diff --git a/packages/myst-cli/src/build/build.ts b/packages/myst-cli/src/build/build.ts
index 589578f79..73eb39d80 100644
--- a/packages/myst-cli/src/build/build.ts
+++ b/packages/myst-cli/src/build/build.ts
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ export type BuildOpts = {
   output?: string;
   checkLinks?: boolean;
   ci?: boolean;
+  execute?: boolean;
 };
 
 export function hasAnyExplicitExportFormat(opts: BuildOpts): boolean {
diff --git a/packages/myst-cli/src/build/clean.ts b/packages/myst-cli/src/build/clean.ts
index b46afb542..5db0c9185 100644
--- a/packages/myst-cli/src/build/clean.ts
+++ b/packages/myst-cli/src/build/clean.ts
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ export type CleanOptions = {
   html?: boolean;
   temp?: boolean;
   exports?: boolean;
+  execute?: boolean;
   templates?: boolean;
   all?: boolean;
   yes?: boolean;
@@ -43,6 +44,7 @@ const ALL_OPTS: CleanOptions = {
   html: true,
   temp: true,
   exports: true,
+  execute: true,
   templates: true,
 };
 const DEFAULT_OPTS: CleanOptions = {
@@ -56,10 +58,12 @@ const DEFAULT_OPTS: CleanOptions = {
   html: true,
   temp: true,
   exports: true,
+  execute: true,
 };
 
 function coerceOpts(opts: CleanOptions) {
-  const { docx, pdf, tex, xml, md, meca, site, html, temp, exports, templates, all } = opts;
+  const { docx, pdf, tex, xml, md, meca, site, html, temp, exports, execute, templates, all } =
+    opts;
   if (all) return { ...opts, ...ALL_OPTS };
   if (
     !docx &&
@@ -72,6 +76,7 @@ function coerceOpts(opts: CleanOptions) {
     !html &&
     !temp &&
     !exports &&
+    !execute &&
     !templates
   ) {
     return { ...opts, ...DEFAULT_OPTS };
@@ -112,7 +117,7 @@ function deduplicatePaths(paths: string[]) {
 
 export async function clean(session: ISession, files: string[], opts: CleanOptions) {
   opts = coerceOpts(opts);
-  const { site, html, temp, exports, templates, yes } = opts;
+  const { site, html, temp, exports, execute, templates, yes } = opts;
   let pathsToDelete: string[] = [];
   const exportOptionsList = await collectAllBuildExportOptions(session, files, opts);
   if (exports) {
@@ -125,7 +130,7 @@ export async function clean(session: ISession, files: string[], opts: CleanOptio
     });
   }
   let buildFolders: string[] = [];
-  if (temp || exports || templates || html) {
+  if (temp || exports || execute || templates || html) {
     const projectPaths = [
       ...getProjectPaths(session),
       ...exportOptionsList.map((exp) => exp.$project),
@@ -138,12 +143,13 @@ export async function clean(session: ISession, files: string[], opts: CleanOptio
     buildFolders.push(session.buildPath());
   }
   buildFolders = [...new Set(buildFolders)].sort();
-  if (temp || exports || templates || html) {
+  if (temp || exports || templates || execute || html) {
     buildFolders.forEach((folder) => {
       if (temp) pathsToDelete.push(path.join(folder, 'temp'));
       if (exports) pathsToDelete.push(path.join(folder, 'exports'));
       if (templates) pathsToDelete.push(path.join(folder, 'templates'));
       if (html) pathsToDelete.push(path.join(folder, 'html'));
+      if (execute) pathsToDelete.push(path.join(folder, 'execute'));
     });
   }
   if (site) {
diff --git a/packages/myst-cli/src/build/site/prepare.ts b/packages/myst-cli/src/build/site/prepare.ts
index 4388bed69..1baa54984 100644
--- a/packages/myst-cli/src/build/site/prepare.ts
+++ b/packages/myst-cli/src/build/site/prepare.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ export type Options = {
   checkLinks?: boolean;
   yes?: boolean;
   port?: number;
+  execute?: boolean;
   serverPort?: number;
   writeToc?: boolean;
   keepHost?: boolean;
@@ -38,8 +39,15 @@ export function ensureBuildFoldersExist(session: ISession): void {
 }
 
