diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 71b27f2..c85d04d 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@
 
 src/crc*gen.c
 include/osmocom/core/crc*gen.h
-
+include/osmocom/core/bit*gen.h
 
 # vi files
 *.sw?
diff --git a/include/Makefile.am b/include/Makefile.am
index b035906..48ca7ea 100644
--- a/include/Makefile.am
+++ b/include/Makefile.am
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@
                        osmocom/codec/codec.h \
                        osmocom/core/application.h \
                        osmocom/core/backtrace.h \
+                       osmocom/core/bit16gen.h \
+                       osmocom/core/bit32gen.h \
+                       osmocom/core/bit64gen.h \
                        osmocom/core/bits.h \
                        osmocom/core/bitvec.h \
                        osmocom/core/conv.h \
@@ -107,6 +110,10 @@
 
 noinst_HEADERS = osmocom/core/timer_compat.h
 
+osmocom/core/bit%gen.h: osmocom/core/bitXXgen.h.tpl
+	$(AM_V_GEN)$(MKDIR_P) $(dir $@)
+	$(AM_V_GEN)sed -e's/XX/$*/g' $< > $@
+
 osmocom/core/crc%gen.h: osmocom/core/crcXXgen.h.tpl
 	$(AM_V_GEN)$(MKDIR_P) $(dir $@)
 	$(AM_V_GEN)sed -e's/XX/$*/g' $< > $@
diff --git a/include/osmocom/core/bitXXgen.h.tpl b/include/osmocom/core/bitXXgen.h.tpl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..35f26db
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/osmocom/core/bitXXgen.h.tpl
@@ -0,0 +1,103 @@
+/*
+ * bitXXgen.h
+ *
+ * Copyright (C) 2014  Max <max.suraev@fairwaves.co>
+ *
+ * All Rights Reserved
+ *
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along
+ * with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
+ * 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+
+/*! \brief load unaligned n-byte integer (little-endian encoding) into uintXX_t
+ *  \param[in] p Buffer where integer is stored
+ *  \param[in] n Number of bytes stored in p
+ *  \returns XX bit unsigned integer
+ */
+static inline uintXX_t osmo_loadXXle_ext(const void *p, uint8_t n)
+{
+	uint8_t i;
+	uintXX_t r = 0;
+	const uint8_t *q = (uint8_t *)p;
+	for(i = 0; i < n; r |= ((uintXX_t)q[i] << (8 * i)), i++);
+	return r;
+}
+
+/*! \brief load unaligned n-byte integer (big-endian encoding) into uintXX_t
+ *  \param[in] p Buffer where integer is stored
+ *  \param[in] n Number of bytes stored in p
+ *  \returns XX bit unsigned integer
+ */
+static inline uintXX_t osmo_loadXXbe_ext(const void *p, uint8_t n)
+{
+	uint8_t i;
+	uintXX_t r = 0;
+	const uint8_t *q = (uint8_t *)p;
+	for(i = 0; i < n; r |= ((uintXX_t)q[i] << (XX - 8* (1 + i))), i++);
+	return r;
+}
+
+
+/*! \brief store unaligned n-byte integer (little-endian encoding) into uintXX_t
+ *  \param[in] x unsigned XX bit integer
+ *  \param[out] p Buffer to store integer
+ *  \param[in] n Number of bytes to store
+ */
+static inline void osmo_storeXXle_ext(uintXX_t x, uint8_t *p, uint8_t n)
+{
+	uint8_t i;
+	for(i = 0; i < n; p[i] = (x >> i * 8) & 0xFF, i++);
+}
+
+/*! \brief store unaligned n-byte integer (big-endian encoding) into uintXX_t
+ *  \param[in] x unsigned XX bit integer
+ *  \param[out] p Buffer to store integer
+ *  \param[in] n Number of bytes to store
+ */
+static inline void osmo_storeXXbe_ext(uintXX_t x, uint8_t *p, uint8_t n)
+{
+	uint8_t i;
+	for(i = 0; i < n; p[i] = (x >> ((n - 1 - i) * 8)) & 0xFF, i++);
+}
+
+
+/* Convenience function for most-used cases */
+
+
+/*! \brief load unaligned XX-bit integer (little-endian encoding) */
+static inline uintXX_t osmo_loadXXle(const void *p)
+{
+	return osmo_loadXXle_ext(p, XX / 8);
+}
+
+/*! \brief load unaligned XX-bit integer (big-endian encoding) */
+static inline uintXX_t osmo_loadXXbe(const void *p)
+{
+	return osmo_loadXXbe_ext(p, XX / 8);
+}
+
+
+/*! \brief store unaligned XX-bit integer (little-endian encoding) */
+static inline void osmo_storeXXle(uintXX_t x, void *p)
+{
+	return osmo_storeXXle_ext(x, p, XX / 8);
+}
+
+/*! \brief store unaligned XX-bit integer (big-endian encoding) */
+static inline void osmo_storeXXbe(uintXX_t x, void *p)
+{
+	return osmo_storeXXbe_ext(x, p, XX / 8);
+}
diff --git a/include/osmocom/core/bits.h b/include/osmocom/core/bits.h
index d4ab505..f3045e4 100644
--- a/include/osmocom/core/bits.h
+++ b/include/osmocom/core/bits.h
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include <stdint.h>
+#include <stddef.h>
+
+#include <osmocom/core/bit16gen.h>
+#include <osmocom/core/bit32gen.h>
+#include <osmocom/core/bit64gen.h>
 
