diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/6048-nmcli-addres-order.yml b/changelogs/fragments/6048-nmcli-addres-order.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4de15cf084
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/6048-nmcli-addres-order.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+bugfixes:
+  - nmcli - order is significant for lists of addresses (https://github.com/ansible-collections/community.general/pull/6048).
diff --git a/plugins/modules/net_tools/nmcli.py b/plugins/modules/net_tools/nmcli.py
index 51523b3244..71d0c492dd 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/net_tools/nmcli.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/net_tools/nmcli.py
@@ -2137,8 +2137,12 @@ class Nmcli(object):
 
             if isinstance(current_value, list) and isinstance(value, list):
                 # compare values between two lists
-                if sorted(current_value) != sorted(value):
-                    changed = True
+                if key in ('ipv4.addresses', 'ipv6.addresses'):
+                    # The order of IP addresses matters because the first one
+                    # is the default source address for outbound connections.
+                    changed |= current_value != value
+                else:
+                    changed |= sorted(current_value) != sorted(value)
             elif all([key == self.mtu_setting, self.type == 'dummy', current_value is None, value == 'auto', self.mtu is None]):
                 value = None
             else: