diff --git a/Lib/ufo2ft/featureCompiler.py b/Lib/ufo2ft/featureCompiler.py
index 8af6318b..f18621a1 100644
--- a/Lib/ufo2ft/featureCompiler.py
+++ b/Lib/ufo2ft/featureCompiler.py
@@ -172,10 +172,10 @@ class FeatureCompiler(BaseFeatureCompiler):
     """
 
     defaultFeatureWriters = [
+        CursFeatureWriter,
         KernFeatureWriter,
         MarkFeatureWriter,
         GdefFeatureWriter,
-        CursFeatureWriter,
     ]
 
     def __init__(
diff --git a/tests/featureWriters/variableFeatureWriter_test.py b/tests/featureWriters/variableFeatureWriter_test.py
index b501c033..9217a7b7 100644
--- a/tests/featureWriters/variableFeatureWriter_test.py
+++ b/tests/featureWriters/variableFeatureWriter_test.py
@@ -19,6 +19,16 @@ def test_variable_features(FontClass):
         markClass dotabove-ar <anchor (wght=100:100 wght=1000:125) (wght=100:320 wght=1000:416)> @MC_top;
         markClass gravecmb <anchor 250 400> @MC_top;
 
+        feature curs {
+            lookup curs_rtl {
+                lookupflag RightToLeft IgnoreMarks;
+                pos cursive alef-ar.fina <anchor (wght=100:299 wght=1000:330) (wght=100:97 wght=1000:115)> <anchor NULL>;
+                pos cursive peh-ar.init <anchor NULL> <anchor (wght=100:161 wght=1000:73) (wght=100:54 wght=1000:89)>;
+                pos cursive peh-ar.init.BRACKET.varAlt01 <anchor NULL> <anchor (wght=100:89 wght=1000:73) (wght=100:53 wght=1000:85)>;
+            } curs_rtl;
+
+        } curs;
+
         lookup kern_Arab {
             lookupflag IgnoreMarks;
             pos alef-ar.fina alef-ar.fina <(wght=100:15 wght=1000:35) 0 (wght=100:15 wght=1000:35) 0>;
@@ -47,16 +57,6 @@ def test_variable_features(FontClass):
         table GDEF {
             LigatureCaretByPos peh-ar.init 100;
         } GDEF;
-
-        feature curs {
-            lookup curs_rtl {
-                lookupflag RightToLeft IgnoreMarks;
-                pos cursive alef-ar.fina <anchor (wght=100:299 wght=1000:330) (wght=100:97 wght=1000:115)> <anchor NULL>;
-                pos cursive peh-ar.init <anchor NULL> <anchor (wght=100:161 wght=1000:73) (wght=100:54 wght=1000:89)>;
-                pos cursive peh-ar.init.BRACKET.varAlt01 <anchor NULL> <anchor (wght=100:89 wght=1000:73) (wght=100:53 wght=1000:85)>;
-            } curs_rtl;
-
-        } curs;
 """  # noqa: B950
     )