diff --git a/src/ssb.c b/src/ssb.c
index 4fd2d044..fd63a541 100644
--- a/src/ssb.c
+++ b/src/ssb.c
@@ -1003,14 +1003,13 @@ static bool _tf_ssb_verify_and_strip_signature_internal(JSContext* context, JSVa
 	return verified;
 }
 
-bool tf_ssb_verify_and_strip_signature(
-	JSContext* context, JSValue val, char* out_id, size_t out_id_size, char* out_signature, size_t out_signature_size, bool* out_sequence_before_author)
+bool tf_ssb_verify_and_strip_signature(JSContext* context, JSValue val, char* out_id, size_t out_id_size, char* out_signature, size_t out_signature_size, int* out_flags)
 {
 	if (_tf_ssb_verify_and_strip_signature_internal(context, val, out_id, out_id_size, out_signature, out_signature_size))
 	{
-		if (out_sequence_before_author)
+		if (out_flags)
 		{
-			*out_sequence_before_author = false;
+			*out_flags = 0;
 		}
 		return true;
 	}
@@ -1028,9 +1027,9 @@ bool tf_ssb_verify_and_strip_signature(
 		JS_FreeValue(context, reordered);
 		if (result)
 		{
-			if (out_sequence_before_author)
+			if (out_flags)
 			{
-				*out_sequence_before_author = true;
+				*out_flags = k_tf_ssb_message_flag_sequence_before_author;
 			}
 			return true;
 		}
@@ -3562,11 +3561,11 @@ void tf_ssb_verify_strip_and_store_message(tf_ssb_t* ssb, JSValue value, tf_ssb_
 		.user_data = user_data,
 	};
 	char signature[crypto_sign_BYTES + 128] = { 0 };
-	bool sequence_before_author = false;
-	if (tf_ssb_verify_and_strip_signature(context, value, async->id, sizeof(async->id), signature, sizeof(signature), &sequence_before_author))
+	int flags = 0;
+	if (tf_ssb_verify_and_strip_signature(context, value, async->id, sizeof(async->id), signature, sizeof(signature), &flags))
 	{
 		async->verified = true;
-		tf_ssb_db_store_message(ssb, context, async->id, value, signature, sequence_before_author, _tf_ssb_verify_strip_and_store_callback, async);
+		tf_ssb_db_store_message(ssb, context, async->id, value, signature, flags, _tf_ssb_verify_strip_and_store_callback, async);
 	}
 	else
 	{
diff --git a/src/ssb.db.c b/src/ssb.db.c
index 4fc52ba2..0a6dde1c 100644
--- a/src/ssb.db.c
+++ b/src/ssb.db.c
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ void tf_ssb_db_init(tf_ssb_t* ssb)
 		"  hash TEXT,"
 		"  content BLOB,"
 		"  signature TEXT,"
-		"  sequence_before_author INTEGER,"
+		"  flags INTEGER,"
 		"  UNIQUE(author, sequence)"
 		")");
 
@@ -123,6 +123,12 @@ void tf_ssb_db_init(tf_ssb_t* ssb)
 		_tf_ssb_db_exec(db, "COMMIT TRANSACTION");
 	}
 
+	if (_tf_ssb_db_has_rows(db, "SELECT name FROM pragma_table_info('messages') WHERE name = 'sequence_before_author'"))
+	{
+		tf_printf("Renaming sequence_before_author -> flags.\n");
+		_tf_ssb_db_exec(db, "ALTER TABLE messages RENAME COLUMN sequence_before_author TO flags");
+	}
+
 	_tf_ssb_db_exec(db, "CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS messages_author_id_index ON messages (author, id)");
 	_tf_ssb_db_exec(db, "CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS messages_author_sequence_index ON messages (author, sequence)");
 	_tf_ssb_db_exec(db, "CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS messages_author_timestamp_index ON messages (author, timestamp)");
@@ -232,7 +238,7 @@ void tf_ssb_db_init(tf_ssb_t* ssb)
 		"    AND LENGTH(messages_refs.ref) = 52 "
 		"    AND messages_refs.ref LIKE '&%.sha256'");
 
