diff --git a/lib/std/io/Reader.zig b/lib/std/io/Reader.zig
index 33187125b8..b29e15ca59 100644
--- a/lib/std/io/Reader.zig
+++ b/lib/std/io/Reader.zig
@@ -324,20 +324,49 @@ pub fn isBytes(self: Self, slice: []const u8) anyerror!bool {
     return matches;
 }
 
+/// Read a struct from the stream.
+/// Only packed and extern structs are supported, as they have a defined in-memory layout.
+/// Packed structs must have a `@bitSizeOf` that is a multiple of eight.
 pub fn readStruct(self: Self, comptime T: type) anyerror!T {
-    // Only extern and packed structs have defined in-memory layout.
-    comptime assert(@typeInfo(T).@"struct".layout != .auto);
-    var res: [1]T = undefined;
-    try self.readNoEof(mem.sliceAsBytes(res[0..]));
-    return res[0];
+    switch (@typeInfo(T).@"struct".layout) {
+        .auto => @compileError("readStruct only supports packed and extern structs, " ++
+            "but the given type: " ++ @typeName(T) ++ " is a normal struct."),
+        .@"extern" => {
+            var res: [1]T = undefined;
+            try self.readNoEof(mem.sliceAsBytes(res[0..]));
+            return res[0];
+        },
+        .@"packed" => {
+            var bytes: [@divExact(@bitSizeOf(T), 8)]u8 = undefined;
+            try self.readNoEof(&bytes);
+            return @bitCast(bytes);
+        },
+    }
 }
 
+/// Read a struct having the specified endianness into the host endianness representation.
+/// Only packed and extern structs are supported, as they have a defined in-memory layout.
+/// Packed structs must have a `@bitSizeOf` that is a multiple of eight.
 pub fn readStructEndian(self: Self, comptime T: type, endian: std.builtin.Endian) anyerror!T {
-    var res = try self.readStruct(T);
-    if (native_endian != endian) {
-        mem.byteSwapAllFields(T, &res);
+    switch (@typeInfo(T).@"struct".layout) {
+        .auto => @compileError("readStructEndian only supports packed and extern structs, " ++
+            "but the given type: " ++ @typeName(T) ++ " is a normal struct."),
+        .@"extern" => {
+            var res = try self.readStruct(T);
+            if (native_endian != endian) {
+                mem.byteSwapAllFields(T, &res);
+            }
+            return res;
+        },
+        .@"packed" => {
+            var bytes: [@divExact(@bitSizeOf(T), 8)]u8 = undefined;
+            try self.readNoEof(&bytes);
+            if (native_endian != endian) {
+                mem.reverse(u8, &bytes);
+            }
+            return @bitCast(bytes);
+        },
     }
-    return res;
 }
 
 /// Reads an integer with the same size as the given enum's tag type. If the integer matches
diff --git a/lib/std/io/Reader/test.zig b/lib/std/io/Reader/test.zig
index 30f0e1269c..c6250cc10f 100644
--- a/lib/std/io/Reader/test.zig
+++ b/lib/std/io/Reader/test.zig
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 const builtin = @import("builtin");
 const std = @import("../../std.zig");
 const testing = std.testing;
+const native_endian = @import("builtin").target.cpu.arch.endian();
 
