diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index ad2627c94..1a993b5e6 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -5641,6 +5641,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "assert_matches",
  "base64 0.13.0",
  "bincode",
+ "bitflags",
  "borsh",
  "bs58 0.4.0",
  "bytemuck",
diff --git a/core/benches/sigverify_stage.rs b/core/benches/sigverify_stage.rs
index a0414fd76..6755db61e 100644
--- a/core/benches/sigverify_stage.rs
+++ b/core/benches/sigverify_stage.rs
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ fn bench_packet_discard(bencher: &mut Bencher) {
         SigVerifyStage::discard_excess_packets(&mut batches, 10_000);
         for batch in batches.iter_mut() {
             for p in batch.packets.iter_mut() {
-                p.meta.discard = false;
+                p.meta.set_discard(false);
             }
         }
     });
diff --git a/core/src/banking_stage.rs b/core/src/banking_stage.rs
index 343b13354..b1bacfd98 100644
--- a/core/src/banking_stage.rs
+++ b/core/src/banking_stage.rs
@@ -406,7 +406,7 @@ impl BankingStage {
         let packet_vec: Vec<_> = packets
             .iter()
             .filter_map(|p| {
-                if !p.meta.forwarded && data_budget.take(p.meta.size) {
+                if !p.meta.forwarded() && data_budget.take(p.meta.size) {
                     Some((&p.data[..p.meta.size], tpu_forwards))
                 } else {
                     None
@@ -1125,7 +1125,7 @@ impl BankingStage {
             .iter()
             .filter_map(|tx_index| {
                 let p = &packet_batch.packets[*tx_index];
-                if votes_only && !p.meta.is_simple_vote_tx {
+                if votes_only && !p.meta.is_simple_vote_tx() {
                     return None;
                 }
 
@@ -1135,7 +1135,7 @@ impl BankingStage {
                 let tx = SanitizedTransaction::try_create(
                     tx,
                     message_hash,
-                    Some(p.meta.is_simple_vote_tx),
+                    Some(p.meta.is_simple_vote_tx()),
                     |_| Err(TransactionError::UnsupportedVersion),
                 )
                 .ok()?;
@@ -1306,15 +1306,8 @@ impl BankingStage {
     fn generate_packet_indexes(vers: &PinnedVec<Packet>) -> Vec<usize> {
         vers.iter()
             .enumerate()
-            .filter_map(
-                |(index, ver)| {
-                    if !ver.meta.discard {
-                        Some(index)
-                    } else {
-                        None
-                    }
-                },
-            )
+            .filter(|(_, pkt)| !pkt.meta.discard())
+            .map(|(index, _)| index)
             .collect()
     }
 
@@ -1492,7 +1485,7 @@ mod tests {
             get_tmp_ledger_path,
             leader_schedule_cache::LeaderScheduleCache,
         },
-        solana_perf::packet::to_packet_batches,
+        solana_perf::packet::{to_packet_batches, PacketFlags},
         solana_poh::{
             poh_recorder::{create_test_recorder, Record, WorkingBankEntry},
             poh_service::PohService,
@@ -1638,7 +1631,7 @@ mod tests {
             b.packets
                 .iter_mut()
                 .zip(v)
-                .for_each(|(p, f)| p.meta.discard = *f == 0)
+                .for_each(|(p, f)| p.meta.set_discard(*f == 0))
         });
         with_vers.into_iter().map(|(b, _)| b).collect()
     }
@@ -2843,7 +2836,7 @@ mod tests {
         const FWD_PACKET: u8 = 1;
         let forwarded_packet = {
             let mut packet = Packet::from_data(None, &[FWD_PACKET]).unwrap();
-            packet.meta.forwarded = true;
+            packet.meta.flags |= PacketFlags::FORWARDED;
             packet
         };
 
