diff --git a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/js/nodes.js b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/js/nodes.js
index 889cb0197..cab3547c2 100644
--- a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/js/nodes.js
+++ b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/js/nodes.js
@@ -2099,6 +2099,8 @@ RED.nodes = (function() {
             activeWorkspace = RED.workspaces.active();
         }
 
+        const pendingConfigNodes = []
+        const pendingConfigNodeIds = new Set()
         // Find all config nodes and add them
         for (i=0;i<newNodes.length;i++) {
             n = newNodes[i];
@@ -2158,7 +2160,8 @@ RED.nodes = (function() {
                         type:n.type,
                         info: n.info,
                         users:[],
-                        _config:{}
+                        _config:{},
+                        _configNodeReferences: new Set()
                     };
                     if (!n.z) {
                         delete configNode.z;
@@ -2173,6 +2176,9 @@ RED.nodes = (function() {
                         if (def.defaults.hasOwnProperty(d)) {
                             configNode[d] = n[d];
                             configNode._config[d] = JSON.stringify(n[d]);
+                            if (def.defaults[d].type) {
+                                configNode._configNodeReferences.add(n[d])
+                            }
                         }
                     }
                     if (def.hasOwnProperty('credentials') && n.hasOwnProperty('credentials')) {
@@ -2189,25 +2195,54 @@ RED.nodes = (function() {
                         configNode.id = getID();
                     }
                     node_map[n.id] = configNode;
-                    new_nodes.push(configNode);
+                    pendingConfigNodes.push(configNode);
+                    pendingConfigNodeIds.add(configNode.id)
                 }
             }
         }
 
-        // Config node can use another config node, must ensure that this other
-        // config node is added before to exists when updating the user list
-        const configNodeFilter = function (node) {
-            let count = 0;
-            if (node._def?.defaults) {
-                for (const def of Object.values(node._def.defaults)) {
-                    if (def.type) {
-                        count++;
-                    }
+        // We need to sort new_nodes (which only contains config nodes at this point)
+        // to ensure they get added in the right order. If NodeA depends on NodeB, then
+        // NodeB must be added first.
+        
+        // Limit us to 5 full iterations of the list - this should be more than
+        // enough to process the list as config->config node relationships are
+        // not very common
+        let iterationLimit = pendingConfigNodes.length * 5
+        const handledConfigNodes = new Set()
+        while (pendingConfigNodes.length > 0 && iterationLimit > 0) {
+            const node = pendingConfigNodes.shift()
+            let hasPending = false
+            // Loop through the nodes referenced by this node to see if anything
+            // is pending
+            node._configNodeReferences.forEach(id => {
+                if (pendingConfigNodeIds.has(id) && !handledConfigNodes.has(id)) {
+                    // This reference is for a node we know is in this import, but
+                    // it isn't added yet - flag as pending
+                    hasPending = true
                 }
+            })
+            if (!hasPending) {
+                // This node has no pending config node references - safe to add
+                delete node._configNodeReferences
+                new_nodes.push(node)
+                handledConfigNodes.add(node.id)
+            } else {
+                // This node has pending config node references
+                // Put to the back of the queue
+                pendingConfigNodes.push(node)
             }
-            return count;
-        };
-        new_nodes.sort((a, b) => configNodeFilter(a) - configNodeFilter(b));
+            iterationLimit--
+        }
+        if (pendingConfigNodes.length > 0) {
+            // We exceeded the iteration count. Could be due to reference loops
+            // between the config nodes. At this point, just add the remaining
+            // nodes as-is
+            pendingConfigNodes.forEach(node => {
+                delete node._configNodeReferences
+                new_nodes.push(node)
+            })
+        }
 
         // Find regular flow nodes and subflow instances
         for (i=0;i<newNodes.length;i++) {