diff --git a/app/api_topologies.go b/app/api_topologies.go
index e5495a772..6052f86af 100644
--- a/app/api_topologies.go
+++ b/app/api_topologies.go
@@ -2,26 +2,140 @@ package main
 
 import (
 	"net/http"
+	"sort"
+	"sync"
+
+	"github.com/gorilla/mux"
 
 	"github.com/weaveworks/scope/render"
 	"github.com/weaveworks/scope/report"
 	"github.com/weaveworks/scope/xfer"
 )
 
+const apiTopologyURL = "/api/topology/"
+
+var (
+	topologyRegistry = &registry{
+		items: map[string]APITopologyDesc{},
+	}
+	kubernetesTopologies = []APITopologyDesc{
+		{
+			id:       "pods",
+			renderer: render.PodRenderer,
+			Name:     "Pods",
+			Options: map[string][]APITopologyOption{"system": {
+				{"show", "System containers shown", false, nop},
+				{"hide", "System containers hidden", true, render.FilterSystem},
+			}},
+		},
+		{
+			id:       "pods-by-service",
+			parent:   "pods",
+			renderer: render.PodServiceRenderer,
+			Name:     "by service",
+			Options: map[string][]APITopologyOption{"system": {
+				{"show", "System containers shown", false, nop},
+				{"hide", "System containers hidden", true, render.FilterSystem},
+			}},
+		},
+	}
+)
+
+func init() {
+	// Topology option labels should tell the current state. The first item must
+	// be the verb to get to that state
+	topologyRegistry.add(
+		APITopologyDesc{
+			id:       "applications",
+			renderer: render.FilterUnconnected(render.ProcessWithContainerNameRenderer),
+			Name:     "Applications",
+			Options: map[string][]APITopologyOption{"unconnected": {
+				// Show the user why there are filtered nodes in this view.
+				// Don't give them the option to show those nodes.
+				{"hide", "Unconnected nodes hidden", true, nop},
+			}},
+		},
+		APITopologyDesc{
+			id:       "applications-by-name",
+			parent:   "applications",
+			renderer: render.FilterUnconnected(render.ProcessNameRenderer),
+			Name:     "by name",
+			Options: map[string][]APITopologyOption{"unconnected": {
+				// Ditto above.
+				{"hide", "Unconnected nodes hidden", true, nop},
+			}},
+		},
+		APITopologyDesc{
+			id:       "containers",
+			renderer: render.ContainerWithImageNameRenderer,
+			Name:     "Containers",
+			Options: map[string][]APITopologyOption{"system": {
+				{"show", "System containers shown", false, nop},
+				{"hide", "System containers hidden", true, render.FilterSystem},
+			}},
+		},
+		APITopologyDesc{
+			id:       "containers-by-image",
+			parent:   "containers",
+			renderer: render.ContainerImageRenderer,
+			Name:     "by image",
+			Options: map[string][]APITopologyOption{"system": {
+				{"show", "System containers shown", false, nop},
+				{"hide", "System containers hidden", true, render.FilterSystem},
+			}},
+		},
+		APITopologyDesc{
+			id:       "containers-by-hostname",
+			parent:   "containers",
+			renderer: render.ContainerHostnameRenderer,
+			Name:     "by hostname",
+			Options: map[string][]APITopologyOption{"system": {
+				{"show", "System containers shown", false, nop},
+				{"hide", "System containers hidden", true, render.FilterSystem},
+			}},
+		},
+		APITopologyDesc{
+			id:       "hosts",
+			renderer: render.HostRenderer,
+			Name:     "Hosts",
+			Options:  map[string][]APITopologyOption{},
+		},
+	)
+}
+
+// registry is a threadsafe store of the available topologies
+type registry struct {
+	sync.RWMutex
+	items map[string]APITopologyDesc
+}
+
 // APITopologyDesc is returned in a list by the /api/topology handler.
 type APITopologyDesc struct {
-	Name          string                         `json:"name"`
-	URL           string                         `json:"url"`
-	SubTopologies []APITopologyDesc              `json:"sub_topologies,omitempty"`
-	Options       map[string][]APITopologyOption `json:"options"`
-	Stats         *topologyStats                 `json:"stats,omitempty"`
+	id       string
+	parent   string
+	renderer render.Renderer
+
+	Name    string                         `json:"name"`
+	Options map[string][]APITopologyOption `json:"options"`
+
+	URL           string            `json:"url"`
+	SubTopologies []APITopologyDesc `json:"sub_topologies,omitempty"`
+	Stats         *topologyStats    `json:"stats,omitempty"`
 }
 
