diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index e256c5ba..504848b7 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -1209,6 +1209,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "hickory-resolver",
  "http",
  "image",
+ "indexmap",
  "ipaddress",
  "itertools 0.14.0",
  "ldap3",
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 38def82f..997a51e6 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -548,6 +548,10 @@ features = ["sync", "tls-rustls", "rustls-provider"]
 [workspace.dependencies.resolv-conf]
 version = "0.7.5"
 
+# Used by stitched ordering
+[workspace.dependencies.indexmap]
+version = "2.13.0"
+
 #
 # Patches
 #
diff --git a/src/service/Cargo.toml b/src/service/Cargo.toml
index d24b8a22..26f45f58 100644
--- a/src/service/Cargo.toml
+++ b/src/service/Cargo.toml
@@ -118,6 +118,7 @@ webpage.optional = true
 blurhash.workspace = true
 blurhash.optional = true
 recaptcha-verify = { version = "0.1.5", default-features = false }
+indexmap.workspace = true
 
 [target.'cfg(all(unix, target_os = "linux"))'.dependencies]
 sd-notify.workspace = true
diff --git a/src/service/rooms/timeline/stitcher/algorithm.rs b/src/service/rooms/timeline/stitcher/algorithm.rs
index e4db7e3b..13f0a9be 100644
--- a/src/service/rooms/timeline/stitcher/algorithm.rs
+++ b/src/service/rooms/timeline/stitcher/algorithm.rs
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 use std::{
 	cmp::Ordering,
-	collections::{BTreeSet, HashSet},
+	collections::{BTreeSet, HashMap, HashSet},
 };
 
+use indexmap::IndexSet;
 use itertools::Itertools;
 
 use super::{Batch, Gap, OrderKey, StitchedItem, StitcherBackend};
@@ -40,8 +41,9 @@ impl<B: StitcherBackend> Stitcher<'_, B> {
 
 	pub(super) fn stitch<'id>(&self, batch: Batch<'id>) -> OrderUpdates<'id, B::Key> {
 		let mut gap_updates = Vec::new();
+		let mut all_new_events: HashSet<&'id str> = HashSet::new();
 
-		let mut remaining_events: BTreeSet<_> = batch.events().collect();
+		let mut remaining_events: IndexSet<_> = batch.events().collect();
 
 		// 1: Find existing gaps which include IDs of events in `batch`
 		let matching_gaps = self.backend.find_matching_gaps(batch.events());
@@ -59,12 +61,15 @@ impl<B: StitcherBackend> Stitcher<'_, B> {
 				.copied()
 				.collect();
 
+			all_new_events.extend(events_to_insert.iter());
+
 			// 4. Remove the events in the to-insert list from `remaining_events` so they
 			//    aren't processed again
 			remaining_events.retain(|event| !events_to_insert.contains(event));
 
 			// 5 and 6
-			let inserted_items = self.sort_events_and_create_gaps(&batch, events_to_insert);
+			let inserted_items =
+				self.sort_events_and_create_gaps(&batch, &all_new_events, events_to_insert);
 
 			// 8. Update gap
 			gap.retain(|id| !batch.contains(id));
@@ -75,7 +80,10 @@ impl<B: StitcherBackend> Stitcher<'_, B> {
 		}
 
 		// 10. Append remaining events and gaps
-		let new_items = self.sort_events_and_create_gaps(&batch, remaining_events);
+
+		all_new_events.extend(remaining_events.iter());
+		let new_items =
+			self.sort_events_and_create_gaps(&batch, &all_new_events, remaining_events);
 
 		OrderUpdates { gap_updates, new_items }
 	}
@@ -83,12 +91,13 @@ impl<B: StitcherBackend> Stitcher<'_, B> {
 	fn sort_events_and_create_gaps<'id>(
 		&self,
 		batch: &Batch<'id>,
+		all_new_events: &HashSet<&'id str>,
 		events_to_insert: impl IntoIterator<Item = &'id str>,
 	) -> Vec<StitchedItem<'id>> {
 		// 5. Sort the to-insert list with DAG;received order
 		let events_to_insert = events_to_insert
 			.into_iter()
-			.sorted_by(Self::compare_by_dag_received(batch))
+			.sorted_by(batch.compare_by_dag_received())
 			.collect_vec();
 
 		let mut items = Vec::with_capacity(
@@ -102,7 +111,9 @@ impl<B: StitcherBackend> Stitcher<'_, B> {
 				.prev_events
 				.iter()
 				.filter(|prev_event| {
-					!(batch.contains(prev_event) || self.backend.event_exists(prev_event))
+					!(batch.contains(prev_event)
+						|| all_new_events.contains(*prev_event)
+						|| self.backend.event_exists(prev_event))
 				})
 				.map(|id| String::from(*id))
 				.collect();
@@ -116,36 +127,4 @@ impl<B: StitcherBackend> Stitcher<'_, B> {
 
