diff --git a/src/base/bitfield.hh b/src/base/bitfield.hh
index 9dc7722998..d47ab8c594 100644
--- a/src/base/bitfield.hh
+++ b/src/base/bitfield.hh
@@ -112,7 +112,9 @@ mask(unsigned first, unsigned last)
 }
 
 /**
- * Sign-extend an N-bit value to 64 bits.
+ * Sign-extend an N-bit value to 64 bits. Assumes all bits past the sign are
+ * currently zero. For true sign extension regardless of the value of the sign
+ * bit, see szext.
  *
  * @ingroup api_bitfield
  */
@@ -126,6 +128,24 @@ sext(uint64_t val)
     return val;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Sign-extend an N-bit value to 64 bits. Zero any bits past the sign if
+ * necessary.
+ *
+ * @ingroup api_bitfield
+ */
+template <int N>
+constexpr inline uint64_t
+szext(uint64_t val)
+{
+    bool sign_bit = bits(val, N - 1);
+    if (sign_bit)
+        val |= ~mask(N);
+    else
+        val &= mask(N);
+    return val;
+}
+
 /**
  * Returns val with bits first to last set to the LSBs of bit_val
  *
diff --git a/src/base/bitfield.test.cc b/src/base/bitfield.test.cc
index 8097415217..c2ef8d2b6f 100644
--- a/src/base/bitfield.test.cc
+++ b/src/base/bitfield.test.cc
@@ -164,7 +164,8 @@ TEST(BitfieldTest, MbitsEntireRange)
 
 /*
  * The following tests the "sext<N>(X)" function. sext carries out a sign
- * extention from N bits to 64 bits on value X.
+ * extention from N bits to 64 bits on value X. It does not zero bits past the
+ * sign bit if it was zero.
  */
 TEST(BitfieldTest, SignExtendPositiveInput)
 {
@@ -191,6 +192,36 @@ TEST(BitfieldTest, SignExtendNegativeInputOutsideRange)
     uint64_t output = 0xF800000010000008;
     EXPECT_EQ(output, sext<60>(val));
 }
+/*
+ * The following tests the "szext<N>(X)" function. szext carries out a sign
+ * extention from N bits to 64 bits on value X. Will zero bits past the sign
+ * bit if it was zero.
+ */
+TEST(BitfieldTest, SignZeroExtendPositiveInput)
+{
+    int8_t val = 14;
+    int64_t output = 14;
+    EXPECT_EQ(output, szext<8>(val));
+}
+
+TEST(BitfieldTest, SignZeroExtendNegativeInput)
+{
+    int8_t val = -14;
+    uint64_t output = -14;
+    EXPECT_EQ(output, szext<8>(val));
+}
+
+TEST(BitfieldTest, SignZeroExtendPositiveInputOutsideRange)
+{
+    EXPECT_EQ(0, szext<8>(1 << 10));
+}
+
+TEST(BitfieldTest, SignZeroExtendNegativeInputOutsideRange)
+{
+    uint64_t val = 0x4800000010000008;
+    uint64_t output = 0xF800000010000008;
+    EXPECT_EQ(output, szext<60>(val));
+}
 
 /* The following tests "insertBits(A, B, C, D)". insertBits returns A
  * with bits B to C set to D's (B - C) LSBs. "insertBits(A, B, D)" overrides