diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 35d0863..baff78f 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+- add formatted_body to bypass markdown with direct
+  [matrix-custom-HTML](https://matrix.org/docs/spec/client_server/r0.6.1#m-room-message-msgtypes)
 - allow "key" to be passed as a parameter
 - rename "text" to "body".
 
diff --git a/matrix_webhook/__main__.py b/matrix_webhook/__main__.py
index 17305cc..005a3eb 100644
--- a/matrix_webhook/__main__.py
+++ b/matrix_webhook/__main__.py
@@ -54,12 +54,17 @@ async def handler(request):
     if data["key"] != conf.API_KEY:
         return create_json_response(HTTPStatus.UNAUTHORIZED, "Invalid API key")
 
+    if "formatted_body" in data:
+        formatted_body = data["formatted_body"]
+    else:
+        formatted_body = markdown(str(data["body"]), extensions=["extra"])
+
     room_id = request.path[1:]
     content = {
         "msgtype": "m.text",
         "body": data["body"],
         "format": "org.matrix.custom.html",
-        "formatted_body": markdown(str(data["body"]), extensions=["extra"]),
+        "formatted_body": formatted_body,
     }
     for _ in range(10):
         try:
diff --git a/tests/tests.py b/tests/tests.py
index 2bc97e3..9a82cc9 100644
--- a/tests/tests.py
+++ b/tests/tests.py
@@ -78,6 +78,32 @@ class BotTest(unittest.IsolatedAsyncioTestCase):
         self.assertEqual(message.body, body)
         self.assertEqual(message.formatted_body, "<h1>Hello</h1>")
 
+    async def test_formatted_body(self):
+        """Send a formatted message, and check the result."""
+        body = "Formatted message"
+        formatted_body = "<del>markdown</del><strong>Formatted</strong> message"
+        messages = []
+        client = nio.AsyncClient(MATRIX_URL, MATRIX_ID)
+
+        await client.login(MATRIX_PW)
+        room = await client.room_create()
+
+        self.assertEqual(
+            bot_req(
+                {"body": body, "formatted_body": formatted_body}, KEY, room.room_id
+            ),
+            {"status": 200, "ret": "OK"},
+        )
+
+        sync = await client.sync()
+        messages = await client.room_messages(room.room_id, sync.next_batch)
+        await client.close()
+
+        message = messages.chunk[0]
+        self.assertEqual(message.sender, FULL_ID)
+        self.assertEqual(message.body, body)
+        self.assertEqual(message.formatted_body, formatted_body)
+
     async def test_reconnect(self):
         """Check the reconnecting path."""
         client = nio.AsyncClient(MATRIX_URL, MATRIX_ID)