diff --git a/examples/portscan.cpp b/examples/portscan.cpp
index 63affe3..df37711 100644
--- a/examples/portscan.cpp
+++ b/examples/portscan.cpp
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ bool Scanner::callback(PDU& pdu) {
             cout << "Port: " << setw(5) << tcp.sport() << " closed\n";
         }
         // Is SYN flag on? Then port is open!
-        else if(tcp.flags() == (TCP::SYN | TCP::ACK)) {
+        else if(tcp.has_flags(TCP::SYN | TCP::ACK)) {
             cout << "Port: " << setw(5) << tcp.sport() << " open\n";
         }
     }
diff --git a/examples/tcp_connection_close.cpp b/examples/tcp_connection_close.cpp
index 1298fdf..b1694cc 100644
--- a/examples/tcp_connection_close.cpp
+++ b/examples/tcp_connection_close.cpp
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ private:
         const IP& ip = pdu.rfind_pdu<IP>();
         const TCP& tcp = pdu.rfind_pdu<TCP>();
         // We'll only close a connection when seeing a SYN|ACK
-        if (tcp.flags() == (TCP::SYN | TCP::ACK)) {
+        if (tcp.has_flags(TCP::SYN | TCP::ACK)) {
             // Create an ethernet header flipping the addresses
             EthernetII packet(eth.src_addr(), eth.dst_addr());
             // Do the same for IP
diff --git a/include/tins/tcp.h b/include/tins/tcp.h
index 879da45..7e906c5 100644
--- a/include/tins/tcp.h
+++ b/include/tins/tcp.h
@@ -288,13 +288,29 @@ public:
      * \code
      * TCP tcp = ...;
      * if(tcp.flags() == (TCP::SYN | TCP::ACK)) {
-     *     // It's a SYN+ACK!
+     *     // It's a SYN+ACK, but not SYN+ACK+ECN!
      * }
      * \endcode
      * 
      * \return The value of the flags field.
      */
     small_uint<12> flags() const;
+
+    /**
+     * \brief Check if the given flags are set.
+     *
+     * \code
+     * TCP tcp = ...;
+     * if(tcp.has_flags(TCP::SYN | TCP::ACK)) {
+     *     // It's a SYN+ACK, but it also possible that other flags are set!
+     *     // it is equivalent to: (tpc.flags() & (TCP::SYN | TCP::ACK)) == (TCP::SYN | TCP::ACK)
+     * }
+     * \endcode
+     *
+     * \param check_flags
+     * \return true if all check_flags are set
+     */
+    bool has_flags(small_uint<12> check_flags) const;
     
     /* Setters */
 
diff --git a/src/tcp.cpp b/src/tcp.cpp
index fb31884..81507f0 100644
--- a/src/tcp.cpp
+++ b/src/tcp.cpp
@@ -257,6 +257,10 @@ small_uint<12> TCP::flags() const {
     return (header_.res1 << 8) | header_.flags_8;
 }
 
+bool TCP::has_flags(small_uint<12> check_flags) const {
+    return (flags() & check_flags) == check_flags;
+}
+
 void TCP::set_flag(Flags tcp_flag, small_uint<1> value) {
     switch (tcp_flag) {
         case FIN:
diff --git a/src/tcp_ip/flow.cpp b/src/tcp_ip/flow.cpp
index de4fdba..573474f 100644
--- a/src/tcp_ip/flow.cpp
+++ b/src/tcp_ip/flow.cpp
@@ -127,19 +127,19 @@ void Flow::advance_sequence(uint32_t seq) {
 }
 
 void Flow::update_state(const TCP& tcp) {
-    if ((tcp.flags() & TCP::FIN) != 0) {
+    if (tcp.has_flags(TCP::FIN)) {
         state_ = FIN_SENT;
     }
-    else if ((tcp.flags() & TCP::RST) != 0) {
+    else if (tcp.has_flags(TCP::RST)) {
         state_ = RST_SENT;
     }
-    else if (state_ == SYN_SENT && (tcp.flags() & TCP::ACK) != 0) {
+    else if (state_ == SYN_SENT && tcp.has_flags(TCP::ACK)) {
         #ifdef TINS_HAVE_ACK_TRACKER
             ack_tracker_ = AckTracker(tcp.ack_seq());
         #endif // TINS_HAVE_ACK_TRACKER
         state_ = ESTABLISHED;
     }
-    else if (state_ == UNKNOWN && (tcp.flags() & TCP::SYN) != 0) {
+    else if (state_ == UNKNOWN && tcp.has_flags(TCP::SYN)) {
         // This is the server's state, sending it's first SYN|ACK
         #ifdef TINS_HAVE_ACK_TRACKER
             ack_tracker_ = AckTracker(tcp.ack_seq());
diff --git a/src/tcp_ip/stream.cpp b/src/tcp_ip/stream.cpp
index 48e7cfc..1274b80 100644
--- a/src/tcp_ip/stream.cpp
+++ b/src/tcp_ip/stream.cpp
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ Stream::Stream(PDU& packet, const timestamp_type& ts)
     }
     const TCP& tcp = packet.rfind_pdu<TCP>();
     // If this is not the first packet of a stream (SYN), then it's a partial stream
-    is_partial_stream_ = tcp.flags() != TCP::SYN;
+    is_partial_stream_ = !tcp.has_flags(TCP::SYN);
 }
 
 void Stream::process_packet(PDU& packet, const timestamp_type& ts) {
diff --git a/src/tcp_ip/stream_follower.cpp b/src/tcp_ip/stream_follower.cpp
index b683219..8165f1c 100644
--- a/src/tcp_ip/stream_follower.cpp
+++ b/src/tcp_ip/stream_follower.cpp
@@ -84,7 +84,8 @@ void StreamFollower::process_packet(PDU& packet, const timestamp_type& ts) {
     if (iter == streams_.end()) {
         // Start tracking if they're either SYNs or they contain data (attach
         // to an already running flow).
-        if (tcp->flags() == TCP::SYN || (attach_to_flows_ && tcp->find_pdu<RawPDU>() != 0)) {
+        const bool is_syn = tcp->has_flags(TCP::SYN);
+        if (is_syn || (attach_to_flows_ && tcp->find_pdu<RawPDU>() != 0)) {
             iter = streams_.insert(make_pair(identifier, Stream(packet, ts))).first;
             iter->second.setup_flows_callbacks();
             if (on_new_connection_) {
@@ -93,7 +94,7 @@ void StreamFollower::process_packet(PDU& packet, const timestamp_type& ts) {
             else {
                 throw callback_not_set();
             }
-            if (tcp->flags() != TCP::SYN) {
+            if (!is_syn) {
                 // assume the connection is established
                 iter->second.client_flow().state(Flow::ESTABLISHED);
                 iter->second.server_flow().state(Flow::ESTABLISHED);
diff --git a/src/tcp_stream.cpp b/src/tcp_stream.cpp
index ec5905f..5018962 100644
--- a/src/tcp_stream.cpp
+++ b/src/tcp_stream.cpp
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ bool TCPStream::generic_process(uint32_t& my_seq,
 
 bool TCPStream::update(IP* ip, TCP* tcp) {
     if (!syn_ack_sent_) {
-        if (tcp->flags() == (TCP::SYN | TCP::ACK)) {
+        if (tcp->has_flags(TCP::SYN | TCP::ACK)) {
             server_seq_ = tcp->seq() + 1;
             client_seq_ = tcp->ack_seq();
             syn_ack_sent_ = true;