 export async function buildSite(session: ISession, opts: Options) {
-  const { writeToc, strict, checkLinks, extraLinkTransformers, extraTransforms, defaultTemplate } =
-    opts;
+  const {
+    writeToc,
+    strict,
+    checkLinks,
+    extraLinkTransformers,
+    extraTransforms,
+    defaultTemplate,
+    execute,
+  } = opts;
   ensureBuildFoldersExist(session);
   await processSite(session, {
     writeToc,
@@ -48,5 +56,6 @@ export async function buildSite(session: ISession, opts: Options) {
     extraLinkTransformers,
     extraTransforms,
     defaultTemplate,
+    execute,
   });
 }
diff --git a/packages/myst-cli/src/build/site/start.ts b/packages/myst-cli/src/build/site/start.ts
index 144b432eb..f220f18d2 100644
--- a/packages/myst-cli/src/build/site/start.ts
+++ b/packages/myst-cli/src/build/site/start.ts
@@ -112,12 +112,13 @@ export async function startServer(
   if (!opts.headless) await installSiteTemplate(session, mystTemplate);
   await buildSite(session, opts);
   const server = await startContentServer(session, opts);
-  const { extraLinkTransformers, extraTransforms, defaultTemplate } = opts;
+  const { extraLinkTransformers, extraTransforms, defaultTemplate, execute } = opts;
   if (!opts.buildStatic) {
     watchContent(session, server.reload, {
       extraLinkTransformers,
       extraTransforms,
       defaultTemplate,
+      execute,
     });
   }
   if (opts.headless) {
diff --git a/packages/myst-cli/src/build/site/watch.ts b/packages/myst-cli/src/build/site/watch.ts
index 85b35afac..0287e0598 100644
--- a/packages/myst-cli/src/build/site/watch.ts
+++ b/packages/myst-cli/src/build/site/watch.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ type TransformOptions = {
   extraTransforms?: TransformFn[];
   defaultTemplate?: string;
   reloadProject?: boolean;
+  execute?: boolean;
 };
 
 function watchConfigAndPublic(session: ISession, serverReload: () => void, opts: TransformOptions) {
diff --git a/packages/myst-cli/src/process/mdast.ts b/packages/myst-cli/src/process/mdast.ts
index ddeaa9d4a..7d570823c 100644
--- a/packages/myst-cli/src/process/mdast.ts
+++ b/packages/myst-cli/src/process/mdast.ts
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import {
   enumerateTargetsPlugin,
   keysTransform,
   linksTransform,
+  MultiPageReferenceState,
   MystTransformer,
   WikiTransformer,
   GithubTransformer,
@@ -115,6 +116,7 @@ export async function transformMdast(
     pageSlug?: string;
     imageExtensions?: ImageExtensions[];
     watchMode?: boolean;
+    execute?: boolean;
     extraTransforms?: TransformFn[];
     minifyMaxCharacters?: number;
     index?: string;
@@ -132,6 +134,7 @@ export async function transformMdast(
     minifyMaxCharacters,
     index,
     titleDepth,
+    execute,
   } = opts;
   const toc = tic();
   const { store, log } = session;
@@ -230,14 +233,17 @@ export async function transformMdast(
   // Combine file-specific citation renderers with project renderers from bib files
   const fileCitationRenderer = combineCitationRenderers(cache, ...rendererFiles);
 
-  const cachePath = path.join(session.buildPath(), 'execute');
-  await kernelExecutionTransform(mdast, vfile, {
-    cache: new LocalDiskCache<(IExpressionResult | IOutput[])[]>(cachePath),
-    sessionFactory: () => session.jupyterSessionManager(),
-    frontmatter: frontmatter,
-    ignoreCache: false,
-    errorIsFatal: false,
-  });
+  if (execute) {
+    const cachePath = path.join(session.buildPath(), 'execute');
+    await kernelExecutionTransform(mdast, vfile, {
+      cache: new LocalDiskCache<(IExpressionResult | IOutput[])[]>(cachePath),
+      sessionFactory: () => session.jupyterSessionManager(),
+      frontmatter: frontmatter,
+      ignoreCache: false,
+      errorIsFatal: false,
+      log: session.log,
+    });
+  }
   transformRenderInlineExpressions(mdast, vfile);
 
   transformFilterOutputStreams(mdast, vfile, frontmatter.settings);
diff --git a/packages/myst-cli/src/process/site.ts b/packages/myst-cli/src/process/site.ts
index 55e35331c..0d14cfd94 100644
--- a/packages/myst-cli/src/process/site.ts
+++ b/packages/myst-cli/src/process/site.ts
@@ -48,6 +48,8 @@ type ProcessOptions = {
   defaultTemplate?: string;
   reloadProject?: boolean;
   minifyMaxCharacters?: number;
+  /** Execute flag for notebooks */
+  execute?: boolean;
 };
 
