diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/fix_flatten.yml b/changelogs/fragments/fix_flatten.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..387033d7e1c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/fix_flatten.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+bugfixes:
+    - fix flatten to properly handle multiple lists in lists https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/46343
diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/filter/core.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/filter/core.py
index 17309dd8aa5..759e6ce7c97 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/filter/core.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/filter/core.py
@@ -438,8 +438,8 @@ def flatten(mylist, levels=None):
             if levels is None:
                 ret.extend(flatten(element))
             elif levels >= 1:
-                levels = int(levels) - 1
-                ret.extend(flatten(element, levels=levels))
+                # decrement as we go down the stack
+                ret.extend(flatten(element, levels=(int(levels) - 1)))
             else:
                 ret.append(element)
         else: