diff --git a/sharedfunctions.py b/sharedfunctions.py
index 8c2e887..68ca6ba 100755
--- a/sharedfunctions.py
+++ b/sharedfunctions.py
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ def validaterestapi(baseurl, reqval, reqtype, data={}):
 #   20Feb2022 Support patch
 #   28Feb2022 Added functionality to optionally pass in etags, and to request they be returned, for API endpoints that use them
 
-def callrestapi(reqval, reqtype, acceptType='application/json', contentType='application/json',data={},header={},stoponerror=1,returnEtag=False,etagIn=''):
+def callrestapi(reqval, reqtype, acceptType='application/json', contentType='application/json',data={},header={},stoponerror=1,returnEtag=False,etagIn='',returnResponse=False):
 
 
     # get the url from the default profile
@@ -146,11 +146,14 @@ def callrestapi(reqval, reqtype, acceptType='application/json', contentType='app
 
     # response error if status code between these numbers
     if (400 <= ret.status_code <=599):
+        if returnResponse:
+            return ret
 
-       print("http response code: "+ str(ret.status_code))
-       print("ret.text: "+ret.text)
-       result=None
-       if stoponerror: sys.exit()
+        else:
+           print("http response code: "+ str(ret.status_code))
+           print("ret.text: "+ret.text)
+           result=None
+           if stoponerror: sys.exit()
 
     # return the result
     else:
@@ -170,9 +173,14 @@ def callrestapi(reqval, reqtype, acceptType='application/json', contentType='app
     if 'etag' in ret.headers:
         etagOut=ret.headers['etag']
 
-    # ONLY if the caller specifically asked for an etag to be returned, return one
-    if returnEtag:
+    if returnResponse:
+        # ONLY if the caller specifically asked for the whole resposne object, return it
+        return ret 
+
+    elif returnEtag:
+        # ONLY if the caller specifically asked for an etag to be returned, return one
         return result,etagOut;
+
     else:
         # Otherwise, return only the result as normal.
         # This avoids breaking anything that does not expect an etag to be returned