+type byName []APITopologyDesc
+
+func (a byName) Len() int           { return len(a) }
+func (a byName) Swap(i, j int)      { a[i], a[j] = a[j], a[i] }
+func (a byName) Less(i, j int) bool { return a[i].Name < a[j].Name }
+
 // APITopologyOption describes a &param=value to a given topology.
 type APITopologyOption struct {
 	Value   string `json:"value"`
 	Display string `json:"display"`
 	Default bool   `json:"default,omitempty"`
+
+	decorator func(render.Renderer) render.Renderer
 }
 
 type topologyStats struct {
@@ -31,71 +145,113 @@ type topologyStats struct {
 	FilteredNodes      int `json:"filtered_nodes"`
 }
 
+func (r *registry) add(ts ...APITopologyDesc) {
+	r.Lock()
+	defer r.Unlock()
+	for _, t := range ts {
+		t.URL = apiTopologyURL + t.id
+
+		if t.parent != "" {
+			parent := r.items[t.parent]
+			parent.SubTopologies = append(parent.SubTopologies, t)
+			sort.Sort(byName(parent.SubTopologies))
+			r.items[t.parent] = parent
+		}
+
+		r.items[t.id] = t
+	}
+}
+
+func (r *registry) get(name string) (APITopologyDesc, bool) {
+	r.RLock()
+	defer r.RUnlock()
+	t, ok := r.items[name]
+	return t, ok
+}
+
+func (r *registry) walk(f func(APITopologyDesc)) {
+	r.RLock()
+	defer r.RUnlock()
+	descs := []APITopologyDesc{}
+	for _, desc := range r.items {
+		if desc.parent != "" {
+			continue
+		}
+		descs = append(descs, desc)
+	}
+	sort.Sort(byName(descs))
+	for _, desc := range descs {
+		f(desc)
+	}
+}
+
 // makeTopologyList returns a handler that yields an APITopologyList.
-func makeTopologyList(rep xfer.Reporter) func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
-	return func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+func (r *registry) makeTopologyList(rep xfer.Reporter) func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	return func(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
 		var (
 			rpt        = rep.Report()
 			topologies = []APITopologyDesc{}
 		)
-		topologyRegistry.walk(func(name string, def topologyView, subDefs map[string]topologyView) {
-			describedSubDefs := []APITopologyDesc{}
-			for subName, subDef := range subDefs {
-				describedSubDefs = append(describedSubDefs, APITopologyDesc{
-					Name:    subDef.human,
-					URL:     "/api/topology/" + subName,
-					Options: makeTopologyOptions(subDef),
-					Stats:   stats(subDef.renderer, rpt),
-				})
+		r.walk(func(desc APITopologyDesc) {
+			decorateTopologyForRequest(req, &desc)
+			decorateWithStats(&desc, rpt)
+			for i := range desc.SubTopologies {
+				decorateTopologyForRequest(req, &desc.SubTopologies[i])
+				decorateWithStats(&desc.SubTopologies[i], rpt)
 			}
-			topologies = append(topologies, APITopologyDesc{
-				Name:          def.human,
-				URL:           "/api/topology/" + name,
-				SubTopologies: describedSubDefs,
-				Options:       makeTopologyOptions(def),
-				Stats:         stats(def.renderer, rpt),
-			})
+			topologies = append(topologies, desc)
 		})
-
 		respondWith(w, http.StatusOK, topologies)
 	}
 }
 
