diff --git a/construct_test.go b/construct_test.go
index 01a2f0b..12fcc93 100644
--- a/construct_test.go
+++ b/construct_test.go
@@ -131,8 +131,8 @@ func TestConstruct(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 
 		if !slices.Equal([]testoplugin.Option{
-			{Value: "fizz"},
 			{Value: "foo", Propagate: true},
+			{Value: "fizz"},
 		}, child.MockPluginWithoutT.options) {
 			t.Error("child.MockPluginWithoutT.options not equal to expected")
 		}
diff --git a/t.go b/t.go
index 189770d..5f45799 100644
--- a/t.go
+++ b/t.go
@@ -359,20 +359,35 @@ func (t *T) markFailure(kind testoreflect.TestFailureKind) {
 }
 
 func (t *T) options() []testoplugin.Option {
-	options := t.levelOptions
+	size := len(t.levelOptions)
+	byLevel := [][]testoplugin.Option{t.levelOptions}
 
 	parent := t.parent
 
 	for parent != nil {
+		level := make([]testoplugin.Option, 0, len(parent.levelOptions))
+
 		for _, o := range parent.levelOptions {
 			if o.Propagate {
-				options = append(options, o)
+				level = append(level, o)
 			}
 		}
 
+		byLevel = append(byLevel, level)
+
+		size += len(level)
+
 		parent = parent.parent
 	}
 
+	options := make([]testoplugin.Option, 0, size)
+
+	// so that child options come after parent options
+
+	for _, level := range slices.Backward(byLevel) {
+		options = append(options, level...)
+	}
+
 	return options
 }