diff --git a/meshtastic/mesh.options b/meshtastic/mesh.options
index 731b3bc..5053693 100644
--- a/meshtastic/mesh.options
+++ b/meshtastic/mesh.options
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 *MeshPacket.encrypted max_size:256
 *MeshPacket.payload_variant anonymous_oneof:true
 *MeshPacket.hop_limit int_size:8
+*MeshPacket.hop_start int_size:8
 *MeshPacket.channel int_size:8
 
 *QueueStatus.res int_size:8
diff --git a/meshtastic/mesh.proto b/meshtastic/mesh.proto
index c34a5da..28143e4 100644
--- a/meshtastic/mesh.proto
+++ b/meshtastic/mesh.proto
@@ -1009,6 +1009,12 @@ message MeshPacket {
    * Describes whether this packet passed via MQTT somewhere along the path it currently took.
    */
   bool via_mqtt = 14;
+
+  /* 
+   * Hop limit with which the original packet started. Sent via LoRa using three bits in the unencrypted header. 
+   * When receiving a packet, the difference between hop_start and hop_limit gives how many hops it traveled.
+   */ 
+  uint32 hop_start = 15;
 }
 
 /*
@@ -1545,5 +1551,4 @@ message DeviceMetadata {
    * Has Remote Hardware enabled
    */
   bool hasRemoteHardware = 10;
-}
-
+}
\ No newline at end of file