diff --git a/ext/mysql2/statement.c b/ext/mysql2/statement.c
index 3a022e661..98b7e6252 100644
--- a/ext/mysql2/statement.c
+++ b/ext/mysql2/statement.c
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 VALUE cMysql2Statement;
 extern VALUE mMysql2, cMysql2Error, cBigDecimal, cDateTime, cDate;
-static VALUE sym_stream, intern_new_with_args, intern_each, intern_to_s;
+static VALUE sym_stream, intern_new_with_args, intern_each, intern_to_s, intern_merge_bang;
 static VALUE intern_sec_fraction, intern_usec, intern_sec, intern_min, intern_hour, intern_day, intern_month, intern_year;
 
 #define GET_STATEMENT(self) \
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ static void set_buffer_for_string(MYSQL_BIND* bind_buffer, unsigned long *length
  * the buffer is a Ruby string pointer and not our memory to manage.
  */
 #define FREE_BINDS                                          \
-  for (i = 0; i < argc; i++) {                              \
+  for (i = 0; i < c; i++) {                                 \
     if (bind_buffers[i].buffer && NIL_P(params_enc[i])) {   \
       xfree(bind_buffers[i].buffer);                        \
     }                                                       \
@@ -248,8 +248,10 @@ static VALUE rb_mysql_stmt_execute(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self) {
   unsigned long *length_buffers = NULL;
   unsigned long bind_count;
   long i;
+  int c;
   MYSQL_STMT *stmt;
   MYSQL_RES *metadata;
+  VALUE opts;
   VALUE current;
   VALUE resultObj;
   VALUE *params_enc;
@@ -261,14 +263,17 @@ static VALUE rb_mysql_stmt_execute(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self) {
 
   conn_enc = rb_to_encoding(wrapper->encoding);
 
-  /* Scratch space for string encoding exports, allocate on the stack. */
-  params_enc = alloca(sizeof(VALUE) * argc);
+  // Get count of ordinary arguments, and extract hash opts/keyword arguments
+  c = rb_scan_args(argc, argv, "*:", NULL, &opts);
+
+  // Scratch space for string encoding exports, allocate on the stack
+  params_enc = alloca(sizeof(VALUE) * c);
 
   stmt = stmt_wrapper->stmt;
 
   bind_count = mysql_stmt_param_count(stmt);
-  if (argc != (long)bind_count) {
-    rb_raise(cMysql2Error, "Bind parameter count (%ld) doesn't match number of arguments (%d)", bind_count, argc);
+  if (c != (long)bind_count) {
+    rb_raise(cMysql2Error, "Bind parameter count (%ld) doesn't match number of arguments (%d)", bind_count, c);
   }
 
   // setup any bind variables in the query
@@ -276,7 +281,7 @@ static VALUE rb_mysql_stmt_execute(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self) {
     bind_buffers = xcalloc(bind_count, sizeof(MYSQL_BIND));
     length_buffers = xcalloc(bind_count, sizeof(unsigned long));
 
-    for (i = 0; i < argc; i++) {
+    for (i = 0; i < c; i++) {
       bind_buffers[i].buffer = NULL;
       params_enc[i] = Qnil;
 
@@ -416,10 +421,16 @@ static VALUE rb_mysql_stmt_execute(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self) {
     return Qnil;
   }
 
+  // Important to duplicate the hash, will receive merge! if extra opts
   current = rb_hash_dup(rb_iv_get(stmt_wrapper->client, "@query_options"));
   (void)RB_GC_GUARD(current);
   Check_Type(current, T_HASH);
 
+  // Merge in hash opts/keyword arguments
+  if (!NIL_P(opts)) {
+    rb_funcall(current, intern_merge_bang, 1, opts);
+  }
+
   is_streaming = (Qtrue == rb_hash_aref(current, sym_stream));
   if (!is_streaming) {
     // recieve the whole result set from the server
@@ -562,4 +573,5 @@ void init_mysql2_statement() {
   intern_year = rb_intern("year");
 
   intern_to_s = rb_intern("to_s");
+  intern_merge_bang = rb_intern("merge!");
 }
diff --git a/lib/mysql2/statement.rb b/lib/mysql2/statement.rb
index 482ccce19..d4510a139 100644
--- a/lib/mysql2/statement.rb
+++ b/lib/mysql2/statement.rb
@@ -5,14 +5,14 @@ class Statement
     include Enumerable
 
