Phenotypic and genotypic characterizations of Lactobacillus maltaromicus strains DSM 20342(T) and DSM 20344 provided evidence for the reclassification of this species in the genus Carnobacterium. Moreover, phenotypic and genotypic comparisons made between L. maltaromicus and Carnobacterium piscicola highlighted that these two species should be considered synonyms. For these reasons, the species Carnobacterium maltaromaticum comb. nov. (type strain DSM 20342(T) = ATCC 27865(T) = CCUG 30142(T) = CIP 103135(T) = JCM 1154(T) = LMG 6903(T) = NRRL B-14852(T)) is proposed to accommodate L. maltaromicus and C. piscicola.