diff --git a/pytools/persistent_dict.py b/pytools/persistent_dict.py
index 4836d7f3775de4b321803130c3868f5bcd738bd5..4daeeb9d9f75633c6188b42fa743277b889cbadd 100644
--- a/pytools/persistent_dict.py
+++ b/pytools/persistent_dict.py
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN
 THE SOFTWARE.
 """
 
+from enum import Enum
 import logging
 import hashlib
 import collections.abc as abc
@@ -233,7 +234,8 @@ class KeyBuilder:
                 digest = inner_key_hash.digest()
 
         if digest is None:
-            tname = type(key).__name__
+            tp = type(key)
+            tname = tp.__name__
             method = None
             try:
                 method = getattr(self, "update_for_"+tname)
@@ -245,6 +247,9 @@ class KeyBuilder:
                     if isinstance(key, np.dtype):
                         method = self.update_for_specific_dtype
 
+                elif issubclass(tp, Enum):
+                    method = self.update_for_enum
+
             if method is not None:
                 inner_key_hash = self.new_hash()
                 method(inner_key_hash, key)
@@ -287,6 +292,10 @@ class KeyBuilder:
             except OverflowError:
                 sz *= 2
 
+    @classmethod
+    def update_for_enum(cls, key_hash, key):
+        cls.update_for_str(key_hash, str(key))
+
     @staticmethod
     def update_for_bool(key_hash, key):
         key_hash.update(str(key).encode("utf8"))