@@ -3084,7 +3077,7 @@ mod tests {
             packet_indexes.push(index);
         }
         for index in vote_indexes.iter() {
-            packet_batch.packets[*index].meta.is_simple_vote_tx = true;
+            packet_batch.packets[*index].meta.flags |= PacketFlags::SIMPLE_VOTE_TX;
         }
         (packet_batch, packet_indexes)
     }
diff --git a/core/src/cluster_info_vote_listener.rs b/core/src/cluster_info_vote_listener.rs
index 1ed08b0e7..728cc5080 100644
--- a/core/src/cluster_info_vote_listener.rs
+++ b/core/src/cluster_info_vote_listener.rs
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@ impl ClusterInfoVoteListener {
             .filter(|(_, packet_batch)| {
                 // to_packet_batches() above splits into 1 packet long batches
                 assert_eq!(packet_batch.packets.len(), 1);
-                !packet_batch.packets[0].meta.discard
+                !packet_batch.packets[0].meta.discard()
             })
             .filter_map(|(tx, packet_batch)| {
                 let (vote_account_key, vote, _) = vote_transaction::parse_vote_transaction(&tx)?;
diff --git a/core/src/fetch_stage.rs b/core/src/fetch_stage.rs
index 1e78a0ddc..a560a5c28 100644
--- a/core/src/fetch_stage.rs
+++ b/core/src/fetch_stage.rs
@@ -8,7 +8,10 @@ use {
     solana_metrics::{inc_new_counter_debug, inc_new_counter_info},
     solana_perf::{packet::PacketBatchRecycler, recycler::Recycler},
     solana_poh::poh_recorder::PohRecorder,
-    solana_sdk::{clock::DEFAULT_TICKS_PER_SLOT, packet::Packet},
+    solana_sdk::{
+        clock::DEFAULT_TICKS_PER_SLOT,
+        packet::{Packet, PacketFlags},
+    },
     solana_streamer::streamer::{self, PacketBatchReceiver, PacketBatchSender},
     std::{
         net::UdpSocket,
@@ -84,7 +87,7 @@ impl FetchStage {
         poh_recorder: &Arc<Mutex<PohRecorder>>,
     ) -> Result<()> {
         let mark_forwarded = |packet: &mut Packet| {
-            packet.meta.forwarded = true;
+            packet.meta.flags |= PacketFlags::FORWARDED;
         };
 
         let mut packet_batch = recvr.recv()?;
diff --git a/core/src/repair_response.rs b/core/src/repair_response.rs
index 3c5c30aae..adefc3a57 100644
--- a/core/src/repair_response.rs
+++ b/core/src/repair_response.rs
@@ -56,7 +56,10 @@ mod test {
             shred::{Shred, Shredder},
             sigverify_shreds::verify_shred_cpu,
         },
-        solana_sdk::signature::{Keypair, Signer},
+        solana_sdk::{
+            packet::PacketFlags,
+            signature::{Keypair, Signer},
+        },
         std::{
             collections::HashMap,
             net::{IpAddr, Ipv4Addr},
@@ -87,7 +90,7 @@ mod test {
             nonce,
         )
         .unwrap();
-        packet.meta.repair = true;
+        packet.meta.flags |= PacketFlags::REPAIR;
 
         let leader_slots = [(slot, keypair.pubkey().to_bytes())]
             .iter()
diff --git a/core/src/retransmit_stage.rs b/core/src/retransmit_stage.rs
index 3b5e03045..da678dac8 100644
--- a/core/src/retransmit_stage.rs
+++ b/core/src/retransmit_stage.rs
@@ -615,7 +615,7 @@ mod tests {
         let mut packet_batch = PacketBatch::new(vec![]);
         solana_streamer::packet::recv_from(&mut packet_batch, &me_retransmit, 1).unwrap();
         assert_eq!(packet_batch.packets.len(), 1);
-        assert!(!packet_batch.packets[0].meta.repair);
+        assert!(!packet_batch.packets[0].meta.repair());
     }
 
     #[test]
diff --git a/core/src/shred_fetch_stage.rs b/core/src/shred_fetch_stage.rs
index 787ae5c07..d231ae8b9 100644
--- a/core/src/shred_fetch_stage.rs
+++ b/core/src/shred_fetch_stage.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ use {
     solana_ledger::shred::{get_shred_slot_index_type, ShredFetchStats},
     solana_perf::{
         cuda_runtime::PinnedVec,
-        packet::{Packet, PacketBatchRecycler},
+        packet::{Packet, PacketBatchRecycler, PacketFlags},
         recycler::Recycler,
     },
     solana_runtime::bank_forks::BankForks,
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ impl ShredFetchStage {
     ) where
         F: Fn(&mut Packet),
     {
-        p.meta.discard = true;
+        p.meta.set_discard(true);
         if let Some((slot, _index, _shred_type)) = get_shred_slot_index_type(p, stats) {
             // Seems reasonable to limit shreds to 2 epochs away
             if slot > last_root && slot < (last_slot + 2 * slots_per_epoch) {
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ impl ShredFetchStage {
 
                 if shreds_received.get(&hash).is_none() {
                     shreds_received.put(hash, ());
-                    p.meta.discard = false;
+                    p.meta.set_discard(false);
                     modify(p);
                 } else {
                     stats.duplicate_shred += 1;
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ impl ShredFetchStage {
             recycler.clone(),
             bank_forks.clone(),
             "shred_fetch_tvu_forwards",
-            |p| p.meta.forwarded = true,
+            |p| p.meta.flags.insert(PacketFlags::FORWARDED),
         );
 
         let (repair_receiver, repair_handler) = Self::packet_modifier(
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ impl ShredFetchStage {
             recycler,
             bank_forks,
             "shred_fetch_repair",
-            |p| p.meta.repair = true,
+            |p| p.meta.flags.insert(PacketFlags::REPAIR),
         );
 
         tvu_threads.extend(tvu_forwards_threads.into_iter());
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ mod tests {
             &|_p| {},
             &hasher,
         );
-        assert!(!packet.meta.discard);
+        assert!(!packet.meta.discard());
         let coding = solana_ledger::shred::Shredder::generate_coding_shreds(
             &[shred],
             false, // is_last_in_slot
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ mod tests {
             &|_p| {},
             &hasher,
         );
-        assert!(!packet.meta.discard);
+        assert!(!packet.meta.discard());
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -310,7 +310,7 @@ mod tests {
             &hasher,
         );
         assert_eq!(stats.index_overrun, 1);
-        assert!(packet.meta.discard);
+        assert!(packet.meta.discard());
         let shred = Shred::new_from_data(1, 3, 0, None, true, true, 0, 0, 0);
         shred.copy_to_packet(&mut packet);
 
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ mod tests {
             &|_p| {},
             &hasher,
         );
-        assert!(packet.meta.discard);
+        assert!(packet.meta.discard());
 
         // Accepted for 1,3
         ShredFetchStage::process_packet(
@@ -338,7 +338,7 @@ mod tests {
             &|_p| {},
             &hasher,
         );
-        assert!(!packet.meta.discard);
+        assert!(!packet.meta.discard());
 
         // shreds_received should filter duplicate
         ShredFetchStage::process_packet(
@@ -351,7 +351,7 @@ mod tests {
             &|_p| {},
             &hasher,
         );
-        assert!(packet.meta.discard);
+        assert!(packet.meta.discard());
 
         let shred = Shred::new_from_data(1_000_000, 3, 0, None, true, true, 0, 0, 0);
         shred.copy_to_packet(&mut packet);
@@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ mod tests {
             &|_p| {},
             &hasher,
         );
-        assert!(packet.meta.discard);
+        assert!(packet.meta.discard());
 
         let index = MAX_DATA_SHREDS_PER_SLOT as u32;
         let shred = Shred::new_from_data(5, index, 0, None, true, true, 0, 0, 0);
@@ -382,6 +382,6 @@ mod tests {
             &|_p| {},
             &hasher,
         );
-        assert!(packet.meta.discard);
+        assert!(packet.meta.discard());
     }
 }
diff --git a/core/src/sigverify_shreds.rs b/core/src/sigverify_shreds.rs
index 85078f510..626dc516f 100644
--- a/core/src/sigverify_shreds.rs
+++ b/core/src/sigverify_shreds.rs
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ pub mod tests {
         batches[0].packets[1].meta.size = shred.payload.len();
 