 /*! \defgroup bits soft, unpacked and packed bits
  *  @{
diff --git a/include/osmocom/core/msgb.h b/include/osmocom/core/msgb.h
index bf83d67..19e4a3d 100644
--- a/include/osmocom/core/msgb.h
+++ b/include/osmocom/core/msgb.h
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 #include <stdint.h>
 #include <osmocom/core/linuxlist.h>
 #include <osmocom/core/utils.h>
+#include <osmocom/core/bits.h>
 
 /*! \defgroup msgb Message buffers
  *  @{
@@ -204,8 +205,7 @@
 static inline void msgb_put_u16(struct msgb *msgb, uint16_t word)
 {
 	uint8_t *space = msgb_put(msgb, 2);
-	space[0] = word >> 8 & 0xFF;
-	space[1] = word & 0xFF;
+	osmo_store16be(word, space);
 }
 
 /*! \brief append a uint32 value to the end of the message
@@ -215,10 +215,7 @@
 static inline void msgb_put_u32(struct msgb *msgb, uint32_t word)
 {
 	uint8_t *space = msgb_put(msgb, 4);
-	space[0] = word >> 24 & 0xFF;
-	space[1] = word >> 16 & 0xFF;
-	space[2] = word >> 8 & 0xFF;
-	space[3] = word & 0xFF;
+	osmo_store32be(word, space);
 }
 
 /*! \brief remove data from end of message
@@ -235,6 +232,7 @@
 	msgb->len -= len;
 	return tmp;
 }
+
 /*! \brief remove uint8 from end of message
  *  \param[in] msgb message buffer
  *  \returns 8bit value taken from end of msgb
@@ -244,6 +242,7 @@
 	uint8_t *space = msgb_get(msgb, 1);
 	return space[0];
 }
+
 /*! \brief remove uint16 from end of message
  *  \param[in] msgb message buffer
  *  \returns 16bit value taken from end of msgb
@@ -251,8 +250,9 @@
 static inline uint16_t msgb_get_u16(struct msgb *msgb)
 {
 	uint8_t *space = msgb_get(msgb, 2);
-	return space[0] << 8 | space[1];
+	return osmo_load16be(space);
 }
+
 /*! \brief remove uint32 from end of message
  *  \param[in] msgb message buffer
  *  \returns 32bit value taken from end of msgb
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@
 static inline uint32_t msgb_get_u32(struct msgb *msgb)
 {
 	uint8_t *space = msgb_get(msgb, 4);
-	return space[0] << 24 | space[1] << 16 | space[2] << 8 | space[3];
+	return osmo_load32be(space);
 }
 
