diff --git a/src/fix.py b/src/fix.py
index a96c2631a..72380d3e8 100644
--- a/src/fix.py
+++ b/src/fix.py
@@ -290,4 +290,15 @@ def itersplit(iterable, isSeparator, yieldEmpty=False):
     if acc or yieldEmpty:
         yield acc
 
+def flatten(seq, strings=False):
+    for elt in seq:
+        if not strings and type(elt) == str or type(elt) == unicode:
+            yield elt
+        else:
+            try:
+                for x in flatten(elt):
+                    yield x
+            except TypeError:
+                yield elt
+            
 # vim:set shiftwidth=4 tabstop=8 expandtab textwidth=78:
diff --git a/test/fix_test.py b/test/fix_test.py
index b195a1419..4c475b330 100644
--- a/test/fix_test.py
+++ b/test/fix_test.py
@@ -240,3 +240,17 @@ class FunctionsTest(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(AL.values(), [2, 3, 4])
         self.assertEqual(list(AL.itervalues()), [2, 3, 4])
         self.assertEqual(len(AL), 3)
+
+    def testFlatten(self):
+        def lflatten(seq):
+            return list(flatten(seq))
+        self.assertEqual(lflatten([]), [])
+        self.assertEqual(lflatten([1]), [1])
+        self.assertEqual(lflatten(range(10)), range(10))
+        twoRanges = range(10)*2
+        twoRanges.sort()
+        self.assertEqual(lflatten(zip(range(10), range(10))), twoRanges)
+        self.assertEqual(lflatten([1, [2, 3], 4]), [1, 2, 3, 4])
+        self.assertEqual(lflatten([[[[[[[[[[]]]]]]]]]]), [])
+        self.assertEqual(lflatten([1, [2, [3, 4], 5], 6]), [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6])
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, lflatten, 1)