         let rv = verifier.verify_batches(batches);
-        assert!(!rv[0].packets[0].meta.discard);
-        assert!(rv[0].packets[1].meta.discard);
+        assert!(!rv[0].packets[0].meta.discard());
+        assert!(rv[0].packets[1].meta.discard());
     }
 }
diff --git a/core/src/sigverify_stage.rs b/core/src/sigverify_stage.rs
index 2297c362c..62f190de8 100644
--- a/core/src/sigverify_stage.rs
+++ b/core/src/sigverify_stage.rs
@@ -163,7 +163,9 @@ impl SigVerifyStage {
         }
         for (_addr, indexes) in received_ips {
             for (batch_index, packet_index) in indexes {
-                batches[batch_index].packets[packet_index].meta.discard = true;
+                batches[batch_index].packets[packet_index]
+                    .meta
+                    .set_discard(true);
             }
         }
     }
@@ -275,7 +277,7 @@ mod tests {
                 batch
                     .packets
                     .iter()
-                    .map(|p| if p.meta.discard { 0 } else { 1 })
+                    .map(|p| if p.meta.discard() { 0 } else { 1 })
                     .sum::<usize>()
             })
             .sum::<usize>()
@@ -291,7 +293,7 @@ mod tests {
         let max = 3;
         SigVerifyStage::discard_excess_packets(&mut batches, max);
         assert_eq!(count_non_discard(&batches), max);
-        assert!(!batches[0].packets[0].meta.discard);
-        assert!(!batches[0].packets[3].meta.discard);
+        assert!(!batches[0].packets[0].meta.discard());
+        assert!(!batches[0].packets[3].meta.discard());
     }
 }
diff --git a/core/src/window_service.rs b/core/src/window_service.rs
index e77ab6f0b..7a3e2c5cb 100644
--- a/core/src/window_service.rs
+++ b/core/src/window_service.rs
@@ -362,7 +362,7 @@ where
     let last_root = blockstore.last_root();
     let working_bank = bank_forks.read().unwrap().working_bank();
     let handle_packet = |packet: &Packet| {
-        if packet.meta.discard {
+        if packet.meta.discard() {
             inc_new_counter_debug!("streamer-recv_window-invalid_or_unnecessary_packet", 1);
             return None;
         }
@@ -375,7 +375,7 @@ where
         if !shred_filter(&shred, working_bank.clone(), last_root) {
             return None;
         }
-        if packet.meta.repair {
+        if packet.meta.repair() {
             let repair_info = RepairMeta {
                 _from_addr: packet.meta.addr(),
                 // If can't parse the nonce, dump the packet.
diff --git a/entry/src/entry.rs b/entry/src/entry.rs
index a0d5337b7..f02354225 100644
--- a/entry/src/entry.rs
+++ b/entry/src/entry.rs
@@ -549,7 +549,7 @@ pub fn start_verify_transactions(
                 );
                 let verified = packet_batches
                     .iter()
-                    .all(|batch| batch.packets.iter().all(|p| !p.meta.discard));
+                    .all(|batch| batch.packets.iter().all(|p| !p.meta.discard()));
                 verify_time.stop();
                 (verified, verify_time.as_us())
             });
diff --git a/ledger/src/sigverify_shreds.rs b/ledger/src/sigverify_shreds.rs
index a8e8868cf..3ad11e073 100644
--- a/ledger/src/sigverify_shreds.rs
+++ b/ledger/src/sigverify_shreds.rs
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ pub fn verify_shred_cpu(packet: &Packet, slot_leaders: &HashMap<u64, [u8; 32]>)
     let slot_start = sig_end + size_of::<ShredType>();
     let slot_end = slot_start + size_of::<u64>();
     let msg_start = sig_end;
-    if packet.meta.discard {
+    if packet.meta.discard() {
         return Some(0);
     }
     trace!("slot start and end {} {}", slot_start, slot_end);
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ pub fn verify_shred_cpu(packet: &Packet, slot_leaders: &HashMap<u64, [u8; 32]>)
         return Some(0);
     }
     let slot: u64 = limited_deserialize(&packet.data[slot_start..slot_end]).ok()?;
-    let msg_end = if packet.meta.repair {
+    let msg_end = if packet.meta.repair() {
         packet.meta.size.saturating_sub(SIZE_OF_NONCE)
     } else {
         packet.meta.size
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ fn slot_key_data_for_gpu<
                     .map(|packet| {
                         let slot_start = size_of::<Signature>() + size_of::<ShredType>();
                         let slot_end = slot_start + size_of::<u64>();
-                        if packet.meta.size < slot_end || packet.meta.discard {
+                        if packet.meta.size < slot_end || packet.meta.discard() {
                             return std::u64::MAX;
                         }
                         let slot: Option<u64> =
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ fn shred_gpu_offsets(
             let sig_start = pubkeys_end;
             let sig_end = sig_start + size_of::<Signature>();
             let msg_start = sig_end;
-            let msg_end = if packet.meta.repair {
+            let msg_end = if packet.meta.repair() {
                 sig_start + packet.meta.size.saturating_sub(SIZE_OF_NONCE)
             } else {
                 sig_start + packet.meta.size
diff --git a/perf/src/packet.rs b/perf/src/packet.rs
index d8c163a7a..7b2222a0f 100644
--- a/perf/src/packet.rs
+++ b/perf/src/packet.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //! The `packet` module defines data structures and methods to pull data from the network.
-pub use solana_sdk::packet::{Meta, Packet, PACKET_DATA_SIZE};
+pub use solana_sdk::packet::{Meta, Packet, PacketFlags, PACKET_DATA_SIZE};
 use {
     crate::{cuda_runtime::PinnedVec, recycler::Recycler},
     bincode::config::Options,
diff --git a/perf/src/sigverify.rs b/perf/src/sigverify.rs
index 3da88f9dd..8396bb529 100644
--- a/perf/src/sigverify.rs
+++ b/perf/src/sigverify.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ use solana_sdk::transaction::Transaction;
 use {
     crate::{
         cuda_runtime::PinnedVec,
-        packet::{Packet, PacketBatch},
+        packet::{Packet, PacketBatch, PacketFlags},
         perf_libs,
         recycler::Recycler,
     },
@@ -114,17 +114,17 @@ fn verify_packet(packet: &mut Packet, reject_non_vote: bool) {
     let msg_start = packet_offsets.msg_start as usize;
 
