diff --git a/core/src/codegen/field.rs b/core/src/codegen/field.rs
index c17cc90..51020a9 100644
--- a/core/src/codegen/field.rs
+++ b/core/src/codegen/field.rs
@@ -96,6 +96,17 @@ impl<'a> ToTokens for Declaration<'a> {
         } else {
             quote!(let mut #ident: (bool, ::darling::export::Option<#ty>) = (false, None);)
         });
+
+        // The flatten field additionally needs a place to buffer meta items
+        // until attribute walking is done, so declare that now.
+        //
+        // We expect there can only be one field marked `flatten`, so it shouldn't
+        // be possible for this to shadow another declaration.
+        if field.flatten {
+            tokens.append_all(quote! {
+                let mut __flatten: Vec<::darling::ast::NestedMeta> = vec![];
+            });
+        }
     }
 }
 
@@ -123,13 +134,7 @@ impl<'a> ToTokens for FlattenInitializer<'a> {
         tokens.append_all(quote! {
             #ident = (true,
                 __errors.handle(
-                    ::darling::FromMeta::from_list(
-                        __flatten
-                            .into_iter()
-                            .cloned()
-                            .map(::darling::ast::NestedMeta::Meta)
-                            .collect::<Vec<_>>().as_slice()
-                        ) #add_parent_fields
+                    ::darling::FromMeta::from_list(&__flatten) #add_parent_fields
                     )
                 );
         });
diff --git a/core/src/codegen/trait_impl.rs b/core/src/codegen/trait_impl.rs
index 0bc7f7e..2f358db 100644
--- a/core/src/codegen/trait_impl.rs
+++ b/core/src/codegen/trait_impl.rs
@@ -112,7 +112,17 @@ impl<'a> TraitImpl<'a> {
         if let Data::Struct(ref vd) = self.data {
             let check_nones = vd.as_ref().map(Field::as_presence_check);
             let checks = check_nones.fields.as_slice();
-            quote!(#(#checks)*)
+
+            // If a field was marked `flatten`, now is the time to process any unclaimed meta items
+            // and mark the field as having been seen.
+            let flatten_field_init = vd.fields.iter().find(|f| f.flatten).map(|v| {
+                v.as_flatten_initializer(vd.fields.iter().filter_map(Field::as_name).collect())
+            });
+
+            quote! {
+                #flatten_field_init
+                #(#checks)*
+            }
         } else {
             quote!()
         }
diff --git a/core/src/codegen/variant_data.rs b/core/src/codegen/variant_data.rs
index 04c1416..9a8bffc 100644
--- a/core/src/codegen/variant_data.rs
+++ b/core/src/codegen/variant_data.rs
@@ -7,14 +7,12 @@ use crate::codegen::Field;
 pub struct FieldsGen<'a> {
     fields: &'a Fields<Field<'a>>,
     allow_unknown_fields: bool,
-    flatten_field: Option<&'a Field<'a>>,
 }
 
 impl<'a> FieldsGen<'a> {
     pub fn new(fields: &'a Fields<Field<'a>>, allow_unknown_fields: bool) -> Self {
         Self {
             fields,
-            flatten_field: fields.fields.iter().find(|f| f.flatten),
             allow_unknown_fields,
         }
     }
@@ -37,22 +35,11 @@ impl<'a> FieldsGen<'a> {
     /// Generate the loop which walks meta items looking for property matches.
     pub(in crate::codegen) fn core_loop(&self) -> TokenStream {
         let arms = self.fields.as_ref().map(Field::as_match);
-
-        let (flatten_buffer, flatten_declaration) = if let Some(flatten_field) = self.flatten_field
-        {
-            (
-                quote! { let mut __flatten = vec![]; },
-                Some(flatten_field.as_flatten_initializer(self.field_names().collect())),
-            )
-        } else {
-            (quote!(), None)
-        };
-
         // If there is a flatten field, buffer the unknown field so it can be passed
         // to the flatten function with all other unknown fields.
-        let handle_unknown = if self.flatten_field.is_some() {
+        let handle_unknown = if self.fields.iter().any(|f| f.flatten) {
             quote! {
-                __flatten.push(__inner);
+                __flatten.push(::darling::ast::NestedMeta::Meta(__inner.clone()));
             }
         }
         // If we're allowing unknown fields, then handling one is a no-op.
@@ -77,8 +64,6 @@ impl<'a> FieldsGen<'a> {
         let arms = arms.iter();
 
         quote!(
-            #flatten_buffer
-
             for __item in __items {
                 match *__item {
                     ::darling::export::NestedMeta::Meta(ref __inner) => {
@@ -94,8 +79,6 @@ impl<'a> FieldsGen<'a> {
                     }
                 }
             }
-
-            #flatten_declaration
         )
     }
 
@@ -119,8 +102,4 @@ impl<'a> FieldsGen<'a> {
 
         quote!(#(#inits),*)
     }
-
-    fn field_names(&self) -> impl Iterator<Item = &str> {
-        self.fields.iter().filter_map(Field::as_name)
-    }
 }
diff --git a/tests/flatten_from_field.rs b/tests/flatten_from_field.rs
index 44eebcf..3338f04 100644
--- a/tests/flatten_from_field.rs
+++ b/tests/flatten_from_field.rs
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ use syn::parse_quote;
 
 #[derive(FromMeta)]
 struct Vis {
+    #[darling(default)]
     public: bool,
     #[darling(default)]
     private: bool,
@@ -44,3 +45,40 @@ fn field_flattens() {
     assert!(!first_field.visibility.private);
     assert_eq!(first_field.example.unwrap(), "world");
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn field_flattens_with_no_field_level_attributes() {
+    let di = Input::from_derive_input(&parse_quote! {
+        struct Demo {
+            hello: String
+        }
+    })
+    .unwrap();
+
+    let fields = di.data.take_struct().unwrap();
+    let first_field = fields.into_iter().next().unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(
+        first_field.ident,
+        Some(Ident::new("hello", Span::call_site()))
+    );
+    assert!(!first_field.visibility.public);
+    assert!(!first_field.visibility.private);
+    assert_eq!(first_field.example, None);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn field_flattens_across_attributes() {
+    let di = Input::from_derive_input(&parse_quote! {
+        struct Demo {
+            #[v(public)]
+            #[v(private)]
+            hello: String
+        }
+    })
+    .unwrap();
+
+    let fields = di.data.take_struct().unwrap();
+    let first_field = fields.into_iter().next().unwrap();
+    assert!(first_field.visibility.public);
+    assert!(first_field.visibility.private);
+}