-	bool need_add_sequence_before_author = true;
+	bool need_add_flags = true;
 	bool need_convert_timestamp_to_real = false;
 
 	if (sqlite3_prepare(db, "PRAGMA table_info(messages)", -1, &statement, NULL) == SQLITE_OK)
@@ -246,9 +252,9 @@ void tf_ssb_db_init(tf_ssb_t* ssb)
 			{
 				need_convert_timestamp_to_real = true;
 			}
-			if (name && strcmp(name, "sequence_before_author") == 0)
+			if (name && strcmp(name, "flags") == 0)
 			{
-				need_add_sequence_before_author = false;
+				need_add_flags = false;
 			}
 		}
 		sqlite3_finalize(statement);
@@ -266,10 +272,10 @@ void tf_ssb_db_init(tf_ssb_t* ssb)
 		_tf_ssb_db_exec(db, "CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS messages_author_timestamp_index ON messages (author, timestamp)");
 		_tf_ssb_db_exec(db, "COMMIT TRANSACTION");
 	}
-	if (need_add_sequence_before_author)
+	if (need_add_flags)
 	{
-		tf_printf("Adding sequence_before_author column.\n");
-		_tf_ssb_db_exec(db, "ALTER TABLE messages ADD COLUMN sequence_before_author INTEGER");
+		tf_printf("Adding flags column.\n");
+		_tf_ssb_db_exec(db, "ALTER TABLE messages ADD COLUMN flags INTEGER");
 	}
 	tf_ssb_release_db_writer(ssb, db);
 }
@@ -298,14 +304,14 @@ static bool _tf_ssb_db_previous_message_exists(sqlite3* db, const char* author,
 }
 
 static int64_t _tf_ssb_db_store_message_raw(tf_ssb_t* ssb, const char* id, const char* previous, const char* author, int64_t sequence, double timestamp, const char* content,
-	size_t content_len, const char* signature, bool sequence_before_author)
+	size_t content_len, const char* signature, int flags)
 {
 	sqlite3* db = tf_ssb_acquire_db_writer(ssb);
 	int64_t last_row_id = -1;
 
 	if (_tf_ssb_db_previous_message_exists(db, author, sequence, previous))
 	{
-		const char* query = "INSERT INTO messages (id, previous, author, sequence, timestamp, content, hash, signature, sequence_before_author) VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, jsonb(?), "
+		const char* query = "INSERT INTO messages (id, previous, author, sequence, timestamp, content, hash, signature, flags) VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, jsonb(?), "
 							"?, ?, ?) ON CONFLICT DO NOTHING";
 		sqlite3_stmt* statement;
 		if (sqlite3_prepare(db, query, -1, &statement, NULL) == SQLITE_OK)
@@ -315,7 +321,7 @@ static int64_t _tf_ssb_db_store_message_raw(tf_ssb_t* ssb, const char* id, const
 				sqlite3_bind_text(statement, 3, author, -1, NULL) == SQLITE_OK && sqlite3_bind_int64(statement, 4, sequence) == SQLITE_OK &&
 				sqlite3_bind_double(statement, 5, timestamp) == SQLITE_OK && sqlite3_bind_text(statement, 6, content, content_len, NULL) == SQLITE_OK &&
 				sqlite3_bind_text(statement, 7, "sha256", 6, NULL) == SQLITE_OK && sqlite3_bind_text(statement, 8, signature, -1, NULL) == SQLITE_OK &&
-				sqlite3_bind_int(statement, 9, sequence_before_author) == SQLITE_OK)
+				sqlite3_bind_int(statement, 9, flags) == SQLITE_OK)
 			{
 				int r = sqlite3_step(statement);
 				if (r != SQLITE_DONE)
@@ -397,7 +403,7 @@ typedef struct _message_store_t
 	tf_ssb_t* ssb;
 	char id[k_id_base64_len];
 	char signature[512];
-	bool sequence_before_author;
+	int flags;
 	char previous[k_id_base64_len];
 	char author[k_id_base64_len];
 	int64_t sequence;
@@ -421,7 +427,7 @@ static void _tf_ssb_db_store_message_work(uv_work_t* work)
 	tf_trace_t* trace = tf_ssb_get_trace(store->ssb);
 	tf_trace_begin(trace, "message_store_work");
 	int64_t last_row_id = _tf_ssb_db_store_message_raw(store->ssb, store->id, *store->previous ? store->previous : NULL, store->author, store->sequence, store->timestamp,
-		store->content, store->length, store->signature, store->sequence_before_author);
+		store->content, store->length, store->signature, store->flags);
 	if (last_row_id != -1)
 	{
 		store->out_stored = true;
@@ -477,8 +483,8 @@ static void _tf_ssb_db_store_message_after_work(uv_work_t* work, int status)
 	{
 		tf_trace_begin(trace, "notify_message_added");
 		JSContext* context = tf_ssb_get_context(store->ssb);
-		JSValue formatted = tf_ssb_format_message(
-			context, store->previous, store->author, store->sequence, store->timestamp, "sha256", store->content, store->signature, store->sequence_before_author);
+		JSValue formatted =
+			tf_ssb_format_message(context, store->previous, store->author, store->sequence, store->timestamp, "sha256", store->content, store->signature, store->flags);
 		JSValue message = JS_NewObject(context);
 		JS_SetPropertyStr(context, message, "key", JS_NewString(context, store->id));
 		JS_SetPropertyStr(context, message, "value", formatted);
@@ -503,8 +509,8 @@ static void _tf_ssb_db_store_message_after_work(uv_work_t* work, int status)
 	tf_trace_end(trace);
 }
 
