diff --git a/tcl/mem_helper.tcl b/tcl/mem_helper.tcl
index a3d92cb82..86ad00f7e 100644
--- a/tcl/mem_helper.tcl
+++ b/tcl/mem_helper.tcl
@@ -10,6 +10,15 @@ proc mrw {reg} {
 add_usage_text mrw "address"
 add_help_text mrw "Returns value of word in memory."
 
+proc mrb {reg} {
+	set value ""
+	mem2array value 8 $reg 1
+	return $value(0)
+}
+
+add_usage_text mrb "address"
+add_help_text mrb "Returns value of byte in memory."
+
 # mmw: "memory modify word", updates value of $reg
 #       $reg <== ((value & ~$clearbits) | $setbits)
 proc mmw {reg setbits clearbits} {