diff --git a/src/build_vehicle_gui.cpp b/src/build_vehicle_gui.cpp
index 6b5746ae4e..a4d425783b 100644
--- a/src/build_vehicle_gui.cpp
+++ b/src/build_vehicle_gui.cpp
@@ -1188,12 +1188,12 @@ struct BuildVehicleWindow : Window {
 
 		this->eng_list.ForceRebuild();
 		this->GenerateBuildList(); // generate the list, since we need it in the next line
-		/* Select the first engine in the list as default when opening the window */
-		if (this->eng_list.size() > 0) {
-			this->SelectEngine(this->eng_list[0].engine_id);
-		} else {
-			this->SelectEngine(INVALID_ENGINE);
-		}
+
+		/* Select the first unshaded engine in the list as default when opening the window */
+		EngineID engine = INVALID_ENGINE;
+		auto it = std::find_if(this->eng_list.begin(), this->eng_list.end(), [&](GUIEngineListItem &item){ return (item.flags & EngineDisplayFlags::Shaded) == EngineDisplayFlags::None; });
+		if (it != this->eng_list.end()) engine = it->engine_id;
+		this->SelectEngine(engine);
 	}
 
 	/** Set the filter type according to the depot type */