-func makeTopologyOptions(view topologyView) map[string][]APITopologyOption {
-	options := map[string][]APITopologyOption{}
-	for param, optionVals := range view.options {
-		for _, optionVal := range optionVals {
-			options[param] = append(options[param], APITopologyOption{
-				Value:   optionVal.value,
-				Display: optionVal.human,
-				Default: optionVal.def,
-			})
-		}
-	}
-	return options
-}
-
-func stats(renderer render.Renderer, rpt report.Report) *topologyStats {
+func decorateWithStats(desc *APITopologyDesc, rpt report.Report) {
 	var (
 		nodes     int
 		realNodes int
 		edges     int
 	)
-
-	for _, n := range renderer.Render(rpt) {
+	for _, n := range desc.renderer.Render(rpt) {
 		nodes++
 		if !n.Pseudo {
 			realNodes++
 		}
 		edges += len(n.Adjacency)
 	}
-
-	renderStats := renderer.Stats(rpt)
-
-	return &topologyStats{
+	renderStats := desc.renderer.Stats(rpt)
+	desc.Stats = &topologyStats{
 		NodeCount:          nodes,
 		NonpseudoNodeCount: realNodes,
 		EdgeCount:          edges,
 		FilteredNodes:      renderStats.FilteredNodes,
 	}
 }
+
+func nop(r render.Renderer) render.Renderer { return r }
+
+func (r *registry) enableKubernetesTopologies() {
+	r.add(kubernetesTopologies...)
+}
+
+func decorateTopologyForRequest(r *http.Request, topology *APITopologyDesc) {
+	for param, opts := range topology.Options {
+		value := r.FormValue(param)
+		for _, opt := range opts {
+			if (value == "" && opt.Default) || (opt.Value != "" && opt.Value == value) {
+				topology.renderer = opt.decorator(topology.renderer)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func (r *registry) captureTopology(rep xfer.Reporter, f func(xfer.Reporter, APITopologyDesc, http.ResponseWriter, *http.Request)) http.HandlerFunc {
+	return func(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
+		topology, ok := r.get(mux.Vars(req)["topology"])
+		if !ok {
+			http.NotFound(w, req)
+			return
+		}
+		decorateTopologyForRequest(req, &topology)
+		f(rep, topology, w, req)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/app/api_topology.go b/app/api_topology.go
index 03f96934e..5e9dad197 100644
--- a/app/api_topology.go
+++ b/app/api_topology.go
@@ -33,14 +33,14 @@ type APIEdge struct {
 }
 
 // Full topology.
-func handleTopology(rep xfer.Reporter, t topologyView, w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+func handleTopology(rep xfer.Reporter, t APITopologyDesc, w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	respondWith(w, http.StatusOK, APITopology{
 		Nodes: t.renderer.Render(rep.Report()).Prune(),
 	})
 }
 
 // Websocket for the full topology. This route overlaps with the next.
-func handleWs(rep xfer.Reporter, t topologyView, w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+func handleWs(rep xfer.Reporter, t APITopologyDesc, w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	if err := r.ParseForm(); err != nil {
 		respondWith(w, http.StatusInternalServerError, err.Error())
 		return
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ func handleWs(rep xfer.Reporter, t topologyView, w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.
 }
 
 // Individual nodes.
-func handleNode(rep xfer.Reporter, t topologyView, w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+func handleNode(rep xfer.Reporter, t APITopologyDesc, w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	var (
 		vars     = mux.Vars(r)
 		nodeID   = vars["id"]
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ func handleNode(rep xfer.Reporter, t topologyView, w http.ResponseWriter, r *htt
 }
 
 // Individual edges.
-func handleEdge(rep xfer.Reporter, t topologyView, w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+func handleEdge(rep xfer.Reporter, t APITopologyDesc, w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	var (
 		vars     = mux.Vars(r)
 		localID  = vars["local"]
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ func handleWebsocket(
 	w http.ResponseWriter,
 	r *http.Request,
 	rep xfer.Reporter,
-	t topologyView,
+	t APITopologyDesc,
 	loop time.Duration,
 ) {
 	conn, err := upgrader.Upgrade(w, r, nil)
diff --git a/app/router.go b/app/router.go
index 93f58a1cd..340c4b837 100644
--- a/app/router.go
+++ b/app/router.go
@@ -6,12 +6,10 @@ import (
 	"net/http"
 	"net/url"
 	"strings"
-	"sync"
 
 	"github.com/PuerkitoBio/ghost/handlers"
 	"github.com/gorilla/mux"
 
-	"github.com/weaveworks/scope/render"
 	"github.com/weaveworks/scope/report"
 	"github.com/weaveworks/scope/xfer"
 )
@@ -65,12 +63,17 @@ func Router(c collector) *mux.Router {
 
 	get := router.Methods("GET").Subrouter()
 	get.HandleFunc("/api", gzipHandler(apiHandler))
-	get.HandleFunc("/api/topology", gzipHandler(makeTopologyList(c)))
-	get.HandleFunc("/api/topology/{topology}", gzipHandler(captureTopology(c, handleTopology)))
-	get.HandleFunc("/api/topology/{topology}/ws", captureTopology(c, handleWs)) // NB not gzip!
-	get.MatcherFunc(URLMatcher("/api/topology/{topology}/{id}")).HandlerFunc(gzipHandler(captureTopology(c, handleNode)))
-	get.MatcherFunc(URLMatcher("/api/topology/{topology}/{local}/{remote}")).HandlerFunc(gzipHandler(captureTopology(c, handleEdge)))
-	get.MatcherFunc(URLMatcher("/api/origin/host/{id}")).HandlerFunc(gzipHandler(makeOriginHostHandler(c)))
+	get.HandleFunc("/api/topology", gzipHandler(topologyRegistry.makeTopologyList(c)))
+	get.HandleFunc("/api/topology/{topology}",
+		gzipHandler(topologyRegistry.captureTopology(c, handleTopology)))
+	get.HandleFunc("/api/topology/{topology}/ws",
+		topologyRegistry.captureTopology(c, handleWs)) // NB not gzip!
+	get.MatcherFunc(URLMatcher("/api/topology/{topology}/{id}")).HandlerFunc(
+		gzipHandler(topologyRegistry.captureTopology(c, handleNode)))
+	get.MatcherFunc(URLMatcher("/api/topology/{topology}/{local}/{remote}")).HandlerFunc(
+		gzipHandler(topologyRegistry.captureTopology(c, handleEdge)))
+	get.MatcherFunc(URLMatcher("/api/origin/host/{id}")).HandlerFunc(
+		gzipHandler(makeOriginHostHandler(c)))
 	get.HandleFunc("/api/report", gzipHandler(makeRawReportHandler(c)))
 	get.PathPrefix("/").Handler(http.FileServer(FS(false))) // everything else is static
 
@@ -98,35 +101,12 @@ func makeReportPostHandler(a xfer.Adder) http.HandlerFunc {
 		}
 		a.Add(rpt)
 		if len(rpt.Pod.Nodes) > 0 {
-			enableKubernetesTopologies()
+			topologyRegistry.enableKubernetesTopologies()
 		}
 		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusOK)
 	}
 }
 
-func decorateTopologyForRequest(r *http.Request, topology *topologyView) {
-	for param, opts := range topology.options {
-		value := r.FormValue(param)
-		for _, opt := range opts {
-			if (value == "" && opt.def) || (opt.value != "" && opt.value == value) {
-				topology.renderer = opt.decorator(topology.renderer)
-			}
-		}
-	}
-}
-
-func captureTopology(rep xfer.Reporter, f func(xfer.Reporter, topologyView, http.ResponseWriter, *http.Request)) http.HandlerFunc {
-	return func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
-		topology, ok := topologyRegistry.get(mux.Vars(r)["topology"])
-		if !ok {
-			http.NotFound(w, r)
-			return
-		}
-		decorateTopologyForRequest(r, &topology)
-		f(rep, topology, w, r)
-	}
-}
-
 // APIDetails are some generic details that can be fetched from /api
 type APIDetails struct {
 	ID      string `json:"id"`
@@ -136,150 +116,3 @@ type APIDetails struct {
 func apiHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	respondWith(w, http.StatusOK, APIDetails{ID: uniqueID, Version: version})
 }
-
-// registry is a threadsafe store of the available topologies
-type registry struct {
-	sync.RWMutex
-	items map[string]topologyView
-}
-
-func (r *registry) add(ts map[string]topologyView) {
-	r.Lock()
-	defer r.Unlock()
-	result := map[string]topologyView{}
-	for name, t := range r.items {
-		result[name] = t
-	}
-	for name, t := range ts {
-		result[name] = t
-	}
-	r.items = result
-}
-
-func (r *registry) get(name string) (topologyView, bool) {
-	r.RLock()
-	defer r.RUnlock()
-	t, ok := r.items[name]
-	return t, ok
-}
-
-func (r *registry) walk(f func(string, topologyView, map[string]topologyView)) {
-	r.RLock()
-	defer r.RUnlock()
-	for name, def := range r.items {
-		if def.parent != "" {
-			continue
-		}
-
-		subDefs := map[string]topologyView{}
-		for subName, subDef := range r.items {
-			if subDef.parent != name {
-				continue
-			}
-			subDefs[subName] = subDef
-		}
-
-		f(name, def, subDefs)
-	}
-}
-
-// Topology option labels should tell the current state. The first item must
-// be the verb to get to that state
-var topologyRegistry = &registry{
-	items: map[string]topologyView{
-		"applications": {
-			human:    "Applications",
-			parent:   "",
-			renderer: render.FilterUnconnected(render.ProcessWithContainerNameRenderer),
-			options: optionParams{"unconnected": {
-				// Show the user why there are filtered nodes in this view.
-				// Don't give them the option to show those nodes.
-				{"hide", "Unconnected nodes hidden", true, nop},
-			}},
-		},
-		"applications-by-name": {
-			human:    "by name",
-			parent:   "applications",
-			renderer: render.FilterUnconnected(render.ProcessNameRenderer),
-			options: optionParams{"unconnected": {
-				// Ditto above.
-				{"hide", "Unconnected nodes hidden", true, nop},
-			}},
-		},
-		"containers": {
-			human:    "Containers",
-			parent:   "",
-			renderer: render.ContainerWithImageNameRenderer,
-			options: optionParams{"system": {
-				{"show", "System containers shown", false, nop},
-				{"hide", "System containers hidden", true, render.FilterSystem},
-			}},
-		},
-		"containers-by-image": {
-			human:    "by image",
-			parent:   "containers",
-			renderer: render.ContainerImageRenderer,
-			options: optionParams{"system": {
-				{"show", "System containers shown", false, nop},
-				{"hide", "System containers hidden", true, render.FilterSystem},
-			}},
-		},
-		"containers-by-hostname": {
-			human:    "by hostname",
-			parent:   "containers",
-			renderer: render.ContainerHostnameRenderer,
-			options: optionParams{"system": {
-				{"show", "System containers shown", false, nop},
-				{"hide", "System containers hidden", true, render.FilterSystem},
-			}},
-		},
-		"hosts": {
-			human:    "Hosts",
-			parent:   "",
-			renderer: render.HostRenderer,
-		},
-	},
-}
-
-type topologyView struct {
-	human    string
-	parent   string
-	renderer render.Renderer
-	options  optionParams
-}
-
-type optionParams map[string][]optionValue // param: values
-
-type optionValue struct {
-	value     string // "hide"
-	human     string // "Hide system containers"
-	def       bool
-	decorator func(render.Renderer) render.Renderer
-}
-
-func nop(r render.Renderer) render.Renderer { return r }
-
-func enableKubernetesTopologies() {
-	topologyRegistry.add(kubernetesTopologies)
-}
-
-var kubernetesTopologies = map[string]topologyView{
-	"pods": {
-		human:    "Pods",
-		parent:   "",
-		renderer: render.PodRenderer,
-		options: optionParams{"system": {
-			{"show", "System containers shown", false, nop},
-			{"hide", "System containers hidden", true, render.FilterSystem},
-		}},
-	},
-	"pods-by-service": {
-		human:    "by service",
-		parent:   "pods",
-		renderer: render.PodServiceRenderer,
-		options: optionParams{"system": {
-			{"show", "System containers shown", false, nop},
-			{"hide", "System containers hidden", true, render.FilterSystem},
-		}},
-	},
-}