diff --git a/ci/release/changelogs/next.md b/ci/release/changelogs/next.md
index 5aee5ea42..59bb6569d 100644
--- a/ci/release/changelogs/next.md
+++ b/ci/release/changelogs/next.md
@@ -12,3 +12,4 @@
 - Fixes edge case where layouts with dagre show a connection from the bottom side of shapes being slightly disconnected from the shape. [#820](https://github.com/terrastruct/d2/pull/820)
 - Fixes rare compiler bug when using underscores in edges to create objects across containers. [#824](https://github.com/terrastruct/d2/pull/824)
 - Fixes rare possibility of rendered connections being hidden or cut off. [#828](https://github.com/terrastruct/d2/pull/828)
+- Creating nested children within `sql_table` and `class` shapes are now prevented (caused confusion when accidentally done). [#834](https://github.com/terrastruct/d2/pull/834)
diff --git a/d2compiler/compile.go b/d2compiler/compile.go
index 8442e5417..3bc0f26d1 100644
--- a/d2compiler/compile.go
+++ b/d2compiler/compile.go
@@ -160,6 +160,17 @@ func (c *compiler) compileField(obj *d2graph.Object, f *d2ir.Field) {
 		return
 	}
 
+	if obj.Parent != nil {
+		if obj.Parent.Attributes.Shape.Value == d2target.ShapeSQLTable {
+			c.errorf(f.LastRef().AST(), "sql_table columns cannot have children")
+			return
+		}
+		if obj.Parent.Attributes.Shape.Value == d2target.ShapeClass {
+			c.errorf(f.LastRef().AST(), "class fields cannot have children")
+			return
+		}
+	}
+
 	obj = obj.EnsureChild(d2graphIDA([]string{f.Name}))
 	if f.Primary() != nil {
 		c.compileLabel(obj.Attributes, f)
diff --git a/d2compiler/compile_test.go b/d2compiler/compile_test.go
index 1ed5b18ca..fa238a2c5 100644
--- a/d2compiler/compile_test.go
+++ b/d2compiler/compile_test.go
@@ -1483,6 +1483,36 @@ d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/errors/reserved_icon_style.d2:2:9: near key "
   shape: sql_table
   x: {p -> q}
 }`,
+			expErr: `d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/edge_in_column.d2:3:7: sql_table columns cannot have children
+d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/edge_in_column.d2:3:12: sql_table columns cannot have children`,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "no-nested-columns-sql",
+
+			text: `x: {
+  shape: sql_table
+  a -- b.b
+}`,
+			expErr: `d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/no-nested-columns-sql.d2:3:10: sql_table columns cannot have children`,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "no-nested-columns-sql-2",
+
+			text: `x: {
+  shape: sql_table
+  a
+}
+x.a.b`,
+			expErr: `d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/no-nested-columns-sql-2.d2:5:5: sql_table columns cannot have children`,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "no-nested-columns-class",
+
+			text: `x: {
+  shape: class
+  a.a
+}`,
+			expErr: `d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/no-nested-columns-class.d2:3:5: class fields cannot have children`,
 		},
 		{
 			name: "edge_to_style",
diff --git a/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/edge_in_column.exp.json b/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/edge_in_column.exp.json
index 7783ac781..4a390573c 100644
--- a/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/edge_in_column.exp.json
+++ b/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/edge_in_column.exp.json
@@ -1,384 +1,16 @@
 {
-  "graph": {
-    "name": "",
-    "ast": {
-      "range": "d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/edge_in_column.d2,0:0:0-3:1:39",
-      "nodes": [
-        {
-          "map_key": {
-            "range": "d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/edge_in_column.d2,0:0:0-3:1:39",
-            "key": {
-              "range": "d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/edge_in_column.d2,0:0:0-0:1:1",
-              "path": [
-                {
-                  "unquoted_string": {
-                    "range": "d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/edge_in_column.d2,0:0:0-0:1:1",
-                    "value": [
-                      {
-                        "string": "x",
-                        "raw_string": "x"
-                      }
-                    ]
-                  }
-                }
-              ]
-            },
-            "primary": {},
-            "value": {
-              "map": {
-                "range": "d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/edge_in_column.d2,0:3:3-3:0:38",
-                "nodes": [
-                  {
-                    "map_key": {
-                      "range": "d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/edge_in_column.d2,1:2:7-1:18:23",
-                      "key": {
-                        "range": "d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/edge_in_column.d2,1:2:7-1:7:12",
-                        "path": [
-                          {
-                            "unquoted_string": {
-                              "range": "d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/edge_in_column.d2,1:2:7-1:7:12",
-                              "value": [
-                                {
-                                  "string": "shape",
-                                  "raw_string": "shape"
-                                }
-                              ]
-                            }
-                          }
-                        ]
-                      },
-                      "primary": {},
-                      "value": {
-                        "unquoted_string": {
-                          "range": "d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/edge_in_column.d2,1:9:14-1:18:23",
-                          "value": [
-                            {
-                              "string": "sql_table",
-                              "raw_string": "sql_table"
-                            }
-                          ]
-                        }
-                      }
-                    }
-                  },
-                  {
-                    "map_key": {
-                      "range": "d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/edge_in_column.d2,2:2:26-2:13:37",
-                      "key": {
-                        "range": "d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/edge_in_column.d2,2:2:26-2:3:27",