     // If this packet was already marked as discard, drop it
-    if packet.meta.discard {
+    if packet.meta.discard() {
         return;
     }
 
     if packet_offsets.sig_len == 0 {
-        packet.meta.discard = true;
+        packet.meta.set_discard(true);
         return;
     }
 
     if packet.meta.size <= msg_start {
-        packet.meta.discard = true;
+        packet.meta.set_discard(true);
         return;
     }
 
@@ -142,15 +142,15 @@ fn verify_packet(packet: &mut Packet, reject_non_vote: bool) {
             &packet.data[pubkey_start..pubkey_end],
             &packet.data[msg_start..msg_end],
         ) {
-            packet.meta.discard = true;
+            packet.meta.set_discard(true);
             return;
         }
 
         // Check for tracer pubkey
-        if !packet.meta.is_tracer_tx
+        if !packet.meta.is_tracer_tx()
             && &packet.data[pubkey_start..pubkey_end] == TRACER_KEY.as_ref()
         {
-            packet.meta.is_tracer_tx = true;
+            packet.meta.flags |= PacketFlags::TRACER_TX;
         }
 
         pubkey_start = pubkey_end;
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@ fn get_packet_offsets(
     let unsanitized_packet_offsets = do_get_packet_offsets(packet, current_offset);
     if let Ok(offsets) = unsanitized_packet_offsets {
         check_for_simple_vote_transaction(packet, &offsets, current_offset).ok();
-        if !reject_non_vote || packet.meta.is_simple_vote_tx {
+        if !reject_non_vote || packet.meta.is_simple_vote_tx() {
             return offsets;
         }
     }
@@ -360,7 +360,7 @@ fn check_for_simple_vote_transaction(
     if &packet.data[instruction_program_id_start..instruction_program_id_end]
         == solana_sdk::vote::program::id().as_ref()
     {
-        packet.meta.is_simple_vote_tx = true;
+        packet.meta.flags |= PacketFlags::SIMPLE_VOTE_TX;
     }
     Ok(())
 }
@@ -441,7 +441,7 @@ pub fn ed25519_verify_disabled(batches: &mut [PacketBatch]) {
         batch
             .packets
             .par_iter_mut()
-            .for_each(|p| p.meta.discard = false)
+            .for_each(|p| p.meta.set_discard(false))
     });
     inc_new_counter_debug!("ed25519_verify_disabled", packet_count);
 }
@@ -498,11 +498,11 @@ pub fn get_checked_scalar(scalar: &[u8; 32]) -> Result<[u8; 32], PacketError> {
 }
 