 		items
 	}
-
-	/// Compare two events by DAG;received order.
-	///
-	/// If either event is in the other's predecessor set it comes first,
-	/// otherwise they are sorted by which comes first in the batch.
-	fn compare_by_dag_received<'id>(
-		batch: &Batch<'id>,
-	) -> impl FnMut(&&'id str, &&'id str) -> Ordering {
-		|a, b| {
-			if batch
-				.predecessors(a)
-				.is_some_and(|it| it.predecessor_set.contains(b))
-			{
-				Ordering::Greater
-			} else if batch
-				.predecessors(b)
-				.is_some_and(|it| it.predecessor_set.contains(a))
-			{
-				Ordering::Less
-			} else {
-				for event in batch.events() {
-					if event == *a {
-						return Ordering::Greater;
-					} else if event == *b {
-						return Ordering::Less;
-					}
-				}
-
-				panic!("neither {a} nor {b} in batch");
-			}
-		}
-	}
 }
diff --git a/src/service/rooms/timeline/stitcher/mod.rs b/src/service/rooms/timeline/stitcher/mod.rs
index 9b9e43cf..471d1357 100644
--- a/src/service/rooms/timeline/stitcher/mod.rs
+++ b/src/service/rooms/timeline/stitcher/mod.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,9 @@
-use std::collections::{BTreeMap, HashSet};
+use std::{
+	cmp::Ordering,
+	collections::{BTreeMap, HashSet},
+};
+
+use indexmap::IndexMap;
 
 pub(super) mod algorithm;
 #[cfg(test)]
@@ -33,10 +38,11 @@ pub(super) trait StitcherBackend {
 }
 
 /// An ordered map from an event ID to its `prev_events`.
-pub(super) type EventEdges<'id> = BTreeMap<&'id str, HashSet<&'id str>>;
+pub(super) type EventEdges<'id> = IndexMap<&'id str, HashSet<&'id str>>;
 
 /// Information about the `prev_events` of an event.
 /// This struct does not store the ID of the event itself.
+#[derive(Debug)]
 struct EventPredecessors<'id> {
 	/// The `prev_events` of the event.
 	pub prev_events: HashSet<&'id str>,
@@ -46,13 +52,14 @@ struct EventPredecessors<'id> {
 	pub predecessor_set: HashSet<&'id str>,
 }
 
+#[derive(Debug)]
 pub(super) struct Batch<'id> {
-	events: BTreeMap<&'id str, EventPredecessors<'id>>,
+	events: IndexMap<&'id str, EventPredecessors<'id>>,
 }
 
 impl<'id> Batch<'id> {
 	pub(super) fn from_edges(edges: EventEdges<'_>) -> Batch<'_> {
-		let mut events = BTreeMap::new();
+		let mut events = IndexMap::new();
 
 		for (event, prev_events) in &edges {
 			let predecessor_set = Self::find_predecessor_set(event, &edges);
@@ -109,4 +116,29 @@ impl<'id> Batch<'id> {
 	fn predecessors(&self, event: &str) -> Option<&EventPredecessors<'id>> {
 		self.events.get(event)
 	}
+
+	/// Compare two events by DAG;received order.
+	///
+	/// If either event is in the other's predecessor set it comes first,
+	/// otherwise they are sorted by which comes first in the batch.
+	fn compare_by_dag_received(&self) -> impl FnMut(&&'id str, &&'id str) -> Ordering {
+		|a, b| {
+			if self
+				.predecessors(a)
+				.is_some_and(|it| it.predecessor_set.contains(b))
+			{
+				Ordering::Greater
+			} else if self
+				.predecessors(b)
+				.is_some_and(|it| it.predecessor_set.contains(a))
+			{
+				Ordering::Less
+			} else {
+				let a_index = self.events.get_index_of(a).expect("a should be in events");
+				let b_index = self.events.get_index_of(b).expect("b should be in events");
+
+				a_index.cmp(&b_index)
+			}
+		}
+	}
 }
diff --git a/src/service/rooms/timeline/stitcher/test/mod.rs b/src/service/rooms/timeline/stitcher/test/mod.rs
index 47c5de32..e40b37ed 100644
--- a/src/service/rooms/timeline/stitcher/test/mod.rs
+++ b/src/service/rooms/timeline/stitcher/test/mod.rs
@@ -23,14 +23,21 @@ impl<'id> TestStitcherBackend<'id> {
 				panic!("bad update key {}", update.key);
 			};
 
-			let insertion_index;
-			if update.gap.is_empty() {
+			let insertion_index = if update.gap.is_empty() {
 				self.items.remove(gap_index);
-				insertion_index = gap_index;
+				gap_index
 			} else {
-				self.items[gap_index] = (self.next_id(), StitchedItem::Gap(update.gap));
-				insertion_index = gap_index + 1;
-			}
+				match self.items.get_mut(gap_index) {
+					| Some((_, StitchedItem::Gap(gap))) => {
+						*gap = update.gap;
+					},
+					| Some((key, other)) => {
+						panic!("expected item with key {key} to be a gap, it was {other:?}");
+					},
+					| None => unreachable!("we just checked that this index is valid"),
+				}
+				gap_index + 1
+			};
 
 			let to_insert: Vec<_> = update
 				.inserted_items
@@ -88,12 +95,20 @@ impl StitcherBackend for TestStitcherBackend<'_> {
 fn run_testcase(testcase: parser::TestCase<'_>) {
 	let mut backend = TestStitcherBackend::default();
 
-	for phase in testcase {
+	for (index, phase) in testcase.into_iter().enumerate() {
 		let stitcher = Stitcher::new(&backend);
 		let batch = Batch::from_edges(phase.batch);
 		let updates = stitcher.stitch(batch);
 
-		println!("updates to make: {:?}", updates);
+		println!();
+		println!("===== phase {index}");
+		println!("expected new items: {:?}", &phase.order.new_items);
+		println!("  actual new items: {:?}", &updates.new_items);
+		for update in &updates.gap_updates {
+			println!("update to gap {}:", update.key);
+			println!("    new gap contents: {:?}", update.gap);
+			println!("    new items: {:?}", update.inserted_items);
+		}
 
 		for (expected, actual) in phase
 			.order
@@ -103,20 +118,17 @@ fn run_testcase(testcase: parser::TestCase<'_>) {
 		{
 			assert_eq!(
 				expected, actual,
-				"bad new item, expected {:?} but got {:?}",
-				expected, actual
+				"bad new item, expected {expected:?} but got {actual:?}"
 			);
 		}
 
-		backend.extend(updates);
-
 		println!("ordering: {:?}", backend.items);
+		backend.extend(updates);
 
 		for (expected, actual) in phase.order.iter().zip_eq(backend.iter()) {
 			assert_eq!(
 				expected, actual,
-				"bad item in order, expected {:?} but got {:?}",
-				expected, actual
+				"bad item in order, expected {expected:?} but got {actual:?}",
 			);
 		}
 
diff --git a/src/service/rooms/timeline/stitcher/test/parser.rs b/src/service/rooms/timeline/stitcher/test/parser.rs
index bd914c6f..961e0273 100644
--- a/src/service/rooms/timeline/stitcher/test/parser.rs
+++ b/src/service/rooms/timeline/stitcher/test/parser.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 use std::collections::{BTreeMap, HashSet};
 
+use indexmap::IndexMap;
+
 use crate::rooms::timeline::stitcher::{StitchedItem, test};
 
 pub(super) type TestEventId<'id> = &'id str;
@@ -31,7 +33,7 @@ pub(super) struct Phase<'id> {
 	pub updated_gaps: Option<HashSet<TestEventId<'id>>>,
 }
 
-pub(super) type Batch<'id> = BTreeMap<TestEventId<'id>, HashSet<TestEventId<'id>>>;
+pub(super) type Batch<'id> = IndexMap<TestEventId<'id>, HashSet<TestEventId<'id>>>;
 
 pub(super) struct Order<'id> {
 	pub inserted_items: Vec<TestStitchedItem<'id>>,
@@ -83,7 +85,7 @@ peg::parser! {
 				represents a _single_ event `A` with two prev events, `B` and `C`.
 				*/
 				events.into_iter()
-					.fold(BTreeMap::new(), |mut batch: Batch<'_>, (id, prev_event)| {
+					.fold(IndexMap::new(), |mut batch: Batch<'_>, (id, prev_event)| {
 						// Find the prev events set of this event in the batch.
 						// If it doesn't exist, make a new empty one.
 						let mut prev_events = batch.entry(id).or_default();
diff --git a/src/service/rooms/timeline/stitcher/test/testcases/zzz-being_before_a_gap_item_beats_being_after_an_existing_item_multiple.stitched b/src/service/rooms/timeline/stitcher/test/testcases/zzz-being_before_a_gap_item_beats_being_after_an_existing_item_multiple.stitched
index 37dfbd59..aa6a775c 100644
--- a/src/service/rooms/timeline/stitcher/test/testcases/zzz-being_before_a_gap_item_beats_being_after_an_existing_item_multiple.stitched
+++ b/src/service/rooms/timeline/stitcher/test/testcases/zzz-being_before_a_gap_item_beats_being_after_an_existing_item_multiple.stitched
@@ -6,10 +6,10 @@ B --> A
 C --> G2
 === then we arrange into this order ===
 -G1*
-A
-B
+A*
+B*
 -G2*
-C
+C*
 === when we receive these events ===
 # When we receive F, which is a predecessor of both G1 and G2
 F
diff --git a/src/service/rooms/timeline/stitcher/test/testcases/zzz-partially_filling_a_gap_with_two_events.stitched b/src/service/rooms/timeline/stitcher/test/testcases/zzz-partially_filling_a_gap_with_two_events.stitched
index 81e2fba8..a1f38267 100644
--- a/src/service/rooms/timeline/stitcher/test/testcases/zzz-partially_filling_a_gap_with_two_events.stitched
+++ b/src/service/rooms/timeline/stitcher/test/testcases/zzz-partially_filling_a_gap_with_two_events.stitched
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ F --> E
 === then we arrange into this order ===
 A*
 -B,C,D,E*
-F
+F*
 
 === when we receive these events ===
 # When we provide some of the missing events