-                        "path": [
-                          {
-                            "unquoted_string": {
-                              "range": "d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/edge_in_column.d2,2:2:26-2:3:27",
-                              "value": [
-                                {
-                                  "string": "x",
-                                  "raw_string": "x"
-                                }
-                              ]
-                            }
-                          }
-                        ]
-                      },
-                      "primary": {},
-                      "value": {
-                        "map": {
-                          "range": "d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/edge_in_column.d2,2:5:29-2:12:36",
-                          "nodes": [
-                            {
-                              "map_key": {
-                                "range": "d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/edge_in_column.d2,2:6:30-2:12:36",
-                                "edges": [
-                                  {
-                                    "range": "d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/edge_in_column.d2,2:6:30-2:12:36",
-                                    "src": {
-                                      "range": "d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/edge_in_column.d2,2:6:30-2:8:32",
-                                      "path": [
-                                        {
-                                          "unquoted_string": {
-                                            "range": "d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/edge_in_column.d2,2:6:30-2:7:31",
-                                            "value": [
-                                              {
-                                                "string": "p",
-                                                "raw_string": "p"
-                                              }
-                                            ]
-                                          }
-                                        }
-                                      ]
-                                    },
-                                    "src_arrow": "",
-                                    "dst": {
-                                      "range": "d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/edge_in_column.d2,2:10:34-2:12:36",
-                                      "path": [
-                                        {
-                                          "unquoted_string": {
-                                            "range": "d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/edge_in_column.d2,2:11:35-2:12:36",
-                                            "value": [
-                                              {
-                                                "string": "q",
-                                                "raw_string": "q"
-                                              }
-                                            ]
-                                          }
-                                        }
-                                      ]
-                                    },
-                                    "dst_arrow": ">"
-                                  }
-                                ],
-                                "primary": {},
-                                "value": {}
-                              }
-                            }
-                          ]
-                        }
-                      }
-                    }
-                  }
-                ]
-              }
-            }
-          }
-        }
-      ]
-    },
-    "root": {
-      "id": "",
-      "id_val": "",
-      "label_dimensions": {
-        "width": 0,
-        "height": 0
-      },
-      "attributes": {
-        "label": {
-          "value": ""
-        },
-        "style": {},
-        "near_key": null,
-        "shape": {
-          "value": ""
-        },
-        "direction": {
-          "value": ""
-        },
-        "constraint": {
-          "value": ""
-        }
-      },
-      "zIndex": 0
-    },
-    "edges": [
+  "graph": null,
+  "err": {
+    "ioerr": null,
+    "errs": [
       {
-        "index": 0,
-        "minWidth": 0,
-        "minHeight": 0,
-        "label_dimensions": {
-          "width": 0,
-          "height": 0
-        },
-        "isCurve": false,
-        "src_arrow": false,
-        "dst_arrow": true,
-        "references": [
-          {
-            "map_key_edge_index": 0
-          }
-        ],
-        "attributes": {
-          "label": {
-            "value": ""
-          },
-          "style": {},
-          "near_key": null,
-          "shape": {
-            "value": ""
-          },
-          "direction": {
-            "value": ""
-          },
-          "constraint": {
-            "value": ""
-          }
-        },
-        "zIndex": 0
-      }
-    ],
-    "objects": [
-      {
-        "id": "x",
-        "id_val": "x",
-        "label_dimensions": {
-          "width": 0,
-          "height": 0
-        },
-        "references": [
-          {
-            "key": {
-              "range": "d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/edge_in_column.d2,0:0:0-0:1:1",
-              "path": [
-                {
-                  "unquoted_string": {
-                    "range": "d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/edge_in_column.d2,0:0:0-0:1:1",
-                    "value": [
-                      {
-                        "string": "x",
-                        "raw_string": "x"
-                      }
-                    ]
-                  }
-                }
-              ]
-            },
-            "key_path_index": 0,
-            "map_key_edge_index": -1
-          }
-        ],
-        "sql_table": {
-          "columns": [
-            {
-              "name": {
-                "label": "x",
-                "fontSize": 0,
-                "fontFamily": "",
-                "language": "",
-                "color": "",
-                "italic": false,
