diff --git a/tools/net/ynl/lib/nlspec.py b/tools/net/ynl/lib/nlspec.py
index d04450c2a44a..dba70100124a 100644
--- a/tools/net/ynl/lib/nlspec.py
+++ b/tools/net/ynl/lib/nlspec.py
@@ -90,8 +90,8 @@ class SpecEnumEntry(SpecElement):
     def raw_value(self):
         return self.value
 
-    def user_value(self):
-        if self.enum_set['type'] == 'flags':
+    def user_value(self, as_flags=None):
+        if self.enum_set['type'] == 'flags' or as_flags:
             return 1 << self.value
         else:
             return self.value
@@ -136,10 +136,10 @@ class SpecEnumSet(SpecElement):
                 return True
         return False
 
-    def get_mask(self):
+    def get_mask(self, as_flags=None):
         mask = 0
         for e in self.entries.values():
-            mask += e.user_value()
+            mask += e.user_value(as_flags)
         return mask
 
 
diff --git a/tools/net/ynl/ynl-gen-c.py b/tools/net/ynl/ynl-gen-c.py
index 972b87c7aaaf..cc2f8c945340 100755
--- a/tools/net/ynl/ynl-gen-c.py
+++ b/tools/net/ynl/ynl-gen-c.py
@@ -254,7 +254,8 @@ class TypeScalar(Type):
     def _attr_policy(self, policy):
         if 'flags-mask' in self.checks or self.is_bitfield:
             if self.is_bitfield:
-                mask = self.family.consts[self.attr['enum']].get_mask()
+                enum = self.family.consts[self.attr['enum']]
+                mask = enum.get_mask(as_flags=True)
             else:
                 flags = self.family.consts[self.checks['flags-mask']]
                 flag_cnt = len(flags['entries'])