/awx/main/tests/functional/test_instances.py
+++ b/awx/main/tests/functional/test_instances.py
@@ -301,6 +301,12 @@ def test_inherited_instance_group_membership(instance_group_factory, default_ins
     assert default_instance_group not in j.preferred_instance_groups
 
 
+@pytest.mark.django_db
+def test_global_instance_groups_as_defaults(controlplane_instance_group, default_instance_group, job_factory):
+    j = job_factory()
+    assert j.preferred_instance_groups == [default_instance_group, controlplane_instance_group]
+
+
 @pytest.mark.django_db
 def test_mixed_group_membership(instance_factory, instance_group_factory):
     for i in range(5):