diff --git a/libervia/backend/plugins/plugin_xep_0115.py b/libervia/backend/plugins/plugin_xep_0115.py
index 69cefafc..a17add42 100644
--- a/libervia/backend/plugins/plugin_xep_0115.py
+++ b/libervia/backend/plugins/plugin_xep_0115.py
@@ -346,8 +346,8 @@ class XEP_0115:
                 # Step 7.c.a: append var attribute followed by '<'
                 s.append(field.var.encode("utf-8"))
                 s.append(b"<")
-                # Step 7.c.b: sort values
-                values = [v.encode("utf-8") for v in field.values]
+                # Step 7.c.b: sort values (use raw XML character data per spec)
+                values = [v.encode("utf-8") for v in field.raw_values]
                 values.sort()
                 # Step 7.c.c: append each value followed by '<'
                 for value in values: