diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/register.py b/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/register.py
index 5c4c8dca28..c51241fa01 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/register.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/register.py
@@ -352,15 +352,15 @@ class RegisterRestServlet(RestServlet):
                 flows.extend([[LoginType.RECAPTCHA, LoginType.DUMMY]])
             # only support the email-only flow if we don't require MSISDN 3PIDs
             if not require_msisdn:
-                flows.extend([[LoginType.EMAIL_IDENTITY, LoginType.RECAPTCHA]])
+                flows.extend([[LoginType.RECAPTCHA, LoginType.EMAIL_IDENTITY]])
 
             if show_msisdn:
                 # only support the MSISDN-only flow if we don't require email 3PIDs
                 if not require_email:
-                    flows.extend([[LoginType.MSISDN, LoginType.RECAPTCHA]])
+                    flows.extend([[LoginType.RECAPTCHA, LoginType.MSISDN]])
                 # always let users provide both MSISDN & email
                 flows.extend([
-                    [LoginType.MSISDN, LoginType.EMAIL_IDENTITY, LoginType.RECAPTCHA],
+                    [LoginType.RECAPTCHA, LoginType.MSISDN, LoginType.EMAIL_IDENTITY],
                 ])
         else:
             # only support 3PIDless registration if no 3PIDs are required
@@ -383,7 +383,15 @@ class RegisterRestServlet(RestServlet):
         if self.hs.config.user_consent_at_registration:
             new_flows = []
             for flow in flows:
-                flow.append(LoginType.TERMS)
+                inserted = False
+                # m.login.terms should go near the end but before msisdn or email auth
+                for i, stage in enumerate(flow):
+                    if stage == LoginType.EMAIL_IDENTITY or stage == LoginType.MSISDN:
+                        flow.insert(i, LoginType.TERMS)
+                        inserted = True
+                        break
+                if not inserted:
+                    flow.append(LoginType.TERMS)
             flows.extend(new_flows)
 
         auth_result, params, session_id = yield self.auth_handler.check_auth(