-void tf_ssb_db_store_message(tf_ssb_t* ssb, JSContext* context, const char* id, JSValue val, const char* signature, bool sequence_before_author,
-	tf_ssb_db_store_message_callback_t* callback, void* user_data)
+void tf_ssb_db_store_message(
+	tf_ssb_t* ssb, JSContext* context, const char* id, JSValue val, const char* signature, int flags, tf_ssb_db_store_message_callback_t* callback, void* user_data)
 {
 	JSValue previousval = JS_GetPropertyStr(context, val, "previous");
 	const char* previous = JS_IsNull(previousval) ? NULL : JS_ToCString(context, previousval);
@@ -543,7 +549,7 @@ void tf_ssb_db_store_message(tf_ssb_t* ssb, JSContext* context, const char* id,
 		.timestamp = timestamp,
 		.content = contentstr,
 		.length = content_len,
-		.sequence_before_author = sequence_before_author,
+		.flags = flags,
 
 		.callback = callback,
 		.user_data = user_data,
@@ -1002,12 +1008,12 @@ JSValue tf_ssb_db_visit_query(tf_ssb_t* ssb, const char* query, const JSValue bi
 	return result;
 }
 
-JSValue tf_ssb_format_message(JSContext* context, const char* previous, const char* author, int64_t sequence, double timestamp, const char* hash, const char* content,
-	const char* signature, bool sequence_before_author)
+JSValue tf_ssb_format_message(
+	JSContext* context, const char* previous, const char* author, int64_t sequence, double timestamp, const char* hash, const char* content, const char* signature, int flags)
 {
 	JSValue value = JS_NewObject(context);
 	JS_SetPropertyStr(context, value, "previous", (previous && *previous) ? JS_NewString(context, previous) : JS_NULL);
-	if (sequence_before_author)
+	if (flags & k_tf_ssb_message_flag_sequence_before_author)
 	{
 		JS_SetPropertyStr(context, value, "sequence", JS_NewInt64(context, sequence));
 		JS_SetPropertyStr(context, value, "author", JS_NewString(context, author));
@@ -1499,8 +1505,8 @@ JSValue tf_ssb_db_get_message_by_id(tf_ssb_t* ssb, const char* id, bool is_keys)
 	JSContext* context = tf_ssb_get_context(ssb);
 	sqlite3* db = tf_ssb_acquire_db_reader(ssb);
 	sqlite3_stmt* statement;
-	if (sqlite3_prepare(db, "SELECT previous, author, id, sequence, timestamp, hash, json(content), signature, sequence_before_author FROM messages WHERE id = ?", -1, &statement,
-			NULL) == SQLITE_OK)
+	if (sqlite3_prepare(db, "SELECT previous, author, id, sequence, timestamp, hash, json(content), signature, flags FROM messages WHERE id = ?", -1, &statement, NULL) ==
+		SQLITE_OK)
 	{
 		if (sqlite3_bind_text(statement, 1, id, -1, NULL) == SQLITE_OK)
 		{
diff --git a/src/ssb.db.h b/src/ssb.db.h
index fa39bda4..eaf4a87d 100644
--- a/src/ssb.db.h
+++ b/src/ssb.db.h
@@ -70,12 +70,12 @@ typedef void(tf_ssb_db_store_message_callback_t)(const char* id, bool stored, vo
 ** @param id The message identifier.
 ** @param val The message object.
 ** @param signature The signature of the message.
-** @param sequence_before_author The order of the message fields.
+** @param flags tf_ssb_message_flags_t describing the message.
 ** @param callback A callback to call upon completion.
 ** @param user_data User data for the callback.
 */
-void tf_ssb_db_store_message(tf_ssb_t* ssb, JSContext* context, const char* id, JSValue val, const char* signature, bool sequence_before_author,
-	tf_ssb_db_store_message_callback_t* callback, void* user_data);
+void tf_ssb_db_store_message(
+	tf_ssb_t* ssb, JSContext* context, const char* id, JSValue val, const char* signature, int flags, tf_ssb_db_store_message_callback_t* callback, void* user_data);
 
