diff --git a/src/chat/chat_protocol.cpp b/src/chat/chat_protocol.cpp
index bcda4af..c23d38b 100644
--- a/src/chat/chat_protocol.cpp
+++ b/src/chat/chat_protocol.cpp
@@ -177,11 +177,42 @@ HushChatMemoGroupingResult groupHushChatMemoOutputs(const std::vector<HushChatMe
     HushChatMemoGroupingResult result;
     std::optional<HushChatMemoOutput> pending_header_output;
     std::optional<HushChatHeader> pending_header;
+    // A payload memo seen BEFORE its header. The full-node daemon shuffles the two 0-value memo
+    // outputs of a chat tx (transaction_builder ShuffleOutputs), so the header is NOT guaranteed to
+    // occupy the lower position. We hold an orphan payload until its header arrives and pair them
+    // regardless of on-chain order (a chat tx carries exactly one header + one payload).
+    std::optional<HushChatMemoOutput> pending_payload_output;
 
     auto addIssue = [&](HushChatMemoGroupingIssue issue, std::size_t position, std::string detail) {
         result.issues.push_back(HushChatMemoGroupingIssueInfo{issue, position, std::move(detail)});
     };
 
+    auto payloadMatchesHeader = [&](const std::string& memo) {
+        return pending_header->type == HushChatHeaderType::Message
+            ? isCiphertextPayloadCandidate(memo)
+            : isContactPayloadCandidate(memo);
+    };
+
+    auto emitPair = [&](const HushChatMemoOutput& payloadOutput) {
+        HushChatMemoPair pair;
+        pair.header = std::move(*pending_header);
+        pair.header_position = pending_header_output->position;
+        pair.payload_position = payloadOutput.position;
+        pair.payload_memo = payloadOutput.memo;
+        result.pairs.push_back(std::move(pair));
+        pending_header_output.reset();
+        pending_header.reset();
+    };
+
+    // Pair a held (early) payload with the now-pending header, if it matches the header's type.
+    auto tryPairHeldPayload = [&]() {
+        if (!pending_header || !pending_payload_output) return;
+        if (payloadMatchesHeader(pending_payload_output->memo)) {
+            emitPair(*pending_payload_output);
+            pending_payload_output.reset();
+        }
+    };
+
     auto clearPendingAsMissing = [&]() {
         if (!pending_header_output) return;
         addIssue(HushChatMemoGroupingIssue::MissingPayload,
@@ -216,33 +247,27 @@ HushChatMemoGroupingResult groupHushChatMemoOutputs(const std::vector<HushChatMe
 
             pending_header_output = output;
             pending_header = std::move(parsed.header);
+            tryPairHeldPayload();  // the payload may have arrived first (shuffled output order)
             continue;
         }
 
-        if (!pending_header_output || !pending_header) {
+        // Non-header memo.
+        if (pending_header_output && pending_header) {
+            if (payloadMatchesHeader(output.memo)) {
+                emitPair(output);
+            } else {
+                ++result.ignored_memo_count;
+            }
+        } else if (!pending_payload_output && !output.memo.empty()) {
+            // No header yet — hold this as a candidate payload for a header still to come.
+            pending_payload_output = output;
+        } else {
             ++result.ignored_memo_count;
-            continue;
         }
-
-        const bool payload_matches = pending_header->type == HushChatHeaderType::Message
-            ? isCiphertextPayloadCandidate(output.memo)
-            : isContactPayloadCandidate(output.memo);
-        if (!payload_matches) {
-            ++result.ignored_memo_count;
-            continue;
-        }
-
-        HushChatMemoPair pair;
-        pair.header = std::move(*pending_header);
-        pair.header_position = pending_header_output->position;
-        pair.payload_position = output.position;
-        pair.payload_memo = output.memo;
-        result.pairs.push_back(std::move(pair));
-        pending_header_output.reset();
-        pending_header.reset();
     }
 
     clearPendingAsMissing();
+    if (pending_payload_output) ++result.ignored_memo_count;  // orphan payload, no header arrived
     return result;
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/test_phase4.cpp b/tests/test_phase4.cpp
index 00c747a..188c756 100644
--- a/tests/test_phase4.cpp
+++ b/tests/test_phase4.cpp
@@ -5974,6 +5974,46 @@ void testHushChatTransport()
     EXPECT_EQ(bobSvc.store().conversation("cid-tx")[0].body, std::string("over the wire"));
 }
 
+// Phase 5: the full-node daemon SHUFFLES the two memo outputs, so the header may land at a HIGHER
+// note position than its payload. The receive parser must pair them regardless of on-chain order.
+void testHushChatShuffledReceive()
+{
+    using namespace dragonx::chat;
+
+    ChatKeyPair alice, bob;
+    ChatIdentityResult ra = deriveChatIdentityFromSecret("shuf-alice", alice, true);
+    ChatIdentityResult rb = deriveChatIdentityFromSecret("shuf-bob", bob, true);
+    ChatService bobSvc;
+    bobSvc.setIdentity(bob);
+
+    // Payload BEFORE header (positions swapped, as a shuffle may produce).
+    OutgoingChatMemos memos;
+    EXPECT_TRUE(buildOutgoingMessage(alice, ra.public_key_hex, "zs-alice", rb.public_key_hex,
+                                     "zs-bob", "cid-shuf", "shuffled hi", memos) == ChatComposeStatus::Ok);
+    HushChatTransactionInput tx;
+    tx.txid = "txshuf";
+    tx.outputs.push_back({0, memos.payloadMemo});   // payload at the LOWER position
+    tx.outputs.push_back({1, memos.headerMemo});    // header at the HIGHER position
+    auto extracted = extractHushChatTransactionMetadata(tx, true);
+    EXPECT_EQ((int)extracted.metadata.size(), 1);
+    EXPECT_EQ(bobSvc.ingest(extracted.metadata, {}, 3), 1);
+    EXPECT_EQ(bobSvc.store().conversation("cid-shuf")[0].body, std::string("shuffled hi"));
+
+    // With a change output (empty memo) interspersed and the header last, still pairs.
+    OutgoingChatMemos memos2;
+    EXPECT_TRUE(buildOutgoingMessage(alice, ra.public_key_hex, "zs-alice", rb.public_key_hex,
+                                     "zs-bob", "cid-shuf2", "with change", memos2) == ChatComposeStatus::Ok);
+    HushChatTransactionInput tx2;
+    tx2.txid = "txshuf2";
+    tx2.outputs.push_back({0, std::string()});       // change output: empty memo (ignored)
+    tx2.outputs.push_back({1, memos2.payloadMemo});  // payload
+    tx2.outputs.push_back({2, memos2.headerMemo});   // header last
+    auto ex2 = extractHushChatTransactionMetadata(tx2, true);
+    EXPECT_EQ((int)ex2.metadata.size(), 1);
+    EXPECT_EQ(bobSvc.ingest(ex2.metadata, {}, 4), 1);
+    EXPECT_EQ(bobSvc.store().conversation("cid-shuf2")[0].body, std::string("with change"));
+}
+
 } // namespace
 
 int main()
@@ -6070,6 +6110,7 @@ int main()
     testHushChatDatabase();
     testHushChatOutgoing();
     testHushChatTransport();
+    testHushChatShuffledReceive();
     testAddressChecksumValidation();
     testLiteServerProbeLive();
     testXmrigLiveInstall();