diff --git a/sandbox/will/layer_order.py b/sandbox/will/layer_order.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d5a5a8fde
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sandbox/will/layer_order.py
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+from textual.app import App, ComposeResult
+from textual.widgets import Static
+
+
+class OrderApp(App):
+
+    CSS = """
+    Screen {
+        layout: center;
+    }
+    Static {
+        border: heavy white;
+    }
+    #one {
+        background: red;
+        width:20;
+        height: 30;
+    }
+    #two {
+        background: blue;
+        width:30;
+        height: 20;
+    }
+    #three {
+        background: green;
+        width:40;
+        height:10
+    }
+    """
+
+    def compose(self) -> ComposeResult:
+        yield Static("One", id="one")
+        yield Static("Two", id="two")
+        yield Static("Three", id="three")
+
+
+app = OrderApp()
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    app.run()
diff --git a/src/textual/_compositor.py b/src/textual/_compositor.py
index 75146670b..77f2a7649 100644
--- a/src/textual/_compositor.py
+++ b/src/textual/_compositor.py
@@ -462,9 +462,12 @@ class Compositor:
     @property
     def layers(self) -> list[tuple[Widget, MapGeometry]]:
         """Get widgets and geometry in layer order."""
+        index_one = itemgetter(1)
         if self._layers is None:
             self._layers = sorted(
-                self.map.items(), key=lambda item: item[1].order, reverse=True
+                self.map.items(),
+                key=lambda item: index_one(index_one(item)),
+                reverse=True,
             )
         return self._layers