diff --git a/vlib/compiler/compile_errors.v b/vlib/compiler/compile_errors.v
index 4d0a8f89c4..b095a87b2f 100644
--- a/vlib/compiler/compile_errors.v
+++ b/vlib/compiler/compile_errors.v
@@ -258,4 +258,6 @@ const (
 
 	and_or_error = 'use `()` to make the boolean expression clear\n' +
 'for example: `(a && b) || c` instead of `a && b || c`'
+
+err_modify_bitfield = 'to modify a bitfield flag use the methods: set, clear, toggle. and to check for flag use: has'
 )
diff --git a/vlib/compiler/comptime.v b/vlib/compiler/comptime.v
index 14321be008..69ef51d477 100644
--- a/vlib/compiler/comptime.v
+++ b/vlib/compiler/comptime.v
@@ -469,3 +469,26 @@ fn (p mut Parser) comptime_if_block(name string) {
 		p.genln('#endif')
 	}
 }
+
+fn (p mut Parser) gen_enum_flag_methods(typ mut Type) {
+	for method in ['set', 'clear', 'toggle', 'has'] {
+		typ.methods << Fn{
+			name: method,
+			typ: if method == 'has' { 'bool' } else { 'void' }
+			args: [Var{typ: typ.name, is_mut: true, is_arg:true}, Var{typ: typ.name, is_arg: true}]
+			is_method: true
+			is_public: true
+			receiver_typ: typ.name
+		}
+	}
+	p.v.vgen_buf.writeln('
+pub fn (e mut $typ.name) set(flag $typ.name)      { *e = int(*e) | (1 << int(flag)) }
+pub fn (e mut $typ.name) clear(flag $typ.name)    { *e = int(*e) &~ (1 << int(flag)) }
+pub fn (e mut $typ.name) toggle(flag $typ.name)   { *e = int(*e) ^ (1 << int(flag)) }
+pub fn (e &$typ.name) has(flag $typ.name) bool { return int(*e)&(1 << int(flag)) != 0 }'
+)
+	p.cgen.fns << 'void ${typ.name}_set($typ.name *e, $typ.name flag);'
+	p.cgen.fns << 'void ${typ.name}_clear($typ.name *e, $typ.name flag);'
+	p.cgen.fns << 'void ${typ.name}_toggle($typ.name *e, $typ.name flag);'
+	p.cgen.fns << 'bool ${typ.name}_has($typ.name *e, $typ.name flag);'
+}
diff --git a/vlib/compiler/enum.v b/vlib/compiler/enum.v
index 0de279613f..8c11ef13cb 100644
--- a/vlib/compiler/enum.v
+++ b/vlib/compiler/enum.v
@@ -57,14 +57,23 @@ fn (p mut Parser) enum_decl(no_name bool) {
 		}
 		val++
 	}
-	p.table.register_type(Type {
+	is_flag := p.attr == 'flag'
+	if is_flag && fields.len > 32 {
+		p.error('when an enum is used as bit field, it must have a max of 32 fields')
+	}
+	mut T := Type {
 		name: enum_name
 		mod: p.mod
 		parent: 'int'
 		cat: .enum_
 		enum_vals: fields.clone()
 		is_public: is_pub
-	})
+		is_flag: is_flag
+	}
+	if is_flag && !p.first_pass() {
+		p.gen_enum_flag_methods(mut T)
+	}
+	p.table.register_type(T)
 	p.check(.rcbr)
 	p.fgenln('\n')
 }
diff --git a/vlib/compiler/parser.v b/vlib/compiler/parser.v
index 7bfa27bbb9..b0606c3856 100644
--- a/vlib/compiler/parser.v
+++ b/vlib/compiler/parser.v
@@ -1449,6 +1449,10 @@ fn ($v.name mut $v.typ) $p.cur_fn.name (...) {
 		}
 	}
 	else if !p.builtin_mod && !p.check_types_no_throw(expr_type, p.assigned_type) {
+		t := p.table.find_type(	p.assigned_type)
+		if t.cat == .enum_ && t.is_flag {
+			p.error_with_token_index(err_modify_bitfield, errtok)
+		}
 		p.error_with_token_index( 'cannot use type `$expr_type` as type `$p.assigned_type` in assignment', errtok)
 	}
 	if (is_str || is_ustr) && tok == .plus_assign && !p.is_js {
@@ -2792,6 +2796,11 @@ fn (p mut Parser) attribute() {
 		p.attr = ''
 		return
 	}
+	else if p.tok == .key_enum {
+		p.enum_decl(false)
+		p.attr = ''
+		return
+	}
 	p.error_with_token_index('bad attribute usage', attr_token_idx)
 }
 