 pub fn mark_disabled(batches: &mut [PacketBatch], r: &[Vec<u8>]) {
-    batches.iter_mut().zip(r).for_each(|(b, v)| {
-        b.packets.iter_mut().zip(v).for_each(|(p, f)| {
-            p.meta.discard = *f == 0;
-        })
-    });
+    for (batch, v) in batches.iter_mut().zip(r) {
+        for (pkt, f) in batch.packets.iter_mut().zip(v) {
+            pkt.meta.set_discard(*f == 0);
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 pub fn ed25519_verify(
@@ -629,9 +629,9 @@ mod tests {
         batch.packets.push(Packet::default());
         let mut batches: Vec<PacketBatch> = vec![batch];
         mark_disabled(&mut batches, &[vec![0]]);
-        assert!(batches[0].packets[0].meta.discard);
+        assert!(batches[0].packets[0].meta.discard());
         mark_disabled(&mut batches, &[vec![1]]);
-        assert!(!batches[0].packets[0].meta.discard);
+        assert!(!batches[0].packets[0].meta.discard());
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -730,12 +730,12 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(res, Err(PacketError::InvalidPubkeyLen));
 
         verify_packet(&mut packet, false);
-        assert!(packet.meta.discard);
+        assert!(packet.meta.discard());
 
-        packet.meta.discard = false;
+        packet.meta.set_discard(false);
         let mut batches = generate_packet_batches(&packet, 1, 1);
         ed25519_verify(&mut batches);
-        assert!(batches[0].packets[0].meta.discard);
+        assert!(batches[0].packets[0].meta.discard());
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -766,12 +766,12 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(res, Err(PacketError::InvalidPubkeyLen));
 
         verify_packet(&mut packet, false);
-        assert!(packet.meta.discard);
+        assert!(packet.meta.discard());
 
-        packet.meta.discard = false;
+        packet.meta.set_discard(false);
         let mut batches = generate_packet_batches(&packet, 1, 1);
         ed25519_verify(&mut batches);
-        assert!(batches[0].packets[0].meta.discard);
+        assert!(batches[0].packets[0].meta.discard());
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -972,7 +972,7 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(batches
             .iter()
             .flat_map(|batch| &batch.packets)
-            .all(|p| p.meta.discard == should_discard));
+            .all(|p| p.meta.discard() == should_discard));
     }
 
     fn ed25519_verify(batches: &mut [PacketBatch]) {
@@ -995,7 +995,7 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(batches
             .iter()
             .flat_map(|batch| &batch.packets)
-            .all(|p| p.meta.discard));
+            .all(|p| p.meta.discard()));
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -1041,9 +1041,9 @@ mod tests {
             .zip(ref_vec.into_iter().flatten())
             .all(|(p, discard)| {
                 if discard == 0 {
-                    p.meta.discard
+                    p.meta.discard()
                 } else {
-                    !p.meta.discard
+                    !p.meta.discard()
                 }
             }));
     }
@@ -1196,7 +1196,7 @@ mod tests {
             let mut packet = sigverify::make_packet_from_transaction(tx);
             let packet_offsets = do_get_packet_offsets(&packet, 0).unwrap();
             check_for_simple_vote_transaction(&mut packet, &packet_offsets, 0).ok();
-            assert!(!packet.meta.is_simple_vote_tx);
+            assert!(!packet.meta.is_simple_vote_tx());
         }
 
         // single vote tx is
@@ -1206,7 +1206,7 @@ mod tests {
             let mut packet = sigverify::make_packet_from_transaction(tx);
             let packet_offsets = do_get_packet_offsets(&packet, 0).unwrap();
             check_for_simple_vote_transaction(&mut packet, &packet_offsets, 0).ok();
-            assert!(packet.meta.is_simple_vote_tx);
+            assert!(packet.meta.is_simple_vote_tx());
         }
 
         // multiple mixed tx is not
@@ -1227,7 +1227,7 @@ mod tests {
             let mut packet = sigverify::make_packet_from_transaction(tx);
             let packet_offsets = do_get_packet_offsets(&packet, 0).unwrap();
             check_for_simple_vote_transaction(&mut packet, &packet_offsets, 0).ok();
-            assert!(!packet.meta.is_simple_vote_tx);
+            assert!(!packet.meta.is_simple_vote_tx());
         }
     }
 
