diff --git a/src/systems/connectors.jl b/src/systems/connectors.jl
index 4e0c2adb14..c0ddf5baee 100644
--- a/src/systems/connectors.jl
+++ b/src/systems/connectors.jl
@@ -759,6 +759,7 @@ function generate_connection_equations_and_stream_connections(
         var = variable_from_vertex(sys, cvert)::BasicSymbolic
         vtype = cvert.type
         if vtype <: Union{InputVar, OutputVar}
+            length(cset) > 1 || continue
             inner_output = nothing
             outer_input = nothing
             for cvert in cset
@@ -780,11 +781,11 @@ function generate_connection_equations_and_stream_connections(
                     inner_output = cvert
                 end
             end
-            root, rest = Iterators.peel(cset)
-            root_var = variable_from_vertex(sys, root)
-            for cvert in rest
-                var = variable_from_vertex(sys, cvert)
-                push!(eqs, root_var ~ var)
+            root_vert = something(inner_output, outer_input)
+            root_var = variable_from_vertex(sys, root_vert)
+            for cvert in cset
+                isequal(cvert, root_vert) && continue
+                push!(eqs, variable_from_vertex(sys, cvert) ~ root_var)
             end
         elseif vtype === Stream
             push!(stream_connections, cset)
@@ -807,10 +808,37 @@ function generate_connection_equations_and_stream_connections(
                 push!(eqs, 0 ~ rhs)
             end
         else # Equality
-            base = variable_from_vertex(sys, cset[1])
-            for i in 2:length(cset)
-                v = variable_from_vertex(sys, cset[i])
-                push!(eqs, base ~ v)
+            vars = map(Base.Fix1(variable_from_vertex, sys), cset)
+            outer_input = inner_output = nothing
+            all_io = true
+            # attempt to interpret the equality as a causal connectionset if
+            # possible
+            for (cvert, vert) in zip(cset, vars)
+                is_i = isinput(vert)
+                is_o = isoutput(vert)
+                all_io &= is_i || is_o
+                all_io || break
+                if cvert.isouter && is_i && outer_input === nothing
+                    outer_input = cvert
+                elseif !cvert.isouter && is_o && inner_output === nothing
+                    inner_output = cvert
+                end
+            end
+            # this doesn't necessarily mean this is a well-structured causal connection,
+            # but it is sufficient and we're generating equalities anyway.
+            if all_io && xor(outer_input !== nothing, inner_output !== nothing)
+                root_vert = something(inner_output, outer_input)
+                root_var = variable_from_vertex(sys, root_vert)
+                for (cvert, var) in zip(cset, vars)
+                    isequal(cvert, root_vert) && continue
+                    push!(eqs, var ~ root_var)
+                end
+            else
+                base = variable_from_vertex(sys, cset[1])
+                for i in 2:length(cset)
+                    v = vars[i]
+                    push!(eqs, base ~ v)
+                end
             end
         end
     end
diff --git a/test/causal_variables_connection.jl b/test/causal_variables_connection.jl
index eb922879e1..3124ac2f3b 100644
--- a/test/causal_variables_connection.jl
+++ b/test/causal_variables_connection.jl
@@ -36,13 +36,13 @@ end
            connect(C.output.u, P.input.u)]
     sys1 = System(eqs, t, systems = [P, C], name = :hej)
     sys = expand_connections(sys1)
-    @test any(isequal(P.output.u ~ C.input.u), equations(sys))
-    @test any(isequal(C.output.u ~ P.input.u), equations(sys))
+    @test any(isequal(C.input.u ~ P.output.u), equations(sys))
+    @test any(isequal(P.input.u ~ C.output.u), equations(sys))
 
     @named sysouter = System(Equation[], t; systems = [sys1])
     sys = expand_connections(sysouter)
-    @test any(isequal(sys1.P.output.u ~ sys1.C.input.u), equations(sys))
-    @test any(isequal(sys1.C.output.u ~ sys1.P.input.u), equations(sys))
+    @test any(isequal(sys1.C.input.u ~ sys1.P.output.u), equations(sys))
+    @test any(isequal(sys1.P.input.u ~ sys1.C.output.u), equations(sys))
 end
 
 @testset "With Analysis Points" begin
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ end
     @named sys = Outer()
     ss = toggle_namespacing(sys, false)
     eqs = equations(expand_connections(sys))
-    @test issetequal(eqs, [ss.u ~ ss.inner.x
+    @test issetequal(eqs, [ss.inner.x ~ ss.u
                            ss.inner.y ~ ss.inner.x
-                           ss.inner.y ~ ss.v])
+                           ss.v ~ ss.inner.y])
 end
diff --git a/test/components.jl b/test/components.jl
index 8e5747c750..a66725ca35 100644
--- a/test/components.jl
+++ b/test/components.jl
@@ -335,3 +335,25 @@ end
     sys = complete(outer)
     @test getmetadata(sys, Int, nothing) == "test"
 end
+
+@testset "Causal connections generate causal equations" begin
+    # test interpretation of `Equality` cset as causal connection
+    @named input = RealInput()
+    @named comp1 = System(Equation[], t; systems = [input])
+    @named output = RealOutput()
+    @named comp2 = System(Equation[], t; systems = [output])
+    @named sys = System([connect(comp2.output, comp1.input)], t; systems = [comp1, comp2])
+    eq = only(equations(expand_connections(sys)))
+    # as opposed to `output.u ~ input.u`
+    @test isequal(eq, comp1.input.u ~ comp2.output.u)
+
+    # test causal ordering of true causal cset
+    @named input = RealInput()
+    @named comp1 = System(Equation[], t; systems = [input])
+    @named output = RealOutput()
+    @named comp2 = System(Equation[], t; systems = [output])
+    @named sys = System([connect(comp2.output.u, comp1.input.u)], t; systems = [comp1, comp2])
+    eq = only(equations(expand_connections(sys)))
+    # as opposed to `output.u ~ input.u`
+    @test isequal(eq, comp1.input.u ~ comp2.output.u)
+end