diff --git a/src/smt/smt_context.cpp b/src/smt/smt_context.cpp
index 6c0a89d4f..2de610772 100644
--- a/src/smt/smt_context.cpp
+++ b/src/smt/smt_context.cpp
@@ -2999,6 +2999,10 @@ namespace smt {
         }
     }
 
+    void context::add_theory_aware_branching_info(bool_var v, double priority, lbool phase) {
+        m_case_split_queue->add_theory_aware_branching_info(v, priority, phase);
+    }
+
     void context::undo_th_case_split(literal l) {
         m_all_th_case_split_literals.remove(l.index());
         if (m_literal2casesplitsets.contains(l.index())) {
diff --git a/src/smt/smt_context.h b/src/smt/smt_context.h
index 8016eb587..2aae6c8a5 100644
--- a/src/smt/smt_context.h
+++ b/src/smt/smt_context.h
@@ -825,6 +825,13 @@ namespace smt {
          */
         void mk_th_case_split(unsigned num_lits, literal * lits);
 
+        /*
+         * Provide a hint to the branching heuristic about the priority of a "theory-aware literal".
+         * Literals marked in this way will always be branched on before unmarked literals,
+         * starting with the literal having the highest priority.
+         */
+        void add_theory_aware_branching_info(bool_var v, double priority, lbool phase);
+
         // helper function for trail
         void undo_th_case_split(literal l);
 
diff --git a/src/smt/theory_str.cpp b/src/smt/theory_str.cpp
index 5a27dcebb..f49b539dd 100644
--- a/src/smt/theory_str.cpp
+++ b/src/smt/theory_str.cpp
@@ -2501,6 +2501,13 @@ void theory_str::infer_len_concat_equality(expr * nn1, expr * nn2) {
     */
 }
 
+void theory_str::add_theory_aware_branching_info(expr * term, double priority, lbool phase) {
+    context & ctx = get_context();
+    ctx.internalize(term, false);
+    bool_var v = ctx.get_bool_var(term);
+    ctx.add_theory_aware_branching_info(v, priority, phase);
+}
+
 void theory_str::generate_mutual_exclusion(expr_ref_vector & terms) {
     context & ctx = get_context();
     // pull each literal out of the arrangement disjunction
@@ -2512,25 +2519,6 @@ void theory_str::generate_mutual_exclusion(expr_ref_vector & terms) {
         ls.push_back(l);
     }
     ctx.mk_th_case_split(ls.size(), ls.c_ptr());
-
-    // old version, without special support in the context
-    /*
-    ast_manager & m = get_manager();
-
-    expr_ref_vector result(m);
-
-    for (unsigned int majorIndex = 0; majorIndex < terms.size(); ++majorIndex) {
-        for (unsigned int minorIndex = majorIndex + 1; minorIndex < terms.size(); ++minorIndex) {
-            // generate an expression of the form
-            // terms[majorIndex] --> NOT(terms[minorIndex])
-            expr_ref ex(rewrite_implication(terms.get(majorIndex), m.mk_not(terms.get(minorIndex))), m);
-            result.push_back(ex);
-        }
-    }
-
-    expr_ref final_result(mk_and(result), m);
-    assert_axiom(final_result);
-    */
 }
 
 void theory_str::print_cut_var(expr * node, std::ofstream & xout) {
@@ -3095,7 +3083,9 @@ void theory_str::process_concat_eq_type1(expr * concatAst1, expr * concatAst2) {
                     		m_autil.mk_add(mk_strlen(y),m_autil.mk_mul(mk_int(-1), mk_strlen(n))),
 							mk_int(0))) );
 
-            arrangement_disjunction.push_back(mk_and(and_item));
+            expr_ref option1(mk_and(and_item), mgr);
+            arrangement_disjunction.push_back(option1);
+            add_theory_aware_branching_info(option1, 0.0, l_true);
 
             add_cut_info_merge(t1, ctx.get_scope_level(), m);
             add_cut_info_merge(t1, ctx.get_scope_level(), y);
@@ -3130,8 +3120,9 @@ void theory_str::process_concat_eq_type1(expr * concatAst1, expr * concatAst2) {
             				m_autil.mk_add(mk_strlen(n), m_autil.mk_mul(mk_int(-1), mk_strlen(y))),
 							mk_int(0))) );
 
-
-            arrangement_disjunction.push_back(mk_and(and_item));
+            expr_ref option2(mk_and(and_item), mgr);
+            arrangement_disjunction.push_back(option2);
+            add_theory_aware_branching_info(option2, 0.0, l_true);
 
             add_cut_info_merge(t2, ctx.get_scope_level(), x);
             add_cut_info_merge(t2, ctx.get_scope_level(), n);
@@ -3149,7 +3140,10 @@ void theory_str::process_concat_eq_type1(expr * concatAst1, expr * concatAst2) {
             and_item.push_back(ctx.mk_eq_atom(mk_strlen(x), mk_strlen(m)));
             and_item.push_back(ctx.mk_eq_atom(mk_strlen(y), mk_strlen(n)));
 
-            arrangement_disjunction.push_back(mk_and(and_item));
+            expr_ref option3(mk_and(and_item), mgr);
+            arrangement_disjunction.push_back(option3);
+            // prioritize this case, it is easier
+            add_theory_aware_branching_info(option3, 2.0, l_true);
         }
 
         if (!arrangement_disjunction.empty()) {
diff --git a/src/smt/theory_str.h b/src/smt/theory_str.h
index b7229a72e..1f615cfc5 100644
--- a/src/smt/theory_str.h
+++ b/src/smt/theory_str.h
@@ -500,6 +500,7 @@ namespace smt {
         void print_cut_var(expr * node, std::ofstream & xout);
 
         void generate_mutual_exclusion(expr_ref_vector & exprs);
+        void add_theory_aware_branching_info(expr * term, double priority, lbool phase);
 
         bool new_eq_check(expr * lhs, expr * rhs);
         void group_terms_by_eqc(expr * n, std::set<expr*> & concats, std::set<expr*> & vars, std::set<expr*> & consts);