diff --git a/ArduinoKeyboard.h b/ArduinoKeyboard.h
index 781bc7b6..47cfaba1 100644
--- a/ArduinoKeyboard.h
+++ b/ArduinoKeyboard.h
@@ -71,7 +71,8 @@ void handle_synthetic_key_press(byte switchState, Key mappedKey);
 void handle_mouse_key_press(byte switchState, Key mappedKey, char &x, char &y);
 void send_key_events();
 
-
+void press_key(Key mappedKey);
+void release_key(Key mappedKey);
 
 
 
diff --git a/ArduinoKeyboard.ino b/ArduinoKeyboard.ino
index 3da1f6bb..16dc43fe 100644
--- a/ArduinoKeyboard.ino
+++ b/ArduinoKeyboard.ino
@@ -694,10 +694,10 @@ void send_key_events()
         if (key_is_pressed(switchState)) {
           record_key_being_pressed(mappedKey.rawKey);
           if (key_toggled_on (switchState)) {
-            Keyboard.press(mappedKey.rawKey);
+            press_key(mappedKey);
           }
         } else if (key_toggled_off (switchState)) {
-          Keyboard.release(mappedKey.rawKey);
+            release_key(mappedKey);
         }
         }
       }
@@ -707,6 +707,14 @@ void send_key_events()
   release_keys_not_being_pressed();
 }
 
+void press_key(Key mappedKey) {
+    Keyboard.press(mappedKey.rawKey);
+}
+
+void release_key(Key mappedKey){
+     Keyboard.release(mappedKey.rawKey);
+}
+
 
 // Hardware initialization
 void setup_pins()