diff --git a/internal/c/qbx.cpp b/internal/c/qbx.cpp
index 08062bc35..742c07e50 100755
--- a/internal/c/qbx.cpp
+++ b/internal/c/qbx.cpp
@@ -949,6 +949,18 @@ ptrszint check_ubound(ptrszint *array,int32 index, int32 num_indexes) {
     return func_ubound((ptrszint*)(*array),index,num_indexes);
 }
 
+uint64 call_getubits(uint32 bsize,ptrszint *array,ptrszint i) {
+    return getubits(bsize,(uint8*)(*array),i);
+}
+
+int64 call_getbits(uint32 bsize,ptrszint *array,ptrszint i) {
+    return getbits(bsize,(uint8*)(*array),i);
+}
+
+void call_setbits(uint32 bsize,ptrszint *array,ptrszint i,int64 val) {
+    setbits(bsize,(uint8*)(*array),i,val);
+}
+
 inline ptrszint array_check(uptrszint index,uptrszint limit){
     //nb. forces signed index into an unsigned variable for quicker comparison
     if (index<limit) return index;
diff --git a/internal/support/vwatch/vwatch.bm b/internal/support/vwatch/vwatch.bm
index 65dbb3a86..59fef9201 100644
--- a/internal/support/vwatch/vwatch.bm
+++ b/internal/support/vwatch/vwatch.bm
@@ -9,21 +9,26 @@ SUB vwatch (globalVariables AS _OFFSET, localVariables AS _OFFSET)
     DIM AS LONG vw_i, vw_j, vw_tempIndex, vw_localIndex, vw_varSize, vw_cmdSize
     DIM AS LONG vw_arrayElementSize, vw_element, vw_elementOffset, vw_storage, vw_blockSize
     DIM AS LONG vw_arrayDimension, vw_arrayTotalDimensions, vw_arrayIndex, vw_realArrayIndex
+    DIM AS LONG vw_wpi, vw_wpj
+    DIM AS _INTEGER64 vw_tempBitValue
     DIM AS _OFFSET vw_address, vw_lBound, vw_uBound
     DIM AS _MEM vw_m, vw_m2
     DIM AS _BYTE vw_isArray, vw_isUDT, vw_checkingWatchpoints
     DIM vw_start!, vw_temp$, vw_cmd$, vw_value$, vw_k&, vw_buf$, vw_scope$, vw_varType$
     DIM vw_getBytes&, vw_getBytesPosition&, vw_valueBytes$, vw_dummy%&
-    DIM vw_arrayIndexes$, vw_wpExpression$
+    DIM vw_arrayIndexes$, vw_wpExpression$, vw_wpTemp$, vw_v1$, vw_v2$
 
     DECLARE LIBRARY
         SUB vwatch_stoptimers ALIAS stop_timers
         SUB vwatch_starttimers ALIAS start_timers
         SUB unlockvWatchHandle
         SUB set_qbs_size (target AS _OFFSET, BYVAL length&)
+        SUB call_setbits (BYVAL bsize AS _UNSIGNED LONG, array AS _OFFSET, BYVAL index AS _OFFSET, BYVAL value AS _INTEGER64)
         FUNCTION stop_program_state&
         FUNCTION check_lbound%& (array AS _OFFSET, BYVAL index AS LONG, BYVAL num_indexes AS LONG)
         FUNCTION check_ubound%& (array AS _OFFSET, BYVAL index AS LONG, BYVAL num_indexes AS LONG)
+        FUNCTION call_getubits~&& (BYVAL bsize AS _UNSIGNED LONG, array AS _OFFSET, BYVAL index AS _OFFSET)
+        FUNCTION call_getbits&& (BYVAL bsize AS _UNSIGNED LONG, array AS _OFFSET, BYVAL index AS _OFFSET)
     END DECLARE
 
     $IF WIN THEN
@@ -357,11 +362,31 @@ SUB vwatch (globalVariables AS _OFFSET, localVariables AS _OFFSET)
                     ELSEIF vw_varType$ = "STRING" THEN
                         vw_varSize = LEN(vw_dummy%&)
                     END IF
-                    'this is where we calculate the actual array index position in memory
-                    IF vw_arrayElementSize = 0 THEN
-                        vw_address = vw_address + (vw_realArrayIndex * vw_varSize)
+
+                    IF INSTR(vw_varType$, "BIT") THEN
+                        vw_i = INSTR(vw_varType$, "*")
+                        IF vw_i > 0 THEN
+                            vw_i = VAL(MID$(vw_varType$, vw_i + 1))
+                        ELSE
+                            vw_i = 1
+                        END IF
+                        IF INSTR(vw_varType$, "UNSIGNED") THEN
+                            vw_buf$ = _MK$(_UNSIGNED _INTEGER64, call_getubits~&&(vw_i, vw_address, vw_realArrayIndex))
+                        ELSE
+                            vw_buf$ = _MK$(_UNSIGNED _INTEGER64, call_getbits&&(vw_i, vw_address, vw_realArrayIndex))
+                        END IF
+
+                        IF vw_checkingWatchpoints THEN RETURN
+                        vw_cmd$ = "address read:" + MKL$(vw_tempIndex) + MKL$(vw_arrayIndex) + MKL$(vw_element) + MKL$(vw_storage) + vw_buf$
+                        GOSUB SendCommand
+                        GOTO cmdProcessingDone
                     ELSE
-                        vw_address = vw_address + (vw_realArrayIndex * vw_arrayElementSize)
+                        'this is where we calculate the actual array index position in memory
+                        IF vw_arrayElementSize = 0 THEN
+                            vw_address = vw_address + (vw_realArrayIndex * vw_varSize)
+                        ELSE
+                            vw_address = vw_address + (vw_realArrayIndex * vw_arrayElementSize)
+                        END IF
                     END IF
                 END IF
 
