diff --git a/polyapi/api.py b/polyapi/api.py
index 9533b21..fc243ba 100644
--- a/polyapi/api.py
+++ b/polyapi/api.py
@@ -23,8 +23,16 @@ def {function_name}(
 
     Function ID: {function_id}
     \"""
-    resp = execute("{function_type}", "{function_id}", {data})
-    return {api_response_type}(resp.json())  # type: ignore
+    if get_direct_execute_config():
+        resp = direct_execute("{function_type}", "{function_id}", {data})
+        return {api_response_type}({{
+            "status": resp.status_code,
+            "headers": dict(resp.headers),
+            "data": resp.json()
+        }})  # type: ignore
+    else:
+        resp = execute("{function_type}", "{function_id}", {data})
+        return {api_response_type}(resp.json())  # type: ignore
 
 
 """
diff --git a/polyapi/config.py b/polyapi/config.py
index 4b0e856..60eb16f 100644
--- a/polyapi/config.py
+++ b/polyapi/config.py
@@ -8,6 +8,10 @@
 # cached values
 API_KEY = None
 API_URL = None
+API_FUNCTION_DIRECT_EXECUTE = None
+MTLS_CERT_PATH = None
+MTLS_KEY_PATH = None
+MTLS_CA_PATH = None
 
 
 def get_config_file_path() -> str:
@@ -45,6 +49,13 @@ def get_api_key_and_url() -> Tuple[str | None, str | None]:
         API_KEY = key
         API_URL = url
 
+        # Read and cache MTLS and direct execute settings
+        global API_FUNCTION_DIRECT_EXECUTE, MTLS_CERT_PATH, MTLS_KEY_PATH, MTLS_CA_PATH
+        API_FUNCTION_DIRECT_EXECUTE = config.get("polyapi", "api_function_direct_execute", fallback="false").lower() == "true"
+        MTLS_CERT_PATH = config.get("polyapi", "mtls_cert_path", fallback=None)
+        MTLS_KEY_PATH = config.get("polyapi", "mtls_key_path", fallback=None)
+        MTLS_CA_PATH = config.get("polyapi", "mtls_ca_path", fallback=None)
+
     return key, url
 
 
@@ -104,4 +115,22 @@ def clear_config():
 
     path = get_config_file_path()
     if os.path.exists(path):
-        os.remove(path)
\ No newline at end of file
+        os.remove(path)
+
+
+def get_mtls_config() -> Tuple[bool, str | None, str | None, str | None]:
+    """Return MTLS configuration settings"""
+    global MTLS_CERT_PATH, MTLS_KEY_PATH, MTLS_CA_PATH
+    if MTLS_CERT_PATH is None or MTLS_KEY_PATH is None or MTLS_CA_PATH is None:
+        # Force a config read if values aren't cached
+        get_api_key_and_url()
+    return bool(MTLS_CERT_PATH and MTLS_KEY_PATH and MTLS_CA_PATH), MTLS_CERT_PATH, MTLS_KEY_PATH, MTLS_CA_PATH
+
+
+def get_direct_execute_config() -> bool:
+    """Return whether direct execute is enabled"""
+    global API_FUNCTION_DIRECT_EXECUTE
+    if API_FUNCTION_DIRECT_EXECUTE is None:
+        # Force a config read if value isn't cached
+        get_api_key_and_url()
+    return bool(API_FUNCTION_DIRECT_EXECUTE)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/polyapi/execute.py b/polyapi/execute.py
index ab529d3..d066574 100644
--- a/polyapi/execute.py
+++ b/polyapi/execute.py
@@ -1,22 +1,68 @@
-from typing import Dict
+from typing import Dict, Optional
 import requests
 from requests import Response
-from polyapi.config import get_api_key_and_url
+from polyapi.config import get_api_key_and_url, get_mtls_config
 from polyapi.exceptions import PolyApiException
 
