diff --git a/app/controllers/api/request_tasks_controller.rb b/app/controllers/api/request_tasks_controller.rb
index 1fb6414328..e8435e5c7d 100644
--- a/app/controllers/api/request_tasks_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/api/request_tasks_controller.rb
@@ -1,5 +1,15 @@
 module Api
   class RequestTasksController < BaseController
     include Api::Mixins::ResourceCancel
+
+    # execute queues the work.
+    # this is typically called from within the workflow
+    def execute_resource(type, id, _data)
+      api_resource(type, id, "Executing") do |task|
+        raise BadRequestError, "Resource must be approved. state is #{task.state}" unless task.approved?
+
+        task.execute_queue
+      end
+    end
   end
 end
diff --git a/config/api.yml b/config/api.yml
index d9f35c7921..c65629d04e 100644
--- a/config/api.yml
+++ b/config/api.yml
@@ -3233,6 +3233,8 @@
       :post:
       - :name: cancel
         :identifier: miq_request_control
+      - :name: execute
+        :identifier: miq_request_control
     :subcollection_actions:
       :get:
       - :name: read