diff --git a/dda.c b/dda.c
index 9fdf6d3..80e5816 100644
--- a/dda.c
+++ b/dda.c
@@ -119,8 +119,7 @@ void dda_create(DDA *dda, TARGET *target) {
 	uint32_t	distance;
 
 	// initialise DDA to a known state
-	dda->live = 0;
-	dda->waitfor_temp = 0;
+	dda->allflags = 0;
 
 	if (debug_flags & DEBUG_DDA)
 		serial_writestr_P(PSTR("\n{DDA_CREATE: ["));
diff --git a/dda.h b/dda.h
index d775b70..2248f10 100644
--- a/dda.h
+++ b/dda.h
@@ -24,19 +24,24 @@ typedef struct {
 	// this is where we should finish
 	TARGET						endpoint;
 
-	// status fields
-	uint8_t						nullmove			:1;
-	uint8_t						live					:1;
-	uint8_t						accel					:1;
+	union {
+		struct {
+			// status fields
+			uint8_t						nullmove			:1;
+			uint8_t						live					:1;
+			uint8_t						accel					:1;
 
-	// wait for temperature to stabilise flag
-	uint8_t						waitfor_temp	:1;
+			// wait for temperature to stabilise flag
+			uint8_t						waitfor_temp	:1;
 
-	// directions
-	uint8_t						x_direction		:1;
-	uint8_t						y_direction		:1;
-	uint8_t						z_direction		:1;
-	uint8_t						e_direction		:1;
+			// directions
+			uint8_t						x_direction		:1;
+			uint8_t						y_direction		:1;
+			uint8_t						z_direction		:1;
+			uint8_t						e_direction		:1;
+		};
+		uint8_t							allflags;	// used for clearing all flags
+	};
 
 	// distances
 	uint32_t					x_delta;