diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/7646-fix-order-number-detection-in-dn.yml b/changelogs/fragments/7646-fix-order-number-detection-in-dn.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f2d2379872
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/7646-fix-order-number-detection-in-dn.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+bugfixes:
+  - ldap - previously the order number (if present) was expected to follow an equals sign in the DN. This makes it so the order number string is identified correctly anywhere within the DN (https://github.com/ansible-collections/community.general/issues/7646).
diff --git a/plugins/module_utils/ldap.py b/plugins/module_utils/ldap.py
index ef444e9778..fccf073047 100644
--- a/plugins/module_utils/ldap.py
+++ b/plugins/module_utils/ldap.py
@@ -139,5 +139,7 @@ class LdapGeneric(object):
 
     def _xorder_dn(self):
         # match X_ORDERed DNs
-        regex = r"\w+=\{\d+\}.+"
-        return re.match(regex, self.module.params['dn']) is not None
+        regex = r".+\{\d+\}.+"
+        explode_dn = ldap.dn.explode_dn(self.module.params['dn'])
+
+        return re.match(regex, explode_dn[0]) is not None