diff --git a/colcon_mixin/mixin/mixin_argument.py b/colcon_mixin/mixin/mixin_argument.py
index 6425d75..4d41530 100644
--- a/colcon_mixin/mixin/mixin_argument.py
+++ b/colcon_mixin/mixin/mixin_argument.py
@@ -181,12 +181,19 @@ def collect_parsers_by_verb(root, parsers, parent_verbs=()):
         # update args based on selected mixins
         if 'mixin_verb' in args:
             mixins = mixins_by_verb.get(args.mixin_verb, {})
+            # validate the requested mixins in the order given on the command
+            # line so an error reports the first unavailable mixin
             for mixin in args.mixin or ():
                 if mixin not in mixins:
                     context = '.'.join(args.mixin_verb)
                     self._parser.error(
                         "Mixin '{mixin}' is not available for '{context}'"
                         .format_map(locals()))
+            # apply the mixins in reverse order: since _update_args() handles
+            # each mixin by prepending its list values, iterating in reverse
+            # makes the resulting list follow the order the mixins were given
+            # on the command line while keeping any explicit command line
+            for mixin in reversed(args.mixin or ()):
                 mixin_args = mixins[mixin]
                 logger.debug(
                     "Using mixin '{mixin}': {mixin_args}".format_map(locals()))
diff --git a/test/spell_check.words b/test/spell_check.words
index 6ee44ca..9d7986f 100644
--- a/test/spell_check.words
+++ b/test/spell_check.words
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ argparse
 basenames
 basepath
 blocklist
+capsys
+cmake
 colcon
 completers
 defaultdict
@@ -17,6 +19,7 @@ plugin
 prepending
 pydocstyle
 pytest
+readouterr
 rtype
 scspell
 setuptools
diff --git a/test/test_mixin_argument.py b/test/test_mixin_argument.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6118343
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/test_mixin_argument.py
@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+# Copyright 2026 Open Source Robotics Foundation, Inc.
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0
+
+import argparse
+from unittest.mock import patch
+
+from colcon_mixin.mixin.mixin_argument import MixinArgumentDecorator
+import pytest
+
+MIXINS = {
+    'a': {'cmake-args': ['FOO=A']},
+    'b': {'cmake-args': ['FOO=B']},
+    'c': {'cmake-args': ['FOO=C']},
+}
+
+
+SCALAR_MIXINS = {
+    'a': {'build-base': 'BASE_A'},
+    'b': {'build-base': 'BASE_B'},
+}
+
+
+def _parse(argv, mixins=MIXINS):
+    base = argparse.ArgumentParser(prog='colcon')
+    decorator = MixinArgumentDecorator(base)
+    subparsers = decorator.add_subparsers(dest='verb')
+    build = subparsers.add_parser('build')
+    build.add_argument('--cmake-args', nargs='*', default=[])
+    build.add_argument('--build-base', default='build')
+    mixins_by_verb = {('build',): mixins}
+    with patch(
+        'colcon_mixin.mixin.mixin_argument.get_mixins',
+        return_value=mixins_by_verb,
+    ):
+        return decorator.parse_args(argv)
+
+
+def test_multiple_mixins_preserve_command_line_order():
+    # order the mixins were given on the command line
+    args = _parse(['build', '--mixin', 'a', 'b'])
+    assert args.cmake_args == ['FOO=A', 'FOO=B']
+
+
+def test_multiple_mixins_follow_reversed_selection():
+    args = _parse(['build', '--mixin', 'b', 'a'])
+    assert args.cmake_args == ['FOO=B', 'FOO=A']
+
+
+def test_three_mixins_preserve_order():
+    args = _parse(['build', '--mixin', 'a', 'b', 'c'])
+    assert args.cmake_args == ['FOO=A', 'FOO=B', 'FOO=C']
+
+
+def test_command_line_arguments_take_precedence():
+    # explicit command line arguments must come last so they win
+    args = _parse(['build', '--mixin', 'a', 'b', '--cmake-args=FOO=CLI'])
+    assert args.cmake_args == ['FOO=A', 'FOO=B', 'FOO=CLI']
+
+
+def test_single_mixin():
+    args = _parse(['build', '--mixin', 'a'])
+    assert args.cmake_args == ['FOO=A']
+
+
+def test_no_mixin():
+    args = _parse(['build'])
+    assert args.cmake_args == []
+
+
+def test_scalar_last_listed_mixin_wins():
+    # a scalar value from a later mixin must override an earlier one
+    args = _parse(['build', '--mixin', 'a', 'b'], SCALAR_MIXINS)
+    assert args.build_base == 'BASE_B'
+
+
+def test_scalar_reversed_selection():
+    args = _parse(['build', '--mixin', 'b', 'a'], SCALAR_MIXINS)
+    assert args.build_base == 'BASE_A'
+
+
+def test_scalar_command_line_argument_take_precedence():
+    args = _parse(
+        ['build', '--mixin', 'a', 'b', '--build-base', 'CLI'], SCALAR_MIXINS)
+    assert args.build_base == 'CLI'
+
+
+def test_unavailable_mixin_reports_first(capsys):
+    with pytest.raises(SystemExit):
+        _parse(['build', '--mixin', 'bad', 'a'])
+    assert "Mixin 'bad' is not available" in capsys.readouterr().err