diff --git a/sound/core/timer.c b/sound/core/timer.c
index 820901d503af..57583dec3974 100644
--- a/sound/core/timer.c
+++ b/sound/core/timer.c
@@ -1007,6 +1007,7 @@ static int snd_timer_dev_register(struct snd_device *dev)
 {
 	struct snd_timer *timer = dev->device_data;
 	struct snd_timer *timer1;
+	struct list_head *insert_before = &snd_timer_list;
 
 	if (snd_BUG_ON(!timer || !timer->hw.start || !timer->hw.stop))
 		return -ENXIO;
@@ -1016,28 +1017,36 @@ static int snd_timer_dev_register(struct snd_device *dev)
 
 	guard(mutex)(&register_mutex);
 	list_for_each_entry(timer1, &snd_timer_list, device_list) {
-		if (timer1->tmr_class > timer->tmr_class)
+		if (timer1->tmr_class > timer->tmr_class) {
+			insert_before = &timer1->device_list;
 			break;
+		}
 		if (timer1->tmr_class < timer->tmr_class)
 			continue;
 		if (timer1->card && timer->card) {
-			if (timer1->card->number > timer->card->number)
+			if (timer1->card->number > timer->card->number) {
+				insert_before = &timer1->device_list;
 				break;
+			}
 			if (timer1->card->number < timer->card->number)
 				continue;
 		}
-		if (timer1->tmr_device > timer->tmr_device)
+		if (timer1->tmr_device > timer->tmr_device) {
+			insert_before = &timer1->device_list;
 			break;
+		}
 		if (timer1->tmr_device < timer->tmr_device)
 			continue;
-		if (timer1->tmr_subdevice > timer->tmr_subdevice)
+		if (timer1->tmr_subdevice > timer->tmr_subdevice) {
+			insert_before = &timer1->device_list;
 			break;
+		}
 		if (timer1->tmr_subdevice < timer->tmr_subdevice)
 			continue;
 		/* conflicts.. */
 		return -EBUSY;
 	}
-	list_add_tail(&timer->device_list, &timer1->device_list);
+	list_add_tail(&timer->device_list, insert_before);
 	return 0;
 }