diff --git a/src/betterproto/plugin/models.py b/src/betterproto/plugin/models.py
index ea819d44d..618a4865e 100644
--- a/src/betterproto/plugin/models.py
+++ b/src/betterproto/plugin/models.py
@@ -248,13 +248,55 @@ class OutputTemplate:
     typing_imports: Set[str] = field(default_factory=set)
     pydantic_imports: Set[str] = field(default_factory=set)
     builtins_import: bool = False
-    messages: List["MessageCompiler"] = field(default_factory=list)
-    enums: List["EnumDefinitionCompiler"] = field(default_factory=list)
+    messages: Dict[str, "MessageCompiler"] = field(default_factory=dict)
+    enums: Dict[str, "EnumDefinitionCompiler"] = field(default_factory=dict)
     services: List["ServiceCompiler"] = field(default_factory=list)
     imports_type_checking_only: Set[str] = field(default_factory=set)
     pydantic_dataclasses: bool = False
     output: bool = True
 
+    def structure(self):
+        def recursive_structure(descriptor_proto):
+            branch = {}
+            for msg in descriptor_proto.nested_type:
+                branch[msg.name] = {"children": recursive_structure(msg), "kind": "msg"}
+            for enum_ in descriptor_proto.enum_type:
+                branch[enum_.name] = {"kind": "enum"}
+            return branch
+
+        tree = {}
+        for msg in self.package_proto_obj.message_type:
+            tree[msg.name] = {"children": recursive_structure(msg), "kind": "msg"}
+        for enum_ in self.package_proto_obj.enum_type:
+            tree[enum_.name] = {"kind": "enum"}
+
+        return {"root": tree}
+
+    def structure_with_obj(self):
+        def recursive_structure(descriptor_proto):
+            branch = {}
+            for msg in descriptor_proto.nested_type:
+                branch[msg.name] = {
+                    "children": recursive_structure(msg),
+                    "kind": "msg",
+                    "obj": self.messages[msg.name],
+                }
+            for enum_ in descriptor_proto.enum_type:
+                branch[enum_.name] = {"kind": "enum", "obj": self.enums[enum_.name]}
+            return branch
+
+        tree = {}
+        for msg in self.package_proto_obj.message_type:
+            tree[msg.name] = {
+                "children": recursive_structure(msg),
+                "kind": "msg",
+                "obj": self.messages[msg.name],
+            }
+        for enum_ in self.package_proto_obj.enum_type:
+            tree[enum_.name] = {"kind": "enum", "obj": self.enums[enum_.name]}
+
+        return {"root": tree}
+
     @property
     def package(self) -> str:
         """Name of input package.
@@ -305,9 +347,9 @@ def __post_init__(self) -> None:
         # Add message to output file
         if isinstance(self.parent, OutputTemplate):
             if isinstance(self, EnumDefinitionCompiler):
-                self.output_file.enums.append(self)
+                self.output_file.enums[self.proto_name] = self
             else:
-                self.output_file.messages.append(self)
+                self.output_file.messages[self.proto_name] = self
         self.deprecated = self.proto_obj.options.deprecated
         super().__post_init__()
 
diff --git a/src/betterproto/templates/template.py.j2 b/src/betterproto/templates/template.py.j2
index 5b6715605..ef537be9a 100644
--- a/src/betterproto/templates/template.py.j2
+++ b/src/betterproto/templates/template.py.j2
@@ -48,7 +48,23 @@ if TYPE_CHECKING:
 {% endfor %}
 {% endif %}
 
-{% if output_file.enums %}{% for enum in output_file.enums %}
+{#
+
+
+original markdown is missing until I finish debugging this 
+
+
+#}
+
+{% set tree = output_file.structure() %}
+"""
+{{ tree|tojson(indent=4) }}
+"""
+
+{% macro render_class(tree_) %}
+{% for k, v in tree_.items() %}
+{% if v.kind == "enum" %}
+{% set enum = v.obj %}
 class {{ enum.py_name }}(betterproto.Enum):
     {% if enum.comment %}
 {{ enum.comment }}
@@ -61,17 +77,17 @@ class {{ enum.py_name }}(betterproto.Enum):
 
         {% endif %}
     {% endfor %}
-
-
-{% endfor %}
-{% endif %}
-{% for message in output_file.messages %}
+{% else %}
+{% set message = v.obj %}
 @dataclass(eq=False, repr=False)
 class {{ message.py_name }}(betterproto.Message):
     {% if message.comment %}
 {{ message.comment }}
 
     {% endif %}
+
+    {{ render_class(v.children)|indent }}
+
     {% for field in message.fields %}
     {{ field.get_field_string() }}
         {% if field.comment %}
@@ -83,25 +99,21 @@ class {{ message.py_name }}(betterproto.Message):
     pass
     {% endif %}
 
-    {% if message.deprecated or message.has_deprecated_fields %}
-    def __post_init__(self) -> None:
-        {% if message.deprecated %}
-        warnings.warn("{{ message.py_name }} is deprecated", DeprecationWarning)
-        {% endif %}
-        super().__post_init__()
-        {% for field in message.deprecated_fields %}
-        if self.is_set("{{ field }}"):
-            warnings.warn("{{ message.py_name }}.{{ field }} is deprecated", DeprecationWarning)
-        {% endfor %}
-    {%  endif %}
+{% endif %}
+{% endfor %}
+{% endmacro %}
 
-    {% if output_file.pydantic_dataclasses and message.has_oneof_fields %}
-    @root_validator()
-    def check_oneof(cls, values):
-        return cls._validate_field_groups(values)
-    {%  endif %}
+{% set tree_with_objs = output_file.structure_with_obj() %}
+{{ render_class(tree_with_objs["root"]) }}
+
+{#
+
+
+original markdown is missing until I finish debugging this 
+
+
+#}
 
-{% endfor %}
 {% for service in output_file.services %}
 class {{ service.py_name }}Stub(betterproto.ServiceStub):
     {% if service.comment %}
diff --git a/tests/inputs/nested_enum/nested_enum.proto b/tests/inputs/nested_enum/nested_enum.proto
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..570dcd2ae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/inputs/nested_enum/nested_enum.proto
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+syntax = "proto3";
+
+package nested_enum;
+
+message Test {
+    enum Inner {
+        NONE = 0;
+        THIS = 1;
+    }
+    Inner status = 1;
+
+    message Doubly {
+        enum Inner {
+            NONE = 0;
+            THIS = 1;
+        }
+        Inner status = 1;
+    }
+}
+
+
+message TestInner {
+  int32 foo = 1;
+}
+
+message TestDoublyInner {
+  int32 foo = 1;
+  string bar = 2;
+}
+
+enum Outer {
+    foo = 0;
+    bar = 1;
+}
+
+message Content {
+    message Status {
+        string code = 1;
+    }
+    Status status = 1;
+}
+
+message ContentStatus {
+    int32 id = 1;
+}
diff --git a/tests/test_nested_enums.py b/tests/test_nested_enums.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b7f3185b0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_nested_enums.py
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+import betterproto
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+