diff --git a/bitfield/forms.py b/bitfield/forms.py
index f9a8fe6..2d27225 100644
--- a/bitfield/forms.py
+++ b/bitfield/forms.py
@@ -25,6 +25,13 @@ def _has_changed(self, initial, data):
 
 class BitFormField(IntegerField):
     def __init__(self, choices=(), widget=BitFieldCheckboxSelectMultiple, *args, **kwargs):
+        iv = kwargs.get('initial')
+        if isinstance(iv, int):
+            l = []
+            for i in xrange(0, 63):
+                if (1 << i) & iv > 0:
+                    l += [choices[i][0]]
+            kwargs['initial'] = l
         self.widget = widget
         super(BitFormField, self).__init__(widget=widget, *args, **kwargs)
         self.choices = self.widget.choices = choices