@@ -490,11 +515,25 @@ SUB vwatch (globalVariables AS _OFFSET, localVariables AS _OFFSET)
                         vw_varSize = LEN(vw_dummy%&)
                     END IF
 
-                    'this is where we calculate the actual array index position in memory
-                    IF vw_arrayElementSize = 0 THEN
-                        vw_address = vw_address + (vw_realArrayIndex * vw_varSize)
+                    IF INSTR(vw_varType$, "BIT") THEN
+                        vw_i = INSTR(vw_varType$, "*")
+                        IF vw_i > 0 THEN
+                            vw_i = VAL(MID$(vw_varType$, vw_i + 1))
+                        ELSE
+                            vw_i = 1
+                        END IF
+                        vw_buf$ = vw_value$ + STRING$(4, 0) 'pad with zeros in case a LONG was sent
+                        GOSUB GetV2
+                        vw_tempBitValue = VAL(vw_v2$)
+                        call_setbits vw_i, vw_address, vw_realArrayIndex, vw_tempBitValue
+                        GOTO cmdProcessingDone
                     ELSE
-                        vw_address = vw_address + (vw_realArrayIndex * vw_arrayElementSize)
+                        'this is where we calculate the actual array index position in memory
+                        IF vw_arrayElementSize = 0 THEN
+                            vw_address = vw_address + (vw_realArrayIndex * vw_varSize)
+                        ELSE
+                            vw_address = vw_address + (vw_realArrayIndex * vw_arrayElementSize)
+                        END IF
                     END IF
                 ELSE
                     IF vw_isUDT = 0 THEN
@@ -700,8 +739,6 @@ SUB vwatch (globalVariables AS _OFFSET, localVariables AS _OFFSET)
     RETURN
 
     CheckWatchpoints:
-    DIM AS LONG vw_wpi, vw_wpj
-    DIM vw_wpTemp$, vw_v1$, vw_v2$
     FOR vw_wpi = 1 TO 2
         IF vw_wpi = 1 AND LEN(vw_globalWatchpoints$) > 0 THEN
             vw_wpTemp$ = MID$(vw_globalWatchpoints$, 5)
diff --git a/source/ide/ide_methods.bas b/source/ide/ide_methods.bas
index 007b14c9d..d03b2ceab 100644
--- a/source/ide/ide_methods.bas
+++ b/source/ide/ide_methods.bas
@@ -8496,14 +8496,14 @@ FUNCTION idevariablewatchbox$(currentScope$, filter$, selectVar, returnAction)
                                         GOTO getNewValueInput
                                 END SELECT
                             END IF
-                        END IF
 
-                        IF INSTR(varType$, "STRING") = 0 AND thisReturnAction <> 3 THEN
-                            v$ = op$ + actualValue$
-                            IF v$ <> op$ + LTRIM$(STR$(VAL(actualValue$))) THEN
-                                result = idemessagebox(dlgTitle$, "Invalid expression.\nYou can use =, <>, >, >=, <, <=, and a literal value\n(scientific notation not allowed).", "#OK")
-                                _KEYCLEAR
-                                GOTO getNewValueInput
+                            IF INSTR(varType$, "STRING") = 0 THEN
+                                v$ = op$ + actualValue$
+                                IF v$ <> op$ + LTRIM$(STR$(VAL(actualValue$))) THEN
+                                    result = idemessagebox(dlgTitle$, "Invalid expression.\nYou can use =, <>, >, >=, <, <=, and a literal value\n(scientific notation not allowed).", "#OK")
+                                    _KEYCLEAR
+                                    GOTO getNewValueInput
+                                END IF
                             END IF
                         END IF
 
diff --git a/source/qb64.bas b/source/qb64.bas
index 4d193901b..6f9236aeb 100644
--- a/source/qb64.bas
+++ b/source/qb64.bas
@@ -14828,6 +14828,7 @@ FUNCTION dim2 (varname$, typ2$, method, elements$)
 
         'array of bit-length variables
         IF elements$ <> "" THEN
+            IF bits > 63 THEN Give_Error "Cannot create a bit array of size > 63 bits": EXIT FUNCTION
             arraydesc = 0
             cmps$ = varname$: IF unsgn THEN cmps$ = cmps$ + "~"
             cmps$ = cmps$ + "`" + str2(bits)