diff --git a/doc/python-generated-code-guide.rst b/doc/python-generated-code-guide.rst
index e49a0d7..58dd60d 100644
--- a/doc/python-generated-code-guide.rst
+++ b/doc/python-generated-code-guide.rst
@@ -47,14 +47,16 @@ Enum declarations
 |                                       |                                                               |
 |     enum TestEnum : 8 {               |     class TestEnum(enum.IntEnum):                             |
 |         A = 1,                        |         A = 1                                                 |
-|         B = 2..3,                     |         B_MIN = 2                                             |
-|         C = 4,                        |         B_MAX = 3                                             |
-|         OTHER = ..,                   |         C = 4                                                 |
-|     }                                 |                                                               |
+|         B = 2..3,                     |         C = 4                                                 |
+|         C = 4,                        |                                                               |
+|         OTHER = ..,                   |         @staticmethod                                         |
+|     }                                 |         def from_int(v: int) -> typing.Union[TestEnum, int]:  |
+|                                       |             pass                                              |
 +---------------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------+
 
 .. note::
-    Python enums are open by construction, default cases in enum declarations are ignored.
+    Python enums are closed by construction, default cases in enum declarations are ignored.
+    The static method `from_int` provides validation for enum tag ranges.
 
 Packet declarations
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
diff --git a/pdl-compiler/scripts/generate_python_backend.py b/pdl-compiler/scripts/generate_python_backend.py
index 8938173..695be55 100755
--- a/pdl-compiler/scripts/generate_python_backend.py
+++ b/pdl-compiler/scripts/generate_python_backend.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ def mask(width: int) -> str:
 def generate_prelude() -> str:
     return dedent("""\
         from dataclasses import dataclass, field, fields
-        from typing import Optional, List, Tuple
+        from typing import Optional, List, Tuple, Union
         import enum
         import inspect
         import math
@@ -412,7 +412,7 @@ def parse_bit_field_(self, field: ast.Field):
                 self.unchecked_append_(f"if {v} != {hex(field.value)}:")
                 self.unchecked_append_(f"    raise Exception('Unexpected fixed field value')")
             elif isinstance(field, ast.TypedefField):
-                self.unchecked_append_(f"fields['{field.id}'] = {field.type_id}({v})")
+                self.unchecked_append_(f"fields['{field.id}'] = {field.type_id}.from_int({v})")
             elif isinstance(field, ast.SizeField):
                 self.unchecked_append_(f"{field.field_id}_size = {v}")
             elif isinstance(field, ast.CountField):
@@ -1012,17 +1012,34 @@ def generate_enum_declaration(decl: ast.EnumDeclaration) -> str:
     enum_name = decl.id
     tag_decls = []
     for t in decl.tags:
+        # Enums in python are closed and ranges cannot be represented;
+        # instead the generated code uses Union[int, Enum]
+        # when ranges are used.
         if t.value is not None:
             tag_decls.append(f"{t.id} = {hex(t.value)}")
+
+    tag_ranges = []
+    for t in decl.tags:
         if t.range is not None:
-            tag_decls.append(f"{t.id}_START = {hex(t.range[0])}")
-            tag_decls.append(f"{t.id}_END = {hex(t.range[1])}")
+            tag_ranges.append(f"if v >= 0x{t.range[0]:x} and v <= 0x{t.range[1]:x}:")
+            tag_ranges.append(f"    return v")
 
     return dedent("""\
 
         class {enum_name}(enum.IntEnum):
             {tag_decls}
-        """).format(enum_name=enum_name, tag_decls=indent(tag_decls, 1))
+
+            @staticmethod
+            def from_int(v: int) -> Union[int, '{enum_name}']:
+                try:
+                    return {enum_name}(v)
+                except ValueError as exn:
+                    {tag_ranges}
+                    raise exn
+
+        """).format(enum_name=enum_name,
+                    tag_decls=indent(tag_decls, 1),
+                    tag_ranges=indent(tag_ranges, 3))
 
 
 def generate_packet_declaration(packet: ast.Declaration) -> str:
@@ -1047,7 +1064,10 @@ def generate_packet_declaration(packet: ast.Declaration) -> str:
         elif isinstance(f, ast.ScalarField):
             field_decls.append(f"{f.id}: int = field(kw_only=True, default=0)")
         elif isinstance(f, ast.TypedefField):
-            if isinstance(f.type, ast.EnumDeclaration):
+            if isinstance(f.type, ast.EnumDeclaration) and f.type.tags[0].range:
+                field_decls.append(
+                    f"{f.id}: {f.type_id} = field(kw_only=True, default={f.type.tags[0].range[0]})")
+            elif isinstance(f.type, ast.EnumDeclaration):
                 field_decls.append(
                     f"{f.id}: {f.type_id} = field(kw_only=True, default={f.type_id}.{f.type.tags[0].id})")
             elif isinstance(f.type, ast.ChecksumDeclaration):