diff --git a/src/mem/cache/mshr.cc b/src/mem/cache/mshr.cc
index 86b5a4c08..dd827ae12 100644
--- a/src/mem/cache/mshr.cc
+++ b/src/mem/cache/mshr.cc
@@ -74,9 +74,8 @@ MSHR::TargetList::TargetList()
 {}
 
 
-inline void
-MSHR::TargetList::add(PacketPtr pkt, Tick readyTime,
-                      Counter order, Target::Source source, bool markPending)
+void
+MSHR::TargetList::updateFlags(PacketPtr pkt, Target::Source source)
 {
     if (source != Target::FromSnoop) {
         if (pkt->needsWritable()) {
@@ -90,7 +89,22 @@ MSHR::TargetList::add(PacketPtr pkt, Tick readyTime,
             hasUpgrade = true;
         }
     }
+}
 
+void
+MSHR::TargetList::populateFlags()
+{
+    resetFlags();
+    for (auto& t: *this) {
+        updateFlags(t.pkt, t.source);
+    }
+}
+
+inline void
+MSHR::TargetList::add(PacketPtr pkt, Tick readyTime,
+                      Counter order, Target::Source source, bool markPending)
+{
+    updateFlags(pkt, source);
     if (markPending) {
         // Iterate over the SenderState stack and see if we find
         // an MSHR entry. If we do, set the downstreamPending
diff --git a/src/mem/cache/mshr.hh b/src/mem/cache/mshr.hh
index 146e5e47a..253f5f388 100644
--- a/src/mem/cache/mshr.hh
+++ b/src/mem/cache/mshr.hh
@@ -143,7 +143,26 @@ class MSHR : public QueueEntry, public Printable
         bool hasUpgrade;
 
         TargetList();
+
+        /**
+         * Use the provided packet and the source to update the
+         * flags of this TargetList.
+         *
+         * @param pkt Packet considered for the flag update
+         * @param source Indicates the source of the packet
+         */
+        void updateFlags(PacketPtr pkt, Target::Source source);
+
         void resetFlags() { needsWritable = hasUpgrade = false; }
+
+        /**
+         * Goes through the list of targets and uses them to populate
+         * the flags of this TargetList. When the function returns the
+         * flags are consistent with the properties of packets in the
+         * list.
+         */
+        void populateFlags();
+
         bool isReset() const { return !needsWritable && !hasUpgrade; }
         void add(PacketPtr pkt, Tick readyTime, Counter order,
                  Target::Source source, bool markPending);