@@ -1253,9 +1253,9 @@ mod tests {
                 let packet_offsets = do_get_packet_offsets(packet, current_offset).unwrap();
                 check_for_simple_vote_transaction(packet, &packet_offsets, current_offset).ok();
                 if index == 1 {
-                    assert!(packet.meta.is_simple_vote_tx);
+                    assert!(packet.meta.is_simple_vote_tx());
                 } else {
-                    assert!(!packet.meta.is_simple_vote_tx);
+                    assert!(!packet.meta.is_simple_vote_tx());
                 }
 
                 current_offset = current_offset.saturating_add(size_of::<Packet>());
diff --git a/programs/bpf/Cargo.lock b/programs/bpf/Cargo.lock
index d7e816e1e..04e01ef9d 100644
--- a/programs/bpf/Cargo.lock
+++ b/programs/bpf/Cargo.lock
@@ -3395,6 +3395,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "assert_matches",
  "base64 0.13.0",
  "bincode",
+ "bitflags",
  "borsh",
  "bs58 0.4.0",
  "bytemuck",
diff --git a/sdk/Cargo.toml b/sdk/Cargo.toml
index 72888ece3..55f566f0b 100644
--- a/sdk/Cargo.toml
+++ b/sdk/Cargo.toml
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ full = [
 [dependencies]
 assert_matches = { version = "1.5.0", optional = true }
 bincode = "1.3.3"
+bitflags = "1.3.1"
 bytemuck = { version = "1.7.3", features = ["derive"] }
 borsh = "0.9.0"
 base64 = "0.13"
diff --git a/sdk/src/packet.rs b/sdk/src/packet.rs
index 0c99eb039..efea21904 100644
--- a/sdk/src/packet.rs
+++ b/sdk/src/packet.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 use {
     bincode::Result,
+    bitflags::bitflags,
     serde::Serialize,
     std::{
         fmt, io,
@@ -13,17 +14,24 @@ use {
 ///   8 bytes is the size of the fragment header
 pub const PACKET_DATA_SIZE: usize = 1280 - 40 - 8;
 
+bitflags! {
+    #[repr(C)]
+    pub struct PacketFlags: u8 {
+        const DISCARD        = 0b00000001;
+        const FORWARDED      = 0b00000010;
+        const REPAIR         = 0b00000100;
+        const SIMPLE_VOTE_TX = 0b00001000;
+        const TRACER_TX      = 0b00010000;
+    }
+}
+
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq)]
 #[repr(C)]
 pub struct Meta {
     pub size: usize,
-    pub forwarded: bool,
-    pub repair: bool,
-    pub discard: bool,
     pub addr: IpAddr,
     pub port: u16,
-    pub is_tracer_tx: bool,
-    pub is_simple_vote_tx: bool,
+    pub flags: PacketFlags,
 }
 
 #[derive(Clone)]
@@ -98,19 +106,45 @@ impl Meta {
         self.addr = socket_addr.ip();
         self.port = socket_addr.port();
     }
+
+    #[inline]
+    pub fn discard(&self) -> bool {
+        self.flags.contains(PacketFlags::DISCARD)
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    pub fn set_discard(&mut self, discard: bool) {
+        self.flags.set(PacketFlags::DISCARD, discard);
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    pub fn forwarded(&self) -> bool {
+        self.flags.contains(PacketFlags::FORWARDED)
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    pub fn repair(&self) -> bool {
+        self.flags.contains(PacketFlags::REPAIR)
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    pub fn is_simple_vote_tx(&self) -> bool {
+        self.flags.contains(PacketFlags::SIMPLE_VOTE_TX)
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    pub fn is_tracer_tx(&self) -> bool {
+        self.flags.contains(PacketFlags::TRACER_TX)
+    }
 }
 
 impl Default for Meta {
     fn default() -> Self {
         Self {
             size: 0,
-            forwarded: false,
-            repair: false,
-            discard: false,
             addr: IpAddr::V4(Ipv4Addr::UNSPECIFIED),
             port: 0,
-            is_tracer_tx: false,
-            is_simple_vote_tx: false,
+            flags: PacketFlags::empty(),
         }
     }
 }