 test "Reader" {
     var buf = "a\x02".*;
@@ -370,3 +371,130 @@ test "readIntoBoundedBytes correctly reads into a provided bounded array" {
     try reader.readIntoBoundedBytes(10000, &bounded_array);
     try testing.expectEqualStrings(bounded_array.slice(), test_string);
 }
+
+test "readStructEndian reads packed structs without padding and in correct field order" {
+    const buf = [3]u8{ 11, 12, 13 };
+    var fis = std.io.fixedBufferStream(&buf);
+    const reader = fis.reader();
+
+    const PackedStruct = packed struct(u24) { a: u8, b: u8, c: u8 };
+
+    try testing.expectEqual(
+        PackedStruct{ .a = 11, .b = 12, .c = 13 },
+        reader.readStructEndian(PackedStruct, .little),
+    );
+    fis.reset();
+    try testing.expectEqual(
+        PackedStruct{ .a = 13, .b = 12, .c = 11 },
+        reader.readStructEndian(PackedStruct, .big),
+    );
+}
+
+test "readStruct reads packed structs without padding and in correct field order" {
+    const buf = [3]u8{ 11, 12, 13 };
+    var fis = std.io.fixedBufferStream(&buf);
+    const reader = fis.reader();
+
+    const PackedStruct = packed struct(u24) { a: u8, b: u8, c: u8 };
+
+    switch (native_endian) {
+        .little => {
+            try testing.expectEqual(
+                PackedStruct{ .a = 11, .b = 12, .c = 13 },
+                reader.readStruct(PackedStruct),
+            );
+        },
+        .big => {
+            try testing.expectEqual(
+                PackedStruct{ .a = 13, .b = 12, .c = 11 },
+                reader.readStruct(PackedStruct),
+            );
+        },
+    }
+}
+
+test "readStruct writeStruct round-trip with packed structs" {
+    var buf: [8]u8 = undefined;
+    var fis = std.io.fixedBufferStream(&buf);
+    const reader = fis.reader();
+    const writer = fis.writer();
+
+    const PackedStruct = packed struct(u64) {
+        a: u16 = 123,
+        b: u16 = 245,
+        c: u16 = 456,
+        d: i13 = -345,
+        e: i3 = 2,
+    };
+
+    const expected_packed_struct = PackedStruct{};
+    try writer.writeStruct(expected_packed_struct);
+    fis.reset();
+    try testing.expectEqual(expected_packed_struct, try reader.readStruct(PackedStruct));
+}
+
+test "readStructEndian writeStructEndian round-trip with packed structs" {
+    var buf: [8]u8 = undefined;
+    var fis = std.io.fixedBufferStream(&buf);
+    const reader = fis.reader();
+    const writer = fis.writer();
+
+    const PackedStruct = packed struct(u64) {
+        a: u13 = 123,
+        b: i7 = -24,
+        c: u20 = 83,
+        d: enum(i24) { val = 3452 } = .val,
+    };
+
+    const expected_packed_struct = PackedStruct{};
+    // round-trip little endian
+    try writer.writeStructEndian(expected_packed_struct, .big);
+    fis.reset();
+    try testing.expectEqual(expected_packed_struct, try reader.readStructEndian(PackedStruct, .big));
+    // round-trip big endian
+    fis.reset();
+    try writer.writeStructEndian(expected_packed_struct, .little);
+    fis.reset();
+    try testing.expectEqual(expected_packed_struct, try reader.readStructEndian(PackedStruct, .little));
+}
+
+test "readStruct a packed struct with endianness-affected types" {
+    const buf = [4]u8{ 0x12, 0x34, 0x56, 0x78 };
+    var fis = std.io.fixedBufferStream(&buf);
+    const reader = fis.reader();
+
+    const PackedStruct = packed struct(u32) { a: u16, b: u16 };
+
+    switch (native_endian) {
+        .little => {
+            try testing.expectEqual(
+                PackedStruct{ .a = 0x3412, .b = 0x7856 },
+                reader.readStruct(PackedStruct),
+            );
+        },
+        .big => {
+            try testing.expectEqual(
+                PackedStruct{ .a = 0x5678, .b = 0x1234 },
+                reader.readStruct(PackedStruct),
+            );
+        },
+    }
+}
+
+test "readStructEndian a packed struct with endianness-affected types" {
+    const buf = [4]u8{ 0x12, 0x34, 0x56, 0x78 };
+    var fis = std.io.fixedBufferStream(&buf);
+    const reader = fis.reader();
+
+    const PackedStruct = packed struct(u32) { a: u16, b: u16 };
+
+    try testing.expectEqual(
+        PackedStruct{ .a = 0x3412, .b = 0x7856 },
+        reader.readStructEndian(PackedStruct, .little),
+    );
+    fis.reset();
+    try testing.expectEqual(
+        PackedStruct{ .a = 0x5678, .b = 0x1234 },
+        reader.readStructEndian(PackedStruct, .big),
+    );
+}
diff --git a/lib/std/io/Writer.zig b/lib/std/io/Writer.zig
index 26d4f88def..d027ecec2f 100644
--- a/lib/std/io/Writer.zig
+++ b/lib/std/io/Writer.zig
@@ -54,20 +54,48 @@ pub inline fn writeInt(self: Self, comptime T: type, value: T, endian: std.built
     return self.writeAll(&bytes);
 }
 
+/// Write a struct to the stream.
+/// Only packed and extern structs are supported, as they have a defined in-memory layout.
+/// Packed structs must have a `@bitSizeOf` that is a multiple of eight.
 pub fn writeStruct(self: Self, value: anytype) anyerror!void {
     // Only extern and packed structs have defined in-memory layout.
-    comptime assert(@typeInfo(@TypeOf(value)).@"struct".layout != .auto);
-    return self.writeAll(mem.asBytes(&value));
+    switch (@typeInfo(@TypeOf(value)).@"struct".layout) {
+        .auto => @compileError("writeStruct only supports packed and extern structs, " ++
+            "but the given type: " ++ @typeName(@TypeOf(value)) ++ " is a normal struct."),
+        .@"extern" => {
+            return try self.writeAll(mem.asBytes(&value));
+        },
+        .@"packed" => {
+            const bytes: [@divExact(@bitSizeOf(@TypeOf(value)), 8)]u8 = @bitCast(value);
+            try self.writeAll(&bytes);
+        },
+    }
 }
 