 /*! \brief prepend (push) some data to start of message
@@ -284,6 +284,7 @@
 	msgb->len += len;
 	return msgb->data;
 }
+
 /*! \brief remove (pull) a header from the front of the message buffer
  *  \param[in] msgb message buffer
  *  \param[in] len number of octets to be pulled
@@ -323,6 +324,7 @@
 	uint8_t *space = msgb_pull(msgb, 1) - 1;
 	return space[0];
 }
+
 /*! \brief remove uint16 from front of message
  *  \param[in] msgb message buffer
  *  \returns 16bit value taken from end of msgb
@@ -330,8 +332,9 @@
 static inline uint16_t msgb_pull_u16(struct msgb *msgb)
 {
 	uint8_t *space = msgb_pull(msgb, 2) - 2;
-	return space[0] << 8 | space[1];
+	return osmo_load16be(space);
 }
+
 /*! \brief remove uint32 from front of message
  *  \param[in] msgb message buffer
  *  \returns 32bit value taken from end of msgb
@@ -339,7 +342,7 @@
 static inline uint32_t msgb_pull_u32(struct msgb *msgb)
 {
 	uint8_t *space = msgb_pull(msgb, 4) - 4;
-	return space[0] << 24 | space[1] << 16 | space[2] << 8 | space[3];
+	return osmo_load32be(space);
 }
 
 /*! \brief Increase headroom of empty msgb, reducing the tailroom
diff --git a/tests/bits/bitrev_test.c b/tests/bits/bitrev_test.c
index 5eca990..e963656 100644
--- a/tests/bits/bitrev_test.c
+++ b/tests/bits/bitrev_test.c
@@ -1,20 +1,192 @@
-
+#include <inttypes.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <stdint.h>
 #include <string.h>
+#include <time.h>
+#include <stdbool.h>
 
 #include <osmocom/core/utils.h>
 #include <osmocom/core/bits.h>
 
 static const uint8_t input[] = { 0x01, 0x02, 0x04, 0x08, 0x10, 0x20, 0x40, 0x80 };
 static const uint8_t exp_out[] = { 0x80, 0x40, 0x20, 0x10, 0x08, 0x04, 0x02, 0x01 };
+static char s[18];
+
+enum END {LE, BE};
+
+const char * end2str(enum END e) {
+	if (e == LE) return "LE";
+	return "BE";
+}
+
+
+/* convenience wrappers */
+
+inline uint64_t load64(enum END e, const uint8_t *buf, unsigned nbytes) {
+	return (e == BE) ? osmo_load64be_ext(buf, nbytes) : osmo_load64le_ext(buf, nbytes);
+}
+
+inline uint32_t load32(enum END e, const uint8_t *buf, unsigned nbytes) {
+	return (e == BE) ? osmo_load32be_ext(buf, nbytes) : osmo_load32le_ext(buf, nbytes);
+}
+
+inline uint16_t load16(enum END e, const uint8_t *buf) {
+	return (e == BE) ? osmo_load16be(buf) : osmo_load16le(buf);
+}
+
+inline void store64(enum END e, uint64_t t, uint8_t *buf, unsigned nbytes) {
+	(e == BE) ? osmo_store64be_ext(t, buf, nbytes) : osmo_store64le_ext(t, buf, nbytes);
+}
+
+inline void store32(enum END e, uint64_t t, uint8_t *buf, unsigned nbytes) {
+	(e == BE) ? osmo_store32be_ext(t, buf, nbytes) : osmo_store32le_ext(t, buf, nbytes);
+}
+
+inline void store16(enum END e, uint64_t t, uint8_t *buf) {
+	(e == BE) ? osmo_store16be(t, buf) : osmo_store16le(t, buf);
+}
+
+
+/* helper functions */
+
+inline bool printcheck(bool chk, unsigned nbytes, enum END e, bool b)
+{
+	if (!chk) {
+		printf("%u %s FAILED", nbytes * 8, end2str(e));
+		return true;
+	}
+	printf("%u %s OK", nbytes * 8, end2str(e));
+	return b;
+}
+
+inline bool dumpcheck(const char *dump, const char *s, unsigned nbytes, bool chk, enum END e, bool b)
+{
+	bool x = printcheck(chk, nbytes, e, b);
+	if (!dump) return x;
+
+	int m = memcmp(s, dump, nbytes);
+	if (0 == m) {
+		printf(", storage OK");
+		return x;
+	}
+	printf(", [%d]", m);
+
+	return true;
+}
+
+
+/* printcheckXX(): load/store 'test' and check against 'expected' value, compare to 'dump' buffer if given and print if necessary */
+
+inline void printcheck64(enum END e, unsigned nbytes, uint64_t test, uint64_t expected, const char *dump, bool print)
+{
+	uint8_t buf[nbytes];
+
+	store64(e, test, buf, nbytes);
+
+	char *s = osmo_hexdump_nospc(buf, nbytes);
+	uint64_t result = load64(e, buf, nbytes);
+
+	print = dumpcheck(dump, s, nbytes, result == expected, e, print);
+
+	if (print)
+		printf(": buffer %s known buffer %s loaded %.16" PRIx64 " expected %.16" PRIx64, s, dump, result, expected);
+	printf("\n");
+}
+
+inline void printcheck32(enum END e, unsigned nbytes, uint32_t test, uint32_t expected, const char *dump, bool print)
+{
+	uint8_t buf[nbytes];
+
+	store32(e, test, buf, nbytes);
+
+	char *s = osmo_hexdump_nospc(buf, nbytes);
+	uint32_t result = load32(e, buf, nbytes);
+
+	print = dumpcheck(dump, s, nbytes, result == expected, e, print);
+
+	if (print)
+		printf(": buffer %s known buffer %s loaded %.8" PRIx32 " expected %.8" PRIx32, s, dump, result, expected);
+	printf("\n");
+}
+
+inline void printcheck16(enum END e, uint32_t test, uint32_t expected, const char *dump, bool print)
+{
+	uint8_t buf[2];
+
+	store16(e, test, buf);
+
+	char *s = osmo_hexdump_nospc(buf, 2);
+	uint16_t result = load16(e, buf);
+
+	print = dumpcheck(dump, s, 2, result == expected, e, print);
+
+	if (print)
+		printf(": buffer %s known buffer %s loaded %.4" PRIx16 " expected %.4" PRIx16, s, dump, result, expected);
+	printf("\n");
+}
+
+
+/* compute expected value - zero excessive bytes */
+
+inline uint64_t exp64(enum END e, unsigned nbytes, uint64_t value) {
+	uint8_t adj = 64 - nbytes * 8;
+	uint64_t v = value << adj;
+	return (e == LE) ? v >> adj : v;
+}
+
+inline uint32_t exp32(enum END e, unsigned nbytes, uint32_t value) {
+	uint8_t adj = 32 - nbytes * 8;
+	uint32_t v = value << adj;
+	return (e == LE) ? v >> adj : v;
+}
+
+
+/* run actual tests - if 'test' is 0 than generate random test value internally */
+
+inline void check64(uint64_t test, uint64_t expected, unsigned nbytes, enum END e)
+{
+	bool print = true;
+	if (0 == test && 0 == expected) {
+		test = ((uint64_t)rand() << 32) + rand();
+		expected = exp64(e, nbytes, test);
+		print = false;
+	}
+	snprintf(s, 17, "%.16" PRIx64, expected);
+	printcheck64(e, nbytes, test, expected, (BE == e) ? s : NULL, print);
+}
+
+inline void check32(uint32_t test, uint32_t expected, unsigned nbytes, enum END e)
+{
+	bool print = true;
+	if (0 == test && 0 == expected) {
+		test = rand();
+		expected = exp32(e, nbytes, test);
+		print = false;
+	}
+	snprintf(s, 17, "%.8" PRIx32, expected);
+	printcheck32(e, nbytes, test, expected, (BE == e) ? s : NULL, print);
+}
+
+inline void check16(uint16_t test, enum END e)
+{
+	bool print = true;
+	if (0 == test) {
+		test = (uint16_t)rand();
+		print = false;
+	}
+	snprintf(s, 17, "%.4" PRIx16, test);
+	printcheck16(e, test, test, (BE == e) ? s : NULL, print);
+}
+
 
 int main(int argc, char **argv)
 {
 	uint8_t out[ARRAY_SIZE(input)];
 	unsigned int offs;
 
+	srand(time(NULL));
+
 	for (offs = 0; offs < sizeof(out); offs++) {
 		uint8_t *start = out + offs;
 		uint8_t len = sizeof(out) - offs;
@@ -32,5 +204,49 @@
 		printf("\n");
 	}
 
