diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index de3e87cee3..877e7e20be 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # ggplot2 (development version)
 
+* `continuous_scale()` passes sorted limits to scale (@teunbrand, #5918)
 * The `arrow.fill` parameter is now applied to more line-based functions: 
   `geom_path()`, `geom_line()`, `geom_step()` `geom_function()`, line 
    geometries in `geom_sf()` and `element_line()`.
diff --git a/R/scale-.R b/R/scale-.R
index 9eaa153590..e5a924c4fa 100644
--- a/R/scale-.R
+++ b/R/scale-.R
@@ -127,11 +127,6 @@ continuous_scale <- function(aesthetics, scale_name = deprecated(), palette, nam
     guide <- "none"
   }
 
-  transform <- as.transform(transform)
-  if (!is.null(limits) && !is.function(limits)) {
-    limits <- transform$transform(limits)
-  }
-
   # Convert formula to function if appropriate
   limits   <- allow_lambda(limits)
   breaks   <- allow_lambda(breaks)
@@ -140,6 +135,14 @@ continuous_scale <- function(aesthetics, scale_name = deprecated(), palette, nam
   oob      <- allow_lambda(oob)
   minor_breaks <- allow_lambda(minor_breaks)
 
+  transform <- as.transform(transform)
+  if (!is.null(limits) && !is.function(limits)) {
+    limits <- transform$transform(limits)
+    if (!anyNA(limits)) {
+      limits <- sort(limits)
+    }
+  }
+
   ggproto(NULL, super,
     call = call,
 
diff --git a/R/scale-view.R b/R/scale-view.R
index de78ebffb6..9679001868 100644
--- a/R/scale-view.R
+++ b/R/scale-view.R
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ view_scale_primary <- function(scale, limits = scale$get_limits(),
     name = scale$name,
     scale_is_discrete = scale$is_discrete(),
     limits = limits,
-    continuous_range = continuous_range,
+    continuous_range = continuous_scale_sorted,
     breaks = breaks,
     minor_breaks = minor_breaks
   )