+def direct_execute(function_type, function_id, data) -> Response:
+    """ execute a specific function id/type
+    """
+    api_key, api_url = get_api_key_and_url()
+    headers = {"Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}"}
+    url = f"{api_url}/functions/{function_type}/{function_id}/direct-execute"
+    
+    endpoint_info = requests.post(url, json=data, headers=headers)
+    if endpoint_info.status_code < 200 or endpoint_info.status_code >= 300:
+        raise PolyApiException(f"{endpoint_info.status_code}: {endpoint_info.content.decode('utf-8', errors='ignore')}")
+    
+    endpoint_info_data = endpoint_info.json()
+    request_params = endpoint_info_data.copy()
+    request_params.pop("url", None)
+    
+    if "maxRedirects" in request_params:
+        request_params["allow_redirects"] = request_params.pop("maxRedirects") > 0
+    
+    has_mtls, cert_path, key_path, ca_path = get_mtls_config()
+    
+    if has_mtls:
+        resp = requests.request(
+            url=endpoint_info_data["url"],
+            cert=(cert_path, key_path),
+            verify=ca_path,
+            **request_params
+        )
+    else:
+        resp = requests.request(
+            url=endpoint_info_data["url"],
+            verify=False,
+            **request_params
+        )
+
+    if resp.status_code < 200 or resp.status_code >= 300:
+        error_content = resp.content.decode("utf-8", errors="ignore")
+        raise PolyApiException(f"{resp.status_code}: {error_content}")
+    
+    return resp
 
 def execute(function_type, function_id, data) -> Response:
     """ execute a specific function id/type
     """
     api_key, api_url = get_api_key_and_url()
     headers = {"Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}"}
+
     url = f"{api_url}/functions/{function_type}/{function_id}/execute"
-    resp = requests.post(url, json=data, headers=headers)
-    # print(resp.status_code)
-    # print(resp.headers["content-type"])
+    
+    # Make the request
+    resp = requests.post(
+        url, 
+        json=data, 
+        headers=headers,
+    )
+
     if resp.status_code < 200 or resp.status_code >= 300:
         error_content = resp.content.decode("utf-8", errors="ignore")
         raise PolyApiException(f"{resp.status_code}: {error_content}")
+
     return resp
 
 
diff --git a/polyapi/generate.py b/polyapi/generate.py
index f6aeceb..1558b9e 100644
--- a/polyapi/generate.py
+++ b/polyapi/generate.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 from .server import render_server_function
 from .utils import add_import_to_init, get_auth_headers, init_the_init, print_green, to_func_namespace
 from .variables import generate_variables
-from .config import get_api_key_and_url
+from .config import get_api_key_and_url, get_direct_execute_config
 
 SUPPORTED_FUNCTION_TYPES = {
     "apiFunction",
@@ -46,6 +46,10 @@ def get_specs(contexts=Optional[List[str]], no_types: bool = False) -> List:
     if contexts:
         params["contexts"] = contexts
 
+    # Add apiFunctionDirectExecute parameter if direct execute is enabled
+    if get_direct_execute_config():
+        params["apiFunctionDirectExecute"] = "true"
+
     resp = requests.get(url, headers=headers, params=params)
     if resp.status_code == 200:
         return resp.json()
diff --git a/polyapi/utils.py b/polyapi/utils.py
index 642ec51..2ea11a2 100644
--- a/polyapi/utils.py
+++ b/polyapi/utils.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 
 # this string should be in every __init__ file.
 # it contains all the imports needed for the function or variable code to run
-CODE_IMPORTS = "from typing import List, Dict, Any, Optional, Callable\nfrom typing_extensions import TypedDict, NotRequired\nimport logging\nimport requests\nimport socketio  # type: ignore\nfrom polyapi.config import get_api_key_and_url\nfrom polyapi.execute import execute, execute_post, variable_get, variable_update\n\n"
+CODE_IMPORTS = "from typing import List, Dict, Any, Optional, Callable\nfrom typing_extensions import TypedDict, NotRequired\nimport logging\nimport requests\nimport socketio  # type: ignore\nfrom polyapi.config import get_api_key_and_url, get_direct_execute_config\nfrom polyapi.execute import execute, execute_post, variable_get, variable_update, direct_execute\n\n"
 
 
 def init_the_init(full_path: str, code_imports="") -> None:
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 6881a0d..61f6eec 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ requires = ["setuptools>=61.2", "wheel"]
 
 [project]
 name = "polyapi-python"
-version = "0.3.7.dev0"
+version = "0.3.7.dev1"
 description = "The Python Client for PolyAPI, the IPaaS by Developers for Developers"
 authors = [{ name = "Dan Fellin", email = "dan@polyapi.io" }]
 dependencies = [