diff --git a/cmd/wasmcloudd/handler.go b/cmd/wasmcloudd/handler.go
index 4e481c6..eba775a 100644
--- a/cmd/wasmcloudd/handler.go
+++ b/cmd/wasmcloudd/handler.go
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/go-interpreter/wagon/wasm"
-	"github.com/google/uuid"
 	shell "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs-api"
 	"github.com/rogpeppe/go-internal/txtar"
 	"tulpa.dev/within/wasmcloud/cmd/internal"
@@ -143,7 +142,7 @@ func getLogs(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, u *User) {
 	json.NewEncoder(w).Encode(result)
 }
 
-func invokeHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, u *User) {
+func invokeHandlerSync(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	ctx := r.Context()
 	q := r.URL.Query()
 	name := q.Get("name")
@@ -166,48 +165,69 @@ func invokeHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, u *User) {
 		http.NotFound(w, r)
 	}
 
-	execID := uuid.New().String()
-
-	er := internal.ExecRequest{
-		WASMCID: hdlr.Path,
-		Name:    hdlr.Name,
-		Data:    data,
-		Env: map[string]string{
-			"RUN_ID": execID,
-		},
-		UUID: execID,
+	resp, err := runHandler(ctx, hdlr, 5*time.Minute, data)
+	if err != nil {
+		ln.Error(ctx, err)
+		return
 	}
 
-	encData, err := json.Marshal(er)
+	logData := txtar.Format(&resp.Logs)
+	entry := ExecutionLog{
+		HandlerID: hdlr.ID,
+		RunID:     resp.UUID,
+		Data:      logData,
+	}
+
+	err = db.Save(&entry).Error
+	if err != nil {
+		ln.Error(ctx, err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	ln.Log(ctx, ln.Action("saving-logs"))
+
+	for _, file := range resp.Logs.Files {
+		if file.Name == "stdout.txt" {
+			w.Write(file.Data)
+			return
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func invokeHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	ctx := r.Context()
+	q := r.URL.Query()
+	name := q.Get("name")
+	if name == "" {
+		http.NotFound(w, r)
+		return
+	}
+
+	var hdlr Handler
+	err := db.Where("name = ?", name).First(&hdlr).Error
+	if err != nil {
+		ln.Error(ctx, err)
+		http.NotFound(w, r)
+		return
+	}
+
+	data, err := ioutil.ReadAll(http.MaxBytesReader(w, r.Body, 1*1024*1024))
 	if err != nil {
 		ln.Error(ctx, err)
 		http.NotFound(w, r)
 	}
 
 	go func() {
-		f := ln.F{
-			"name":   name,
-			"run_id": execID,
-		}
-		ln.Log(ctx, ln.Action("invoke-handler"), f)
-		msg, err := nc.Request(internal.TopicName, encData, 5*time.Minute)
-		if err != nil {
-			ln.Error(ctx, err)
-			return
-		}
-
-		var resp internal.ExecResponse
-		err = json.Unmarshal(msg.Data, &resp)
+		resp, err := runHandler(ctx, hdlr, 5*time.Minute, data)
 		if err != nil {
 			ln.Error(ctx, err)
 			return
 		}
 
 		data := txtar.Format(&resp.Logs)
-
 		entry := ExecutionLog{
 			HandlerID: hdlr.ID,
-			RunID:     execID,
+			RunID:     resp.UUID,
 			Data:      data,
 		}
 
@@ -217,6 +237,6 @@ func invokeHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, u *User) {
 			return
 		}
 
-		ln.Log(ctx, ln.Action("saving-logs"), f)
+		ln.Log(ctx, ln.Action("saving-logs"))
 	}()
 }
diff --git a/cmd/wasmcloudd/handler_invoke.go b/cmd/wasmcloudd/handler_invoke.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3cfd070
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/wasmcloudd/handler_invoke.go
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/google/uuid"
+	"tulpa.dev/within/wasmcloud/cmd/internal"
+	"within.website/ln"
+	"within.website/ln/opname"
+)
+
+func runHandler(ctx context.Context, hdlr Handler, timeout time.Duration, message []byte) (*internal.ExecResponse, error) {
+	ctx = opname.With(ctx, "invoke")
+	execID := uuid.New().String()
+	er := internal.ExecRequest{
+		WASMCID: hdlr.Path,
+		Name:    hdlr.Name,
+		Data:    message,
+		Env: map[string]string{
+			"RUN_ID": execID,
+		},
+		UUID: execID,
+	}
+
+	encData, err := json.Marshal(er)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("can't encode job: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	f := ln.F{
+		"name":   hdlr.Name,
+		"run_id": execID,
+	}
+	ln.Log(ctx, ln.Info("starting run"), f)
+	msg, err := nc.Request(internal.TopicName, encData, timeout)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("can't submit job: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	var resp internal.ExecResponse
+	err = json.Unmarshal(msg.Data, &resp)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("can't unmarshal response: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return &resp, nil
+}
diff --git a/cmd/wasmcloudd/main.go b/cmd/wasmcloudd/main.go
index 87603a9..846441e 100644
--- a/cmd/wasmcloudd/main.go
+++ b/cmd/wasmcloudd/main.go
@@ -62,7 +62,8 @@ func main() {
 	rtr.HandleFunc("/api/whoami", makeHandler(true, apiWhoami))
 
 	// invocation
-	rtr.HandleFunc("/invoke", makeHandler(false, invokeHandler)).Methods(http.MethodPost)
+	rtr.HandleFunc("/invoke", invokeHandler).Methods(http.MethodPost)
+	rtr.HandleFunc("/invoke/sync", invokeHandlerSync).Methods(http.MethodPost)
 
 	rtr.PathPrefix("/static/").Handler(http.FileServer(http.Dir(".")))