     if Thread.respond_to?(:handle_interrupt)
-      def execute(*args)
+      def execute(*args, **kwargs)
         Thread.handle_interrupt(::Mysql2::Util::TIMEOUT_ERROR_CLASS => :never) do
-          _execute(*args)
+          _execute(*args, **kwargs)
         end
       end
     else
-      def execute(*args)
-        _execute(*args)
+      def execute(*args, **kwargs)
+        _execute(*args, **kwargs)
       end
     end
   end
diff --git a/spec/mysql2/statement_spec.rb b/spec/mysql2/statement_spec.rb
index 7d856cbd3..a6a14aa62 100644
--- a/spec/mysql2/statement_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/mysql2/statement_spec.rb
@@ -88,6 +88,20 @@ def stmt_count
     expect(result.to_a).to eq(['max1' => int64_max1, 'max2' => int64_max2, 'max3' => int64_max3, 'min1' => int64_min1, 'min2' => int64_min2, 'min3' => int64_min3])
   end
 
+  it "should accept keyword arguments on statement execute" do
+    stmt = @client.prepare 'SELECT 1 AS a'
+
+    expect(stmt.execute(as: :hash).first).to eq("a" => 1)
+    expect(stmt.execute(as: :array).first).to eq([1])
+  end
+
+  it "should accept bind arguments and keyword arguments on statement execute" do
+    stmt = @client.prepare 'SELECT ? AS a'
+
+    expect(stmt.execute(1, as: :hash).first).to eq("a" => 1)
+    expect(stmt.execute(1, as: :array).first).to eq([1])
+  end
+
   it "should keep its result after other query" do
     @client.query 'USE test'
     @client.query 'CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS mysql2_stmt_q(a int)'
@@ -188,10 +202,9 @@ def stmt_count
   end
 
   it "should warn but still work if cache_rows is set to false" do
-    @client.query_options[:cache_rows] = false
     statement = @client.prepare 'SELECT 1'
     result = nil
-    expect { result = statement.execute.to_a }.to output(/:cache_rows is forced for prepared statements/).to_stderr
+    expect { result = statement.execute(cache_rows: false).to_a }.to output(/:cache_rows is forced for prepared statements/).to_stderr
     expect(result.length).to eq(1)
   end
 
@@ -240,10 +253,7 @@ def stmt_count
     it "should be able to stream query result" do
       n = 1
       stmt = @client.prepare("SELECT 1 UNION SELECT 2")
-
-      @client.query_options.merge!(stream: true, cache_rows: false, as: :array)
-
-      stmt.execute.each do |r|
+      stmt.execute(stream: true, cache_rows: false, as: :array).each do |r|
         case n
         when 1
           expect(r).to eq([1])
@@ -269,23 +279,17 @@ def stmt_count
     end
 
     it "should yield rows as hash's with symbol keys if :symbolize_keys was set to true" do
-      @client.query_options[:symbolize_keys] = true
-      @result = @client.prepare("SELECT 1").execute
+      @result = @client.prepare("SELECT 1").execute(symbolize_keys: true)
       @result.each do |row|
         expect(row.keys.first).to be_an_instance_of(Symbol)
       end
-      @client.query_options[:symbolize_keys] = false
     end
 
     it "should be able to return results as an array" do
-      @client.query_options[:as] = :array
-
-      @result = @client.prepare("SELECT 1").execute
+      @result = @client.prepare("SELECT 1").execute(as: :array)
       @result.each do |row|
         expect(row).to be_an_instance_of(Array)
       end
-
-      @client.query_options[:as] = :hash
     end
 
     it "should cache previously yielded results by default" do
@@ -294,35 +298,21 @@ def stmt_count
     end
 
     it "should yield different value for #first if streaming" do
-      @client.query_options[:stream] = true
-      @client.query_options[:cache_rows] = false
-
-      result = @client.prepare("SELECT 1 UNION SELECT 2").execute
+      result = @client.prepare("SELECT 1 UNION SELECT 2").execute(stream: true, cache_rows: true)
       expect(result.first).not_to eql(result.first)
-
-      @client.query_options[:stream] = false
-      @client.query_options[:cache_rows] = true
     end
 
     it "should yield the same value for #first if streaming is disabled" do
-      @client.query_options[:stream] = false
-      result = @client.prepare("SELECT 1 UNION SELECT 2").execute
+      result = @client.prepare("SELECT 1 UNION SELECT 2").execute(stream: false)
       expect(result.first).to eql(result.first)
     end
 