diff --git a/vlib/compiler/struct.v b/vlib/compiler/struct.v
index 15d0524cd7..2290e0e748 100644
--- a/vlib/compiler/struct.v
+++ b/vlib/compiler/struct.v
@@ -285,6 +285,10 @@ fn (p mut Parser) struct_init(typ string) string {
 				p.error('no such field: "$field" in type $typ')
 				break
 			}
+			tt := p.table.find_type(f.typ)
+			if tt.is_flag {
+				p.error(err_modify_bitfield)
+			}
 			inited_fields << field
 			p.gen_struct_field_init(field)
 			p.check(.colon)
@@ -361,6 +365,10 @@ fn (p mut Parser) struct_init(typ string) string {
 			if !p.check_types_no_throw(expr_typ, ffield.typ) {
 				p.error('field value #${i+1} `$ffield.name` has type `$ffield.typ`, got `$expr_typ` ')
 			}
+			tt := p.table.find_type(ffield.typ)
+			if tt.is_flag {
+				p.error(err_modify_bitfield)
+			}
 			if i < T.fields.len - 1 {
 				if p.tok != .comma {
 					p.error('too few values in `$typ` literal (${i+1} instead of $T.fields.len)')
diff --git a/vlib/compiler/table.v b/vlib/compiler/table.v
index 9459a39efe..8552ec5493 100644
--- a/vlib/compiler/table.v
+++ b/vlib/compiler/table.v
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ mut:
 	// This information is needed in the first pass.
 	is_placeholder bool
 	gen_str	       bool  // needs `.str()` method generation
-
+	is_flag        bool  // enum bitfield flag
 }
 
 struct TypeNode {
@@ -502,7 +502,7 @@ fn (p mut Parser) add_method(type_name string, f Fn) {
 	}
 	// TODO table.typesmap[type_name].methods << f
 	mut t := p.table.typesmap[type_name]
-	if f.name != 'str' && f in t.methods  {
+	if f.name != 'str' && f in t.methods {
 		p.error('redefinition of method `${type_name}.$f.name`')
 	}
 	t.methods << f
diff --git a/vlib/compiler/tests/enum_bitfield_test.v b/vlib/compiler/tests/enum_bitfield_test.v
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ef8987e6ef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vlib/compiler/tests/enum_bitfield_test.v
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+[flag]
+enum BfPermission {
+	read
+	write
+	execute
+	other
+}
+
+struct BfFile {
+mut:
+	perm BfPermission
+}
+
+fn test_enum_bitfield() {
+	mut a := BfFile{}
+	a.perm.set(.read)
+	a.perm.set(.write)
+	a.perm.toggle(.execute)
+	a.perm.clear(.write)
+	//a.perm.set(.other)
+
+	assert a.perm.has(.read)
+	assert a.perm.has(.execute)
+	assert !a.perm.has(.write)
+	assert !a.perm.has(.other)
+
+	mut b := BfPermission.read // TODO:  this does nothing currenty just sets the type
+	b.set(.write)
+	b.set(.other)
+	assert b.has(.write)
+	assert b.has(.other)
+	assert !b.has(.read)
+	assert !b.has(.execute)
+}