diff --git a/dreamer4/dreamer4.py b/dreamer4/dreamer4.py
index b10ec76..a281e0f 100644
--- a/dreamer4/dreamer4.py
+++ b/dreamer4/dreamer4.py
@@ -14,6 +14,18 @@ import einx
 from einops import einsum, rearrange, repeat, reduce
 from einops.layers.torch import Rearrange
 
+# flex attention - but will make sure it works if it is not available
+# may also end up crafting own custom flash attention kernel for this work
+
+flex_attention = None
+
+try:
+    from torch.nn.attention.flex_attention import flex_attention, create_block_mask
+    if torch.cuda.is_available():
+        flex_attention = torch.compile(flex_attention)
+except ImportError:
+    pass
+
 # constants
 
 LinearNoBias = partial(Linear, bias = False)
@@ -52,6 +64,27 @@ class MultiHeadRMSNorm(Module):
         scale = (self.gamma + 1.) * self.scale
         return einx.multiply('... h n d, h d', normed, scale)
 
+# masking related
+# block causal mask (space fully attends within each block, while time is causal)
+
+def flex_block_causal_mask(seq_len, block_size):
+
+    def create_mask(_, __, qi, ki):
+        q_block_index = qi // block_size
+        k_block_index = ki // block_size
+        return q_block_index >= k_block_index
+
+    block_mask = create_block_mask(create_mask, B = None, H = None, Q_LEN = seq_len, KV_LEN = seq_len, _compile = True)
+    return block_mask
+
+def nonflex_block_causal_mask(seq_len, block_size, device = None):
+    blocks = ceil(seq_len / block_size)
+
+    causal_mask = torch.ones((blocks, blocks), device = device, dtype = torch.bool).tril()
+    block_causal_mask = repeat(causal_mask, 'i j -> (i block_size1) (j block_size2)', block_size1 = block_size, block_size1 = block_size)
+
+    return block_causal_mask[:seq_len, :seq_len]
+
 # attention
 
 class Attention(Module):