+	printf("checking byte packing...\n");
+
+	printf("running static tests...\n");
+
+	check64(0xDEADBEEFF00DCAFE, 0xDEADBEEFF00DCAFE, 8, BE);
+	check64(0xDEADBEEFF00DCAFE, 0xADBEEFF00DCAFE00, 7, BE);
+	check64(0xDEADBEEFF00DCAFE, 0xBEEFF00DCAFE0000, 6, BE);
+	check64(0xDEADBEEFF00DCAFE, 0xEFF00DCAFE000000, 5, BE);
+
+	check64(0xDEADBEEFF00DCAFE, 0xDEADBEEFF00DCAFE, 8, LE);
+	check64(0xDEADBEEFF00DCAFE, 0x00ADBEEFF00DCAFE, 7, LE);
+	check64(0xDEADBEEFF00DCAFE, 0x0000BEEFF00DCAFE, 6, LE);
+	check64(0xDEADBEEFF00DCAFE, 0x000000EFF00DCAFE, 5, LE);
+
+	check32(0xBABEFACE, 0xBABEFACE, 4, BE);
+	check32(0xBABEFACE, 0xBEFACE00, 3, BE);
+
+	check32(0xBABEFACE, 0xBABEFACE, 4, LE);
+	check32(0xBABEFACE, 0x00BEFACE, 3, LE);
+
+	check16(0xB00B, BE);
+	check16(0xB00B, LE);
+
+	printf("running random tests...\n");
+
+	check64(0, 0, 8, BE);
+	check64(0, 0, 7, BE);
+	check64(0, 0, 6, BE);
+	check64(0, 0, 5, BE);
+
+	check64(0, 0, 8, LE);
+	check64(0, 0, 7, LE);
+	check64(0, 0, 6, LE);
+	check64(0, 0, 5, LE);
+
+	check32(0, 0, 4, BE);
+	check32(0, 0, 3, BE);
+
+	check32(0, 0, 4, LE);
+	check32(0, 0, 3, LE);
+
+	check16(0, BE);
+	check16(0, LE);
+
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/tests/bits/bitrev_test.ok b/tests/bits/bitrev_test.ok
index 47f402f..90cb295 100644
--- a/tests/bits/bitrev_test.ok
+++ b/tests/bits/bitrev_test.ok
@@ -22,3 +22,34 @@
 INORDER:  80 
 REVERSED: 01 
 
+checking byte packing...
+running static tests...
+64 BE OK, storage OK: buffer deadbeeff00dcafe known buffer deadbeeff00dcafe loaded deadbeeff00dcafe expected deadbeeff00dcafe
+56 BE OK, storage OK: buffer adbeeff00dcafe known buffer adbeeff00dcafe00 loaded adbeeff00dcafe00 expected adbeeff00dcafe00
+48 BE OK, storage OK: buffer beeff00dcafe known buffer beeff00dcafe0000 loaded beeff00dcafe0000 expected beeff00dcafe0000
+40 BE OK, storage OK: buffer eff00dcafe known buffer eff00dcafe000000 loaded eff00dcafe000000 expected eff00dcafe000000
+64 LE OK: buffer feca0df0efbeadde known buffer (null) loaded deadbeeff00dcafe expected deadbeeff00dcafe
+56 LE OK: buffer feca0df0efbead known buffer (null) loaded 00adbeeff00dcafe expected 00adbeeff00dcafe
+48 LE OK: buffer feca0df0efbe known buffer (null) loaded 0000beeff00dcafe expected 0000beeff00dcafe
+40 LE OK: buffer feca0df0ef known buffer (null) loaded 000000eff00dcafe expected 000000eff00dcafe
+32 BE OK, storage OK: buffer babeface known buffer babeface loaded babeface expected babeface
+24 BE OK, storage OK: buffer beface known buffer beface00 loaded beface00 expected beface00
+32 LE OK: buffer cefabeba known buffer (null) loaded babeface expected babeface
+24 LE OK: buffer cefabe known buffer (null) loaded 00beface expected 00beface
+16 BE OK, storage OK: buffer b00b known buffer b00b loaded b00b expected b00b
+16 LE OK: buffer 0bb0 known buffer (null) loaded b00b expected b00b
+running random tests...
+64 BE OK, storage OK
+56 BE OK, storage OK
+48 BE OK, storage OK
+40 BE OK, storage OK
+64 LE OK
+56 LE OK
+48 LE OK
+40 LE OK
+32 BE OK, storage OK
+24 BE OK, storage OK
+32 LE OK
+24 LE OK
+16 BE OK, storage OK
+16 LE OK