diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/poi/ss/util/CellUtil.java b/src/java/org/apache/poi/ss/util/CellUtil.java
index 5963e7d7dd..4f8c9cd183 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/poi/ss/util/CellUtil.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/poi/ss/util/CellUtil.java
@@ -331,9 +331,9 @@ public final class CellUtil {
         putBorderStyle(properties, BORDER_TOP, style.getBorderTop());
         putShort(properties, BOTTOM_BORDER_COLOR, style.getBottomBorderColor());
         putShort(properties, DATA_FORMAT, style.getDataFormat());
-        putShort(properties, FILL_BACKGROUND_COLOR, style.getFillBackgroundColor());
-        putShort(properties, FILL_FOREGROUND_COLOR, style.getFillForegroundColor());
         putShort(properties, FILL_PATTERN, style.getFillPattern());
+        putShort(properties, FILL_FOREGROUND_COLOR, style.getFillForegroundColor());
+        putShort(properties, FILL_BACKGROUND_COLOR, style.getFillBackgroundColor());
         putShort(properties, FONT, style.getFontIndex());
         putBoolean(properties, HIDDEN, style.getHidden());
         putShort(properties, INDENTION, style.getIndention());
@@ -363,9 +363,9 @@ public final class CellUtil {
         style.setBorderTop(getBorderStyle(properties, BORDER_TOP));
         style.setBottomBorderColor(getShort(properties, BOTTOM_BORDER_COLOR));
         style.setDataFormat(getShort(properties, DATA_FORMAT));
-        style.setFillBackgroundColor(getShort(properties, FILL_BACKGROUND_COLOR));
-        style.setFillForegroundColor(getShort(properties, FILL_FOREGROUND_COLOR));
         style.setFillPattern(getShort(properties, FILL_PATTERN));
+        style.setFillForegroundColor(getShort(properties, FILL_FOREGROUND_COLOR));
+        style.setFillBackgroundColor(getShort(properties, FILL_BACKGROUND_COLOR));
         style.setFont(workbook.getFontAt(getShort(properties, FONT)));
         style.setHidden(getBoolean(properties, HIDDEN));
         style.setIndention(getShort(properties, INDENTION));
diff --git a/src/testcases/org/apache/poi/ss/util/BaseTestCellUtil.java b/src/testcases/org/apache/poi/ss/util/BaseTestCellUtil.java
index 59609bfbe2..5caf980b07 100644
--- a/src/testcases/org/apache/poi/ss/util/BaseTestCellUtil.java
+++ b/src/testcases/org/apache/poi/ss/util/BaseTestCellUtil.java
@@ -31,7 +31,9 @@ import org.apache.poi.ss.ITestDataProvider;
 import org.apache.poi.ss.usermodel.BorderStyle;
 import org.apache.poi.ss.usermodel.Cell;
 import org.apache.poi.ss.usermodel.CellStyle;
+import org.apache.poi.ss.usermodel.FillPatternType;
 import org.apache.poi.ss.usermodel.Font;
+import org.apache.poi.ss.usermodel.IndexedColors;
 import org.apache.poi.ss.usermodel.Row;
 import org.apache.poi.ss.usermodel.Sheet;
 import org.apache.poi.ss.usermodel.Workbook;
@@ -260,4 +262,23 @@ public class BaseTestCellUtil {
             wb2.close();
         }
     }
+    
+    // bug 55555
+    @Test
+    public void setFillForegroundColorBeforeFillBackgroundColor() {
+        Workbook wb1 = _testDataProvider.createWorkbook();
+        Cell A1 = wb1.createSheet().createRow(0).createCell(0);
+        Map<String, Object> properties = new HashMap<String, Object>();
+        // FIXME: Use FillPatternType.BRICKS enum
+        properties.put(CellUtil.FILL_PATTERN, CellStyle.BRICKS);
+        properties.put(CellUtil.FILL_FOREGROUND_COLOR, IndexedColors.BLUE.index);
+        properties.put(CellUtil.FILL_BACKGROUND_COLOR, IndexedColors.RED.index);
+        
+        CellUtil.setCellStyleProperties(A1, properties);
+        CellStyle style = A1.getCellStyle();
+        // FIXME: Use FillPatternType.BRICKS enum
+        assertEquals("fill pattern", CellStyle.BRICKS, style.getFillPattern());
+        assertEquals("fill foreground color", IndexedColors.BLUE, IndexedColors.fromInt(style.getFillForegroundColor()));
+        assertEquals("fill background color", IndexedColors.RED, IndexedColors.fromInt(style.getFillBackgroundColor()));
+    }
 }