diff --git a/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/SongSelect/TestSceneBeatmapCarousel.cs b/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/SongSelect/TestSceneBeatmapCarousel.cs
index 073d75692e..a3ea4619cc 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/SongSelect/TestSceneBeatmapCarousel.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/SongSelect/TestSceneBeatmapCarousel.cs
@@ -80,9 +80,9 @@ namespace osu.Game.Tests.Visual.SongSelect
         [Test]
         public void TestRecommendedSelection()
         {
-            loadBeatmaps();
+            loadBeatmaps(carouselAdjust: carousel => carousel.GetRecommendedBeatmap = beatmaps => beatmaps.LastOrDefault());
 
-            AddStep("set recommendation function", () => carousel.GetRecommendedBeatmap = beatmaps => beatmaps.LastOrDefault());
+            AddStep("select last", () => carousel.SelectBeatmap(carousel.BeatmapSets.Last().Beatmaps.Last()));
 
             // check recommended was selected
             advanceSelection(direction: 1, diff: false);
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Tests.Visual.SongSelect
         {
             loadBeatmaps();
 
-            advanceSelection(direction: 1, diff: false);
+            AddStep("select first", () => carousel.SelectBeatmap(carousel.BeatmapSets.First().Beatmaps.First()));
             waitForSelection(1, 1);
 
             advanceSelection(direction: 1, diff: true);
@@ -707,9 +707,9 @@ namespace osu.Game.Tests.Visual.SongSelect
             checkVisibleItemCount(true, 15);
         }
 
-        private void loadBeatmaps(List<BeatmapSetInfo> beatmapSets = null, Func<FilterCriteria> initialCriteria = null)
+        private void loadBeatmaps(List<BeatmapSetInfo> beatmapSets = null, Func<FilterCriteria> initialCriteria = null, Action<BeatmapCarousel> carouselAdjust = null)
         {
-            createCarousel();
+            createCarousel(carouselAdjust);
 
             if (beatmapSets == null)
             {
@@ -730,17 +730,21 @@ namespace osu.Game.Tests.Visual.SongSelect
             AddUntilStep("Wait for load", () => changed);
         }
 
-        private void createCarousel(Container target = null)
+        private void createCarousel(Action<BeatmapCarousel> carouselAdjust = null, Container target = null)
         {
             AddStep("Create carousel", () =>
             {
                 selectedSets.Clear();
                 eagerSelectedIDs.Clear();
 
-                (target ?? this).Child = carousel = new TestBeatmapCarousel
+                carousel = new TestBeatmapCarousel
                 {
                     RelativeSizeAxes = Axes.Both,
                 };
+
+                carouselAdjust?.Invoke(carousel);
+
+                (target ?? this).Child = carousel;
             });
         }
 
diff --git a/osu.Game/Screens/Select/BeatmapCarousel.cs b/osu.Game/Screens/Select/BeatmapCarousel.cs
index 6f913a3177..5f6f859d66 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Screens/Select/BeatmapCarousel.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Screens/Select/BeatmapCarousel.cs
@@ -95,7 +95,6 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Select
             CarouselRoot newRoot = new CarouselRoot(this);
 
             beatmapSets.Select(createCarouselSet).Where(g => g != null).ForEach(newRoot.AddChild);
-            newRoot.Filter(activeCriteria);
 
             // preload drawables as the ctor overhead is quite high currently.
             _ = newRoot.Drawables;
@@ -108,6 +107,9 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Select
             itemsCache.Invalidate();
             scrollPositionCache.Invalidate();
 
+            // apply any pending filter operation that may have been delayed (see applyActiveCriteria's scheduling behaviour when BeatmapSetsLoaded is false).
+            FlushPendingFilterOperations();
+
             // Run on late scheduler want to ensure this runs after all pending UpdateBeatmapSet / RemoveBeatmapSet operations are run.
             SchedulerAfterChildren.Add(() =>
             {
@@ -321,6 +323,9 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Select
         /// <returns>True if a selection could be made, else False.</returns>
         public bool SelectNextRandom()
         {
+            if (!AllowSelection)
+                return false;
+
             var visibleSets = beatmapSets.Where(s => !s.Filtered.Value).ToList();
             if (!visibleSets.Any())
                 return false;
@@ -427,7 +432,19 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Select
 
         private void applyActiveCriteria(bool debounce, bool alwaysResetScrollPosition = true)
         {
-            if (root.Children.Any() != true) return;
+            PendingFilter?.Cancel();
+            PendingFilter = null;
+
+            if (debounce)
+                PendingFilter = Scheduler.AddDelayed(perform, 250);
+            else
+            {
+                // if initial load is not yet finished, this will be run inline in loadBeatmapSets to ensure correct order of operation.
+                if (!BeatmapSetsLoaded)
+                    PendingFilter = Schedule(perform);
+                else
+                    perform();
+            }
 
             void perform()
             {
@@ -439,14 +456,6 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Select
                 if (alwaysResetScrollPosition || !scroll.UserScrolling)
                     ScrollToSelected();
             }
-
-            PendingFilter?.Cancel();
-            PendingFilter = null;
-
-            if (debounce)
-                PendingFilter = Scheduler.AddDelayed(perform, 250);
-            else
-                perform();
         }
 
         private float? scrollTarget;