diff --git a/src/diagrams/sequence/sequenceRenderer.js b/src/diagrams/sequence/sequenceRenderer.js
index 8c2e6fdee..5ea3de2a5 100644
--- a/src/diagrams/sequence/sequenceRenderer.js
+++ b/src/diagrams/sequence/sequenceRenderer.js
@@ -266,10 +266,13 @@ const drawMessage = function (elem, startx, stopx, verticalPos, msg, nodeIndex)
   if (conf.showSequenceNumbers) {
     line.attr('marker-start', 'url(' + url + '#sequencenumber)')
     g.append('text')
-      .attr('x', startx - 4)
+      .attr('x', startx - 1)
       .attr('y', verticalPos + 5)
       .attr('font-family', 'sans-serif')
       .attr('font-size', '16px')
+      .attr('text-anchor', 'middle')
+      .attr('textLength', '16px')
+      .attr('lengthAdjust', '0')
       .attr('class', 'sequenceNumber')
       .text(nodeIndex + 1)
   }