+/// Write a struct to the stream in the specified endianness.
+/// Only packed and extern structs are supported, as they have a defined in-memory layout.
+/// Packed structs must have a `@bitSizeOf` that is a multiple of eight.
 pub fn writeStructEndian(self: Self, value: anytype, endian: std.builtin.Endian) anyerror!void {
     // TODO: make sure this value is not a reference type
-    if (native_endian == endian) {
-        return self.writeStruct(value);
-    } else {
-        var copy = value;
-        mem.byteSwapAllFields(@TypeOf(value), &copy);
-        return self.writeStruct(copy);
+    switch (@typeInfo(@TypeOf(value)).@"struct".layout) {
+        .auto => @compileError("writeStructEndian only supports packed and extern structs, " ++
+            "but the given type: " ++ @typeName(@TypeOf(value)) ++ " is a normal struct."),
+        .@"extern" => {
+            if (native_endian == endian) {
+                return try self.writeStruct(value);
+            } else {
+                var copy = value;
+                mem.byteSwapAllFields(@TypeOf(value), &copy);
+                return try self.writeStruct(copy);
+            }
+        },
+        .@"packed" => {
+            var bytes: [@divExact(@bitSizeOf(@TypeOf(value)), 8)]u8 = @bitCast(value);
+            if (native_endian != endian) {
+                mem.reverse(u8, &bytes);
+            }
+            return try self.writeAll(&bytes);
+        },
     }
 }
 
@@ -81,3 +109,7 @@ pub fn writeFile(self: Self, file: std.fs.File) anyerror!void {
         if (n < buf.len) return;
     }
 }
+
+test {
+    _ = @import("Writer/test.zig");
+}
diff --git a/lib/std/io/Writer/test.zig b/lib/std/io/Writer/test.zig
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2ca6013f95
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/std/io/Writer/test.zig
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+const std = @import("../../std.zig");
+const testing = std.testing;
+const native_endian = @import("builtin").target.cpu.arch.endian();
+
+test "writeStruct writes packed structs without padding" {
+    var buf: [3]u8 = undefined;
+    var fis = std.io.fixedBufferStream(&buf);
+    const writer = fis.writer();
+
+    const PackedStruct = packed struct(u24) { a: u8, b: u8, c: u8 };
+
+    try writer.writeStruct(PackedStruct{ .a = 11, .b = 12, .c = 13 });
+    switch (native_endian) {
+        .little => {
+            try testing.expectEqualSlices(u8, &.{ 11, 12, 13 }, &buf);
+        },
+        .big => {
+            try testing.expectEqualSlices(u8, &.{ 13, 12, 11 }, &buf);
+        },
+    }
+}
+
+test "writeStructEndian writes packed structs without padding and in correct field order" {
+    var buf: [3]u8 = undefined;
+    var fis = std.io.fixedBufferStream(&buf);
+    const writer = fis.writer();
+
+    const PackedStruct = packed struct(u24) { a: u8, b: u8, c: u8 };
+
+    try writer.writeStructEndian(PackedStruct{ .a = 11, .b = 12, .c = 13 }, .little);
+    try testing.expectEqualSlices(u8, &.{ 11, 12, 13 }, &buf);
+    fis.reset();
+    try writer.writeStructEndian(PackedStruct{ .a = 11, .b = 12, .c = 13 }, .big);
+    try testing.expectEqualSlices(u8, &.{ 13, 12, 11 }, &buf);
+}
+
+test "writeStruct a packed struct with endianness-affected types" {
+    var buf: [4]u8 = undefined;
+    var fis = std.io.fixedBufferStream(&buf);
+    const writer = fis.writer();
+
+    const PackedStruct = packed struct(u32) { a: u16, b: u16 };
+
+    try writer.writeStruct(PackedStruct{ .a = 0x1234, .b = 0x5678 });
+    switch (native_endian) {
+        .little => try testing.expectEqualSlices(u8, &.{ 0x34, 0x12, 0x78, 0x56 }, &buf),
+        .big => try testing.expectEqualSlices(u8, &.{ 0x56, 0x78, 0x12, 0x34 }, &buf),
+    }
+}
+
+test "writeStructEndian a packed struct with endianness-affected types" {
+    var buf: [4]u8 = undefined;
+    var fis = std.io.fixedBufferStream(&buf);
+    const writer = fis.writer();
+
+    const PackedStruct = packed struct(u32) { a: u16, b: u16 };
+
+    try writer.writeStructEndian(PackedStruct{ .a = 0x1234, .b = 0x5678 }, .little);
+    try testing.expectEqualSlices(u8, &.{ 0x34, 0x12, 0x78, 0x56 }, &buf);
+    fis.reset();
+    try writer.writeStructEndian(PackedStruct{ .a = 0x1234, .b = 0x5678 }, .big);
+    try testing.expectEqualSlices(u8, &.{ 0x56, 0x78, 0x12, 0x34 }, &buf);
+}