diff --git a/R/flatten.R b/R/flatten.R
index b5f8a1114..fdd854503 100644
--- a/R/flatten.R
+++ b/R/flatten.R
@@ -139,7 +139,51 @@ dm_flatten_to_tbl_impl <- function(dm, start, list_of_pts, join, join_name, squa
   by <- map2(order_df$pred, order_df$name, ~ get_by(prep_dm, .x, .y))
 
   # perform the joins according to the list, starting with table `initial_LHS`
-  reduce2(ordered_table_list, by, ~ join(..1, ..2, by = ..3), .init = tbl_impl(prep_dm, start))
+  if (squash && length(order_df$name) > 0) {
+    # For recursive flattening, use an iterative approach to handle 
+    # cases where columns serve as both PK and FK
+    result <- tbl_impl(prep_dm, start)
+    
+    for (i in seq_along(order_df$name)) {
+      table_to_join <- ordered_table_list[[i]]
+      join_by <- by[[i]]
+      
+      # Additional safety check: verify join columns exist
+      result_cols <- colnames(result)
+      left_cols <- names(join_by)
+      right_cols <- colnames(table_to_join)
+      join_right_cols <- unname(join_by)
+      
+      # Check if all required columns exist
+      missing_left <- setdiff(left_cols, result_cols)
+      missing_right <- setdiff(join_right_cols, right_cols)
+      
+      if (length(missing_left) > 0) {
+        # This is where the error likely occurs
+        # For recursive joins, we might need to handle column name mapping
+        # Look for disambiguated versions of missing columns
+        mapped_join_by <- join_by
+        for (missing_col in missing_left) {
+          # Look for pattern like "original_name.table_suffix"
+          pattern_matches <- result_cols[grepl(paste0("^", missing_col, "\\."), result_cols)]
+          if (length(pattern_matches) > 0) {
+            # Replace the missing column name with the disambiguated version
+            # Use the first match if multiple exist
+            names(mapped_join_by)[names(mapped_join_by) == missing_col] <- pattern_matches[1]
+          }
+          # If no pattern matches found, keep the original name and let the join fail with a clear error
+        }
+        join_by <- mapped_join_by
+      }
+      
+      result <- join(result, table_to_join, by = join_by)
+    }
+    
+    result
+  } else {
+    # For non-recursive flattening, use the original approach
+    reduce2(ordered_table_list, by, ~ join(..1, ..2, by = ..3), .init = tbl_impl(prep_dm, start))
+  }
 }
 
 #' Join two tables
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-flatten.R b/tests/testthat/test-flatten.R
index c182e624e..8f2c99c61 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-flatten.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-flatten.R
@@ -242,6 +242,38 @@ test_that("`dm_flatten_to_tbl(.recursive = TRUE)` does the right things", {
   )
 })
 
+test_that("`dm_flatten_to_tbl(.recursive = TRUE)` works with combined primary and foreign key", {
+  # Test for issue where a column serves as both PK and FK
+  skip_if_src_not("df")  # Only test on data frame source for now
+  
+  # Create test data as described in the issue
+  x <- tibble(a = 1L, b = 2L)
+  y <- tibble(c = 2L, d = 3L)  
+  z <- tibble(e = 2L, f = 4L)
+
+  # Create dm with the problematic structure:
+  # - y.c is both a primary key and a foreign key pointing to z.e
+  mydm <- dm(x, y, z) %>%
+    dm_add_pk(x, a) %>%
+    dm_add_pk(y, c) %>%
+    dm_add_pk(z, e) %>%
+    dm_add_fk(x, b, y) %>%
+    dm_add_fk(y, c, z)  # This makes y.c both PK and FK
+
+  # This should work without throwing "Join columns in `x` must be present in the data. Problem with `c`."
+  result <- mydm %>% dm_flatten_to_tbl(x, .recursive = TRUE)
+  
+  # Expected result should have all columns from x, y, and z
+  expected <- tibble(
+    a = 1L,
+    b = 2L, 
+    d = 3L,
+    f = 4L
+  )
+  
+  expect_equivalent_tbl(result, expected)
+})
+
 test_that("prepare_dm_for_flatten() works", {
   # with rename
   out <- expect_message_obj(prepare_dm_for_flatten(