diff --git a/plug-ins/file-bmp/bmp-write.c b/plug-ins/file-bmp/bmp-write.c
index f71ecb08e9..34652975da 100644
--- a/plug-ins/file-bmp/bmp-write.c
+++ b/plug-ins/file-bmp/bmp-write.c
@@ -602,20 +602,20 @@ write_image (FILE   *f,
                   Write (f, buf, 3);
                   break;
                 case RGBX_8888:
-                  buf[0] = 0;
                   buf[3] = *temp++;
                   buf[2] = *temp++;
                   buf[1] = *temp++;
+                  buf[0] = 0;
                   xpos++;
                   if (channels > 3 && (guchar) *temp == 0)
                     buf[0] = buf[1] = buf[2] = 0xff;
                   Write (f, buf, 4);
                   break;
                 case RGBA_8888:
+                  buf[3] = *temp++;
                   buf[2] = *temp++;
                   buf[1] = *temp++;
-                  buf[0] = *temp++;
-                  buf[3] = *temp;
+                  buf[0] = *temp;
                   xpos++;
                   Write (f, buf, 4);
                   break;