diff --git a/modules/audio_output/pulse.c b/modules/audio_output/pulse.c
index e1b84d6275..afbc2ef2d2 100644
--- a/modules/audio_output/pulse.c
+++ b/modules/audio_output/pulse.c
@@ -295,34 +295,31 @@ static int Open(vlc_object_t *obj)
         return VLC_EGENERIC;
     }
 
-    /* Channel mapping */
+    /* Channel mapping (order defined in vlc_aout.h) */
     struct pa_channel_map map;
     map.channels = 0;
 
-    if (aout->output.output.i_physical_channels & AOUT_CHAN_CENTER)
-    {
-        if (ss.channels == 1)
-            map.map[map.channels++] = PA_CHANNEL_POSITION_MONO;
-        else
-            map.map[map.channels++] = PA_CHANNEL_POSITION_FRONT_CENTER;
-    }
     if (aout->output.output.i_physical_channels & AOUT_CHAN_LEFT)
         map.map[map.channels++] = PA_CHANNEL_POSITION_FRONT_LEFT;
     if (aout->output.output.i_physical_channels & AOUT_CHAN_RIGHT)
         map.map[map.channels++] = PA_CHANNEL_POSITION_FRONT_RIGHT;
-
-    if (aout->output.output.i_physical_channels & AOUT_CHAN_REARCENTER)
-        map.map[map.channels++] = PA_CHANNEL_POSITION_REAR_CENTER;
-    if (aout->output.output.i_physical_channels & AOUT_CHAN_REARLEFT)
-        map.map[map.channels++] = PA_CHANNEL_POSITION_REAR_LEFT;
-    if (aout->output.output.i_physical_channels & AOUT_CHAN_REARRIGHT)
-        map.map[map.channels++] = PA_CHANNEL_POSITION_REAR_RIGHT;
-
     if (aout->output.output.i_physical_channels & AOUT_CHAN_MIDDLELEFT)
         map.map[map.channels++] = PA_CHANNEL_POSITION_FRONT_LEFT_OF_CENTER;
     if (aout->output.output.i_physical_channels & AOUT_CHAN_MIDDLERIGHT)
         map.map[map.channels++] = PA_CHANNEL_POSITION_FRONT_RIGHT_OF_CENTER;
-
+    if (aout->output.output.i_physical_channels & AOUT_CHAN_REARLEFT)
+        map.map[map.channels++] = PA_CHANNEL_POSITION_REAR_LEFT;
+    if (aout->output.output.i_physical_channels & AOUT_CHAN_REARRIGHT)
+        map.map[map.channels++] = PA_CHANNEL_POSITION_REAR_RIGHT;
+    if (aout->output.output.i_physical_channels & AOUT_CHAN_REARCENTER)
+        map.map[map.channels++] = PA_CHANNEL_POSITION_REAR_CENTER;
+    if (aout->output.output.i_physical_channels & AOUT_CHAN_CENTER)
+    {
+        if (ss.channels == 1)
+            map.map[map.channels++] = PA_CHANNEL_POSITION_MONO;
+        else
+            map.map[map.channels++] = PA_CHANNEL_POSITION_FRONT_CENTER;
+    }
     if (aout->output.output.i_physical_channels & AOUT_CHAN_LFE)
         map.map[map.channels++] = PA_CHANNEL_POSITION_LFE;