diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 80dfd1a..36d28e2 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -5,3 +5,4 @@
   * fix handling of multiline default values in template
 * FEATURE
   * use explicit marker to convert annotation values to json
+  * use dictsort filter in template for ordered variable list
diff --git a/ansibledoctor/templates/readme/_toc.j2 b/ansibledoctor/templates/readme/_toc.j2
index b33aefe..660519e 100644
--- a/ansibledoctor/templates/readme/_toc.j2
+++ b/ansibledoctor/templates/readme/_toc.j2
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 {% set var = role.var | default({}) %}
 {% if var %}
 * [Default Variables](#default-variables)
-{% for key, item in var.items() %}
+{% for key, item in var | dictsort %}
   * [{{ key }}](#{{ key }})
 {% endfor %}
 {% endif %}
diff --git a/ansibledoctor/templates/readme/_vars.j2 b/ansibledoctor/templates/readme/_vars.j2
index 3aa213f..43dfd67 100644
--- a/ansibledoctor/templates/readme/_vars.j2
+++ b/ansibledoctor/templates/readme/_vars.j2
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 {% if var %}
 
 ## Default Variables
-{% for key, item in var.items() %}
+{% for key, item in var | dictsort %}
 
 ### {{ key }}
 {% if item.description is defined and item.description %}