 /**
 ** A function called when a block is stored in the database.
@@ -233,10 +233,10 @@ bool tf_ssb_db_identity_get_private_key(tf_ssb_t* ssb, const char* user, const c
 ** @param hash The hash type (probably "sha256").
 ** @param content The message content.
 ** @param signature The signature of the message.
-** @param sequence_before_author The order of the message fields (prefer false).
+** @param flags tf_ssb_message_flags_t describing the message.
 */
-JSValue tf_ssb_format_message(JSContext* context, const char* previous, const char* author, int64_t sequence, double timestamp, const char* hash, const char* content,
-	const char* signature, bool sequence_before_author);
+JSValue tf_ssb_format_message(
+	JSContext* context, const char* previous, const char* author, int64_t sequence, double timestamp, const char* hash, const char* content, const char* signature, int flags);
 
 /** Information about a single followed account. */
 typedef struct _tf_ssb_following_t
diff --git a/src/ssb.h b/src/ssb.h
index 4ee6c6bf..7f516cb2 100644
--- a/src/ssb.h
+++ b/src/ssb.h
@@ -40,6 +40,11 @@ typedef enum _tf_ssb_change_t
 	k_tf_ssb_change_remove,
 } tf_ssb_change_t;
 
+typedef enum _tf_ssb_message_flags_t
+{
+	k_tf_ssb_message_flag_sequence_before_author = 1,
+} tf_ssb_message_flags_t;
+
 /** An SSB instance. */
 typedef struct _tf_ssb_t tf_ssb_t;
 /** An SSB connection. */
@@ -363,11 +368,10 @@ bool tf_ssb_id_bin_to_str(char* str, size_t str_size, const uint8_t* bin);
 ** @param out_id_size The size of out_id.
 ** @param[out] out_signature A buffer to receive the message's signature.
 ** @param out_signature_size The size of out_signature.
-** @param[out] out_sequence_before_author A flag describing the order of the sequence and author fields.
+** @param[out] out_flags tf_ssb_message_flags_t describing the message.
 ** @return True if the signature is valid and was successfully extracted.
 */
-bool tf_ssb_verify_and_strip_signature(
-	JSContext* context, JSValue val, char* out_id, size_t out_id_size, char* out_signature, size_t out_signature_size, bool* out_sequence_before_author);
+bool tf_ssb_verify_and_strip_signature(JSContext* context, JSValue val, char* out_id, size_t out_id_size, char* out_signature, size_t out_signature_size, int* out_flags);
 
 /**
 ** Determine the message identifier.
diff --git a/src/ssb.rpc.c b/src/ssb.rpc.c
index eea4b5c3..4c366882 100644
--- a/src/ssb.rpc.c
+++ b/src/ssb.rpc.c
@@ -678,7 +678,7 @@ static void _tf_ssb_connection_send_history_stream_work(tf_ssb_connection_t* con
 	sqlite3_stmt* statement;
 	const int k_max = 32;
 	if (sqlite3_prepare(db,
-			"SELECT previous, author, id, sequence, timestamp, hash, json(content), signature, sequence_before_author FROM messages WHERE author = ?1 AND sequence > ?2 AND "
+			"SELECT previous, author, id, sequence, timestamp, hash, json(content), signature, flags FROM messages WHERE author = ?1 AND sequence > ?2 AND "
 			"sequence "
 			"< ?3 ORDER BY sequence",
 			-1, &statement, NULL) == SQLITE_OK)