diff --git a/parser.go b/parser.go
index 2de11c3..86cb119 100644
--- a/parser.go
+++ b/parser.go
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ func (t *Task) UnmarshalYAML(node *yaml.Node) error {
 	*t = Task(raw)
 	t.raw = m
 
-	// Find the module key
+	// Find the module key in YAML order so the first recognised module wins.
 	knownKeys := map[string]bool{
 		"name": true, "register": true, "when": true, "loop": true,
 		"loop_control": true, "vars": true, "environment": true,
@@ -301,28 +301,43 @@ func (t *Task) UnmarshalYAML(node *yaml.Node) error {
 		"with_items": true, "with_dict": true, "with_file": true,
 	}
 
-	for key, val := range m {
-		if knownKeys[key] {
-			continue
-		}
-
-		// Check if this is a module
-		if isModule(key) {
-			t.Module = key
-			t.Args = make(map[string]any)
-
-			switch v := val.(type) {
-			case string:
-				// Free-form args (e.g., shell: echo hello)
-				t.Args["_raw_params"] = v
-			case map[string]any:
-				t.Args = v
-			case nil:
-				// Module with no args
-			default:
-				t.Args["_raw_params"] = v
+	if node.Kind == yaml.MappingNode {
+		for i := 0; i+1 < len(node.Content); i += 2 {
+			keyNode := node.Content[i]
+			valueNode := node.Content[i+1]
+			key := keyNode.Value
+			if knownKeys[key] {
+				continue
+			}
+
+			// Check if this is a module.
+			if isModule(key) {
+				t.Module = key
+				t.Args = make(map[string]any)
+
+				switch valueNode.Kind {
+				case yaml.MappingNode:
+					var args map[string]any
+					if err := valueNode.Decode(&args); err == nil {
+						t.Args = args
+					}
+				case yaml.SequenceNode:
+					var args any
+					if err := valueNode.Decode(&args); err == nil {
+						t.Args["_raw_params"] = args
+					}
+				case yaml.ScalarNode:
+					if valueNode.Tag != "!!null" {
+						t.Args["_raw_params"] = valueNode.Value
+					}
+				default:
+					var args any
+					if err := valueNode.Decode(&args); err == nil && args != nil {
+						t.Args["_raw_params"] = args
+					}
+				}
+				break
 			}
-			break
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/types_test.go b/types_test.go
index f074ffe..dceb498 100644
--- a/types_test.go
+++ b/types_test.go
@@ -196,6 +196,21 @@ with_items:
 	assert.Len(t, items, 2)
 }
 
+func TestTypes_Task_UnmarshalYAML_Good_FirstRecognisedModuleWins(t *testing.T) {
+	input := `
+name: Multiple modules
+shell: echo first
+debug:
+  msg: "second"
+`
+	var task Task
+	err := yaml.Unmarshal([]byte(input), &task)
+
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, "shell", task.Module)
+	assert.Equal(t, "echo first", task.Args["_raw_params"])
+}
+
 func TestTypes_Task_UnmarshalYAML_Good_WithNotify(t *testing.T) {
 	input := `
 name: Install package