diff --git a/changelog.md b/changelog.md
index f685262f..7f8f151b 100644
--- a/changelog.md
+++ b/changelog.md
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 TBD
 ==============
 
+Features
+--------
+* Place special commands first in the list of completion candidates, and remove duplicates.
+
+
 Bug Fixes
 --------
 * Fix CamelCase fuzzy matching.
diff --git a/mycli/sqlcompleter.py b/mycli/sqlcompleter.py
index eee9b08c..e27fcfa6 100644
--- a/mycli/sqlcompleter.py
+++ b/mycli/sqlcompleter.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 from mycli.packages.parseutils import last_word
 from mycli.packages.special import llm
 from mycli.packages.special.favoritequeries import FavoriteQueries
+from mycli.packages.special.main import COMMANDS as SPECIAL_COMMANDS
 
 _logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -32,14 +33,18 @@ class SQLCompleter(Completer):
         'LIKE',
         'LIMIT',
     ]
-    keywords = [
+    keywords_raw = [
         x.upper()
         for x in favorite_keywords
         + list(MYSQL_DATATYPES)
         + list(MYSQL_KEYWORDS)
         + ['ALTER TABLE', 'CHANGE MASTER TO', 'CHARACTER SET', 'FOREIGN KEY']
     ]
-    keywords = list(dict.fromkeys(keywords))
+    keywords_d = dict.fromkeys(keywords_raw)
+    for x in SPECIAL_COMMANDS:
+        if x.upper() in keywords_d:
+            del keywords_d[x.upper()]
+    keywords = list(keywords_d)
 
     tidb_keywords = [
         "SELECT",
@@ -1104,7 +1109,8 @@ def get_completions(
 
             elif suggestion["type"] == "special":
                 special_m = self.find_matches(word_before_cursor, self.special_commands, start_only=True, fuzzy=False)
-                completions.extend(special_m)
+                # specials are special, and go early in the candidates, first if possible
+                completions = list(special_m) + completions
 
             elif suggestion["type"] == "favoritequery":
                 if hasattr(FavoriteQueries, 'instance') and hasattr(FavoriteQueries.instance, 'list'):
diff --git a/test/test_smart_completion_public_schema_only.py b/test/test_smart_completion_public_schema_only.py
index c688b398..f841db49 100644
--- a/test/test_smart_completion_public_schema_only.py
+++ b/test/test_smart_completion_public_schema_only.py
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ def test_empty_string_completion(completer, complete_event):
     text = ""
     position = 0
     result = list(completer.get_completions(Document(text=text, cursor_position=position), complete_event))
-    assert list(map(Completion, completer.keywords + completer.special_commands)) == result
+    assert list(map(Completion, completer.special_commands + completer.keywords)) == result
 
 
 def test_select_keyword_completion(completer, complete_event):
@@ -474,6 +474,20 @@ def test_grant_on_suggets_tables_and_schemata(completer, complete_event):
     ]
 
 
+# todo: this test belongs more logically in test_naive_completion.py, but it didn't work there:
+#       multiple completion candidates were not suggested.
+def test_deleted_keyword_completion(completer, complete_event):
+    text = "exi"
+    position = len("exi")
+    result = list(completer.get_completions(Document(text=text, cursor_position=position), complete_event))
+    assert result == [
+        Completion(text="exit", start_position=-3),
+        Completion(text='exists', start_position=-3),
+        Completion(text='expire', start_position=-3),
+        Completion(text='explain', start_position=-3),
+    ]
+
+
 def dummy_list_path(dir_name):
     dirs = {
         "/": [