-                "bold": false,
-                "underline": false,
-                "labelWidth": 0,
-                "labelHeight": 0
-              },
-              "type": {
-                "label": "",
-                "fontSize": 0,
-                "fontFamily": "",
-                "language": "",
-                "color": "",
-                "italic": false,
-                "bold": false,
-                "underline": false,
-                "labelWidth": 0,
-                "labelHeight": 0
-              },
-              "constraint": "",
-              "reference": ""
-            }
-          ]
-        },
-        "attributes": {
-          "label": {
-            "value": "x"
-          },
-          "style": {},
-          "near_key": null,
-          "shape": {
-            "value": "sql_table"
-          },
-          "direction": {
-            "value": ""
-          },
-          "constraint": {
-            "value": ""
-          }
-        },
-        "zIndex": 0
+        "range": "d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/edge_in_column.d2,2:6:30-2:7:31",
+        "errmsg": "d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/edge_in_column.d2:3:7: sql_table columns cannot have children"
       },
       {
-        "id": "p",
-        "id_val": "p",
-        "label_dimensions": {
-          "width": 0,
-          "height": 0
-        },
-        "references": [
-          {
-            "key": {
-              "range": "d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/edge_in_column.d2,2:6:30-2:8:32",
-              "path": [
-                {
-                  "unquoted_string": {
-                    "range": "d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/edge_in_column.d2,2:6:30-2:7:31",
-                    "value": [
-                      {
-                        "string": "p",
-                        "raw_string": "p"
-                      }
-                    ]
-                  }
-                }
-              ]
-            },
-            "key_path_index": 0,
-            "map_key_edge_index": 0
-          }
-        ],
-        "attributes": {
-          "label": {
-            "value": "p"
-          },
-          "style": {},
-          "near_key": null,
-          "shape": {
-            "value": "rectangle"
-          },
-          "direction": {
-            "value": ""
-          },
-          "constraint": {
-            "value": ""
-          }
-        },
-        "zIndex": 0
-      },
-      {
-        "id": "q",
-        "id_val": "q",
-        "label_dimensions": {
-          "width": 0,
-          "height": 0
-        },
-        "references": [
-          {
-            "key": {
-              "range": "d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/edge_in_column.d2,2:10:34-2:12:36",
-              "path": [
-                {
-                  "unquoted_string": {
-                    "range": "d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/edge_in_column.d2,2:11:35-2:12:36",
-                    "value": [
-                      {
-                        "string": "q",
-                        "raw_string": "q"
-                      }
-                    ]
-                  }
-                }
-              ]
-            },
-            "key_path_index": 0,
-            "map_key_edge_index": 0
-          }
-        ],
-        "attributes": {
-          "label": {
-            "value": "q"
-          },
-          "style": {},
-          "near_key": null,
-          "shape": {
-            "value": "rectangle"
-          },
-          "direction": {
-            "value": ""
-          },
-          "constraint": {
-            "value": ""
-          }
-        },
-        "zIndex": 0
+        "range": "d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/edge_in_column.d2,2:11:35-2:12:36",
+        "errmsg": "d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/edge_in_column.d2:3:12: sql_table columns cannot have children"
       }
     ]
-  },
-  "err": null
+  }
 }
diff --git a/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/no-nested-columns-class.exp.json b/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/no-nested-columns-class.exp.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cc9546885
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/no-nested-columns-class.exp.json
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+{
+  "graph": null,
+  "err": {
+    "ioerr": null,
+    "errs": [
+      {
+        "range": "d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/no-nested-columns-class.d2,2:4:24-2:5:25",
+        "errmsg": "d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/no-nested-columns-class.d2:3:5: class fields cannot have children"
+      }
+    ]
+  }
+}
diff --git a/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/no-nested-columns-sql-2.exp.json b/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/no-nested-columns-sql-2.exp.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..15bef32df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/no-nested-columns-sql-2.exp.json
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+{
+  "graph": null,
+  "err": {
+    "ioerr": null,
+    "errs": [
+      {
+        "range": "d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/no-nested-columns-sql-2.d2,4:4:34-4:5:35",
+        "errmsg": "d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/no-nested-columns-sql-2.d2:5:5: sql_table columns cannot have children"
+      }
+    ]
+  }
+}
diff --git a/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/no-nested-columns-sql.exp.json b/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/no-nested-columns-sql.exp.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..782ccce94
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/no-nested-columns-sql.exp.json
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+{
+  "graph": null,
+  "err": {
+    "ioerr": null,
+    "errs": [
+      {
+        "range": "d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/no-nested-columns-sql.d2,2:9:33-2:10:34",
+        "errmsg": "d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/no-nested-columns-sql.d2:3:10: sql_table columns cannot have children"
+      }
+    ]
+  }
+}