diff --git a/src/dsl/grammar/sql_create_table.rs b/src/dsl/grammar/sql_create_table.rs
index 1d0be1c..633f901 100644
--- a/src/dsl/grammar/sql_create_table.rs
+++ b/src/dsl/grammar/sql_create_table.rs
@@ -150,14 +150,12 @@ pub(crate) static CHECK_NODES: &[Node] = &[
 // endpoints; the `( <col> )` is optional (the bare `REFERENCES
 // <parent>` form resolves to the parent's PK at execution).
 
-// NOTE (4i): `IdentSource::Tables` existence-checks the parent — good
-// for the common case (a typo'd parent shows a pre-submit hint), but a
-// self-referencing FK (`references <self>` while creating `<self>`)
-// false-flags the not-yet-created table as unknown. Parse + execution
-// are correct (the self-ref is validated against the in-statement
-// columns); only the live typing indicator is briefly wrong. ADR-0035
-// §13 4i: teach the schema-existence diagnostic about the CREATE TABLE
-// target so the self-ref indicator stops lying.
+// `IdentSource::Tables` existence-checks the parent, so a typo'd parent
+// shows a pre-submit hint. A self-referencing FK (`references <self>`
+// while creating `<self>`) is NOT flagged: the schema-existence
+// diagnostic exempts a `Tables` reference matching the `CREATE TABLE`
+// target — the table being created in the same statement (ADR-0035 §4i c,
+// `schema_existence_diagnostics`'s `created_tables`).
 const FK_PARENT_TABLE: Node = Node::Ident {
     source: IdentSource::Tables,
     role: "fk_parent_table",
diff --git a/src/dsl/walker/mod.rs b/src/dsl/walker/mod.rs
index 1873fe1..ad789f2 100644
--- a/src/dsl/walker/mod.rs
+++ b/src/dsl/walker/mod.rs
@@ -652,6 +652,12 @@ fn schema_existence_diagnostics(
     // (won't false-flag valid refs).
     let mut bindings: Vec<PassBinding> = Vec::new();
     let mut cte_names: Vec<String> = Vec::new();
+    // Tables being *created* in this statement (a `CREATE TABLE` target —
+    // `IdentSource::NewName`, role `table_name`). A FK that references the
+    // table being created (a self-reference) names it via
+    // `IdentSource::Tables` before it exists in the schema, so it would
+    // otherwise be flagged "no such table" pre-submit (ADR-0035 §4i c).
+    let mut created_tables: Vec<String> = Vec::new();
     {
         let mut pending_alias_index: Option<usize> = None;
         for item in &path.items {
@@ -685,6 +691,12 @@ fn schema_existence_diagnostics(
                     }
                     pending_alias_index = None;
                 }
+                IdentSource::NewName if role == "table_name" => {
+                    // The `CREATE TABLE` target — record it so a
+                    // self-referencing FK parent isn't flagged unknown.
+                    created_tables.push(item.text.clone());
+                    pending_alias_index = None;
+                }
                 _ => {
                     pending_alias_index = None;
                 }
@@ -871,10 +883,16 @@ fn schema_existence_diagnostics(
                     }
                 } else if !schema_has_table(schema, &item.text)
                     && !cte_names_contains(&cte_names, &item.text)
+                    && !created_tables
+                        .iter()
+                        .any(|t| t.eq_ignore_ascii_case(&item.text))
                 {
                     // Unknown table — the pre-pass skipped
                     // pushing this as a binding, so it's not in
-                    // the resolution scope. Flag it here.
+                    // the resolution scope. A self-referencing FK
+                    // parent (the table being created in this same
+                    // statement) is exempt (ADR-0035 §4i c). Flag
+                    // it here.
                     diagnostics.push(Diagnostic {
                         severity: Severity::Error,
                         span: item.span,
@@ -5396,6 +5414,38 @@ mod tests {
         );
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn self_referencing_fk_in_create_table_is_not_flagged_unknown() {
+        // ADR-0035 §4i (c): a CREATE TABLE whose FK references the table
+        // being created (a self-reference) must not pre-flag the
+        // not-yet-created table as unknown — the FK parent equals the
+        // CREATE target. Empty schema: `T` does not exist yet.
+        let schema = SchemaCache::default();
+        let diags = diag_keys(
+            "create table T (id int primary key, parent_id int references T(id))",
+            &schema,
+        );
+        assert!(
+            !diags.iter().any(|d| d.contains("no such table")),
+            "self-ref FK parent must not be flagged unknown; got {diags:?}",
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn create_table_fk_to_genuinely_unknown_table_still_flags() {
+        // The exemption is only for the self-reference: a FK to some
+        // *other* non-existent table is still flagged pre-submit.
+        let schema = SchemaCache::default();
+        let diags = diag_keys(
+            "create table T (id int primary key, ghost_id int references Ghost(id))",
+            &schema,
+        );
+        assert!(
+            diags.iter().any(|d| d.contains("no such table")),
+            "FK to a genuinely-unknown table must still flag; got {diags:?}",
+        );
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn alias_resolves_qualifier() {
         let schema = two_table_schema();