diff --git a/openair3/ocp-gtpu/gtp_itf.cpp b/openair3/ocp-gtpu/gtp_itf.cpp
index f8fd6b0c5b..146828ba53 100644
--- a/openair3/ocp-gtpu/gtp_itf.cpp
+++ b/openair3/ocp-gtpu/gtp_itf.cpp
@@ -286,13 +286,14 @@ static int gtpv1uCreateAndSendMsg(int h,
   return  !GTPNOK;
 }
 
-static void gtpv1uSend(instance_t instance, gtpv1u_tunnel_data_req_t *req, bool seqNumFlag, bool npduNumFlag)
+void gtpv1uSendDirect(instance_t instance,
+                      ue_id_t ue_id,
+                      int bearer_id,
+                      uint8_t *buf,
+                      size_t len,
+                      bool seqNumFlag,
+                      bool npduNumFlag)
 {
-  uint8_t *buf = req->buffer + req->offset;
-  size_t len = req->length;
-  ue_id_t ue_id = req->ue_id;
-  int bearer_id = req->bearer_id;
-
   pthread_mutex_lock(&globGtp.gtp_lock);
   getInstRetVoid(compatInst(instance));
   getUeRetVoid(inst, ue_id);
@@ -367,6 +368,16 @@ static void gtpv1uSend(instance_t instance, gtpv1u_tunnel_data_req_t *req, bool
   }
 }
 
+static void gtpv1uSend(instance_t instance, gtpv1u_tunnel_data_req_t *req, bool seqNumFlag, bool npduNumFlag)
+{
+  uint8_t *buf = req->buffer + req->offset;
+  size_t len = req->length;
+  ue_id_t ue_id = req->ue_id;
+  int bearer_id = req->bearer_id;
+
+  gtpv1uSendDirect(instance, ue_id, bearer_id, buf, len, seqNumFlag, npduNumFlag);
+}
+
 static void fillDlDeliveryStatusReport(extensionHeader_t *extensionHeader, uint32_t RLC_buffer_availability, uint32_t NR_PDCP_PDU_SN){
 
   extensionHeader->buffer[0] = (1+sizeof(DlDataDeliveryStatus_flagsT)+(NR_PDCP_PDU_SN>0?3:0)+(NR_PDCP_PDU_SN>0?1:0)+1)/4;
diff --git a/openair3/ocp-gtpu/gtp_itf.h b/openair3/ocp-gtpu/gtp_itf.h
index ce806f0bfc..f3f336dc2c 100644
--- a/openair3/ocp-gtpu/gtp_itf.h
+++ b/openair3/ocp-gtpu/gtp_itf.h
@@ -103,6 +103,9 @@ extern "C" {
   int newGtpuDeleteOneTunnel(instance_t instance, ue_id_t ue_id, int rb_id);
   int newGtpuDeleteAllTunnels(instance_t instance, ue_id_t ue_id);
   int newGtpuDeleteTunnels(instance_t instance, ue_id_t ue_id, int nbTunnels, pdusessionid_t *pdusession_id);
+
+  void gtpv1uSendDirect(instance_t instance, ue_id_t ue_id, int bearer_id, uint8_t *buf, size_t len, bool seqNumFlag, bool npduNumFlag);
+
   instance_t gtpv1Init(openAddr_t context);
   void *gtpv1uTask(void *args);