diff --git a/docling_core/experimental/doclang.py b/docling_core/experimental/doclang.py
index 27b17085..9a9320f3 100644
--- a/docling_core/experimental/doclang.py
+++ b/docling_core/experimental/doclang.py
@@ -1515,6 +1515,11 @@ def _serialize_single_item(
 
         parts: list[str] = []
 
+        if item.meta:
+            meta_res = doc_serializer.serialize_meta(item=item, **kwargs)
+            if meta_res.text:
+                parts.append(meta_res.text)
+
         if params.add_location:
             # Use Doclang `<location>` tokens instead of `<loc_.../>`
             loc = _create_location_tokens_for_item(item=item, doc=doc, xres=params.xsize, yres=params.ysize)
@@ -1524,11 +1529,6 @@ def _serialize_single_item(
         if selected_token:
             parts.append(selected_token)
 
-        if item.meta:
-            meta_res = doc_serializer.serialize_meta(item=item, **kwargs)
-            if meta_res.text:
-                parts.append(meta_res.text)
-
         if (
             (isinstance(item, CodeItem) and ContentType.TEXT_CODE in params.content_types)
             or (isinstance(item, FormulaItem) and ContentType.TEXT_FORMULA in params.content_types)
diff --git a/test/data/doc/dummy_doc_with_meta.gt.dclg.xml b/test/data/doc/dummy_doc_with_meta.gt.dclg.xml
index 4a4134d3..bf872d45 100644
--- a/test/data/doc/dummy_doc_with_meta.gt.dclg.xml
+++ b/test/data/doc/dummy_doc_with_meta.gt.dclg.xml
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 <doclang version="1.0.0">
   <title>
-    <location value="43"/>
-    <location value="26"/>
-    <location value="415"/>
-    <location value="47"/>
     <meta>
       <summary>This is a title.</summary>
       <my_corp__foo>More stuff here.</my_corp__foo>
     </meta>
+    <location value="43"/>
+    <location value="26"/>
+    <location value="415"/>
+    <location value="47"/>
     DocLayNet: A Large Human-Annotated Dataset for Document-Layout Analysis
   </title>
   <floating_group class="picture">