     it "should throw an exception if we try to iterate twice when streaming is enabled" do
-      @client.query_options[:stream] = true
-      @client.query_options[:cache_rows] = false
-
-      result = @client.prepare("SELECT 1 UNION SELECT 2").execute
-
+      result = @client.prepare("SELECT 1 UNION SELECT 2").execute(stream: true, cache_rows: false)
       expect do
         result.each {}
         result.each {}
       end.to raise_exception(Mysql2::Error)
-
-      @client.query_options[:stream] = false
-      @client.query_options[:cache_rows] = true
     end
   end
 
@@ -371,21 +361,20 @@ def stmt_count
 
     context "cast booleans for TINYINT if :cast_booleans is enabled" do
       # rubocop:disable Style/Semicolon
-      let(:client) { new_client(cast_booleans: true) }
-      let(:id1) { client.query 'INSERT INTO mysql2_test (bool_cast_test) VALUES ( 1)'; client.last_id }
-      let(:id2) { client.query 'INSERT INTO mysql2_test (bool_cast_test) VALUES ( 0)'; client.last_id }
-      let(:id3) { client.query 'INSERT INTO mysql2_test (bool_cast_test) VALUES (-1)'; client.last_id }
+      let(:id1) { @client.query 'INSERT INTO mysql2_test (bool_cast_test) VALUES ( 1)'; @client.last_id }
+      let(:id2) { @client.query 'INSERT INTO mysql2_test (bool_cast_test) VALUES ( 0)'; @client.last_id }
+      let(:id3) { @client.query 'INSERT INTO mysql2_test (bool_cast_test) VALUES (-1)'; @client.last_id }
       # rubocop:enable Style/Semicolon
 
       after do
-        client.query "DELETE from mysql2_test WHERE id IN(#{id1},#{id2},#{id3})"
+        @client.query "DELETE from mysql2_test WHERE id IN(#{id1},#{id2},#{id3})"
       end
 
       it "should return TrueClass or FalseClass for a TINYINT value if :cast_booleans is enabled" do
-        query = client.prepare 'SELECT bool_cast_test FROM mysql2_test WHERE id = ?'
-        result1 = query.execute id1
-        result2 = query.execute id2
-        result3 = query.execute id3
+        query = @client.prepare 'SELECT bool_cast_test FROM mysql2_test WHERE id = ?'
+        result1 = query.execute id1, cast_booleans: true
+        result2 = query.execute id2, cast_booleans: true
+        result3 = query.execute id3, cast_booleans: true
         expect(result1.first['bool_cast_test']).to be true
         expect(result2.first['bool_cast_test']).to be false
         expect(result3.first['bool_cast_test']).to be true
@@ -394,19 +383,18 @@ def stmt_count
 
     context "cast booleans for BIT(1) if :cast_booleans is enabled" do
       # rubocop:disable Style/Semicolon
-      let(:client) { new_client(cast_booleans: true) }
-      let(:id1) { client.query 'INSERT INTO mysql2_test (single_bit_test) VALUES (1)'; client.last_id }
-      let(:id2) { client.query 'INSERT INTO mysql2_test (single_bit_test) VALUES (0)'; client.last_id }
+      let(:id1) { @client.query 'INSERT INTO mysql2_test (single_bit_test) VALUES (1)'; @client.last_id }
+      let(:id2) { @client.query 'INSERT INTO mysql2_test (single_bit_test) VALUES (0)'; @client.last_id }
       # rubocop:enable Style/Semicolon
 
       after do
-        client.query "DELETE from mysql2_test WHERE id IN(#{id1},#{id2})"
+        @client.query "DELETE from mysql2_test WHERE id IN(#{id1},#{id2})"
       end
 
       it "should return TrueClass or FalseClass for a BIT(1) value if :cast_booleans is enabled" do
-        query = client.prepare 'SELECT single_bit_test FROM mysql2_test WHERE id = ?'
-        result1 = query.execute id1
-        result2 = query.execute id2
+        query = @client.prepare 'SELECT single_bit_test FROM mysql2_test WHERE id = ?'
+        result1 = query.execute id1, cast_booleans: true
+        result2 = query.execute id2, cast_booleans: true
         expect(result1.first['single_bit_test']).to be true
         expect(result2.first['single_bit_test']).to be false
       end