 /**
@@ -206,6 +208,7 @@ export async function fastProcessFile(
     extraLinkTransformers,
     extraTransforms,
     defaultTemplate,
+    execute,
   }: {
     file: string;
     pageSlug: string;
@@ -214,6 +217,7 @@ export async function fastProcessFile(
     extraLinkTransformers?: LinkTransformer[];
     extraTransforms?: TransformFn[];
     defaultTemplate?: string;
+    execute?: boolean;
   },
 ) {
   const toc = tic();
@@ -228,6 +232,7 @@ export async function fastProcessFile(
     watchMode: true,
     extraTransforms,
     index: project.index,
+    execute,
   });
   const pageReferenceStates = selectPageReferenceStates(session, pages);
   await postProcessMdast(session, {
@@ -267,6 +272,7 @@ export async function processProject(
     writeFiles = true,
     reloadProject,
     minifyMaxCharacters,
+    execute,
   } = opts || {};
   if (!siteProject.path) {
     const slugSuffix = siteProject.slug ? `: ${siteProject.slug}` : '';
@@ -283,9 +289,7 @@ export async function processProject(
       // Load all citations (.bib)
       ...project.bibliography.map((path) => loadFile(session, path, siteProject.path, '.bib')),
       // Load all content (.md and .ipynb)
-      ...pages.map((page) =>
-        loadFile(session, page.file, siteProject.path, undefined),
-      ),
+      ...pages.map((page) => loadFile(session, page.file, siteProject.path, undefined)),
       // Load up all the intersphinx references
       loadIntersphinx(session, { projectPath: siteProject.path }) as Promise<any>,
     ]);
@@ -306,6 +310,7 @@ export async function processProject(
         watchMode,
         extraTransforms: opts?.extraTransforms,
         index: project.index,
+        execute,
       }),
     ),
   );
diff --git a/packages/myst-cli/src/session/session.ts b/packages/myst-cli/src/session/session.ts
index bebcf5c23..20ba21b33 100644
--- a/packages/myst-cli/src/session/session.ts
+++ b/packages/myst-cli/src/session/session.ts
@@ -185,9 +185,14 @@ export class Session implements ISession {
           token: process.env.JUPYTER_TOKEN,
         };
       } else {
-        partialServerSettings =
-          (await findExistingJupyterServer()) ||
-          (await launchJupyterServer(this.contentPath(), this.log));
+        const existing = await findExistingJupyterServer();
+        if (existing) {
+          this.log.debug(`Found existing server on: ${existing.appUrl}`);
+          partialServerSettings = existing;
+        } else {
+          this.log.debug(`Launching jupyter server on ${this.contentPath()}`);
+          partialServerSettings = await launchJupyterServer(this.contentPath(), this.log);
+        }
       }
 
       const serverSettings = ServerConnection.makeSettings(partialServerSettings);
diff --git a/packages/myst-cli/src/utils/addWarningForFile.ts b/packages/myst-cli/src/utils/addWarningForFile.ts
index 29b830d87..d9575dfff 100644
--- a/packages/myst-cli/src/utils/addWarningForFile.ts
+++ b/packages/myst-cli/src/utils/addWarningForFile.ts
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ export function addWarningForFile(
   const formatted = `${message}${note}${url}`;
   switch (kind) {
     case 'info':
-      session.log.info(`ℹ️ ${prefix}${formatted}`);
+      session.log.info(`ℹ️  ${prefix}${formatted}`);
       break;
     case 'error':
       session.log.error(`⛔️ ${prefix}${formatted}`);
diff --git a/packages/myst-execute/package.json b/packages/myst-execute/package.json
index 25e558745..b02da18d7 100644
--- a/packages/myst-execute/package.json
+++ b/packages/myst-execute/package.json
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
     "url": "https://github.com/executablebooks/mystmd/issues"
   },
   "dependencies": {
+    "chalk": "^5.2.0",
     "myst-common": "^1.1.21",
     "vfile": "^5.3.7",
     "@jupyterlab/services": "^7.0.0",
diff --git a/packages/myst-execute/src/execute.ts b/packages/myst-execute/src/execute.ts
index 11467b570..4453fa740 100644
--- a/packages/myst-execute/src/execute.ts
+++ b/packages/myst-execute/src/execute.ts
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 import { select, selectAll } from 'unist-util-select';
+import type { Logger } from 'myst-cli-utils';
 import type { PageFrontmatter } from 'myst-frontmatter';
 import type { Kernel, KernelMessage, Session, SessionManager } from '@jupyterlab/services';
 import type { Code, InlineExpression } from 'myst-spec-ext';
 import type { IOutput } from '@jupyterlab/nbformat';
 import type { GenericNode, GenericParent, IExpressionResult } from 'myst-common';
-import { fileError, fileInfo, fileWarn } from 'myst-common';
+import { fileError, fileWarn } from 'myst-common';
 import type { VFile } from 'vfile';
 import path from 'node:path';
 import assert from 'node:assert';
@@ -30,7 +31,12 @@ function IOPubAsOutput(msg: KernelMessage.IIOPubMessage): IOutput {
  * @param kernel connection to an active kernel
  * @param code code to execute
  */
-async function executeCode(kernel: Kernel.IKernelConnection, code: string) {
+async function executeCode(
+  kernel: Kernel.IKernelConnection,
+  code: string,
+  opts?: { log?: Logger },
+) {
+  const log = opts?.log ?? console;
   const future = kernel.requestExecute({
     code: code,
   });
@@ -103,7 +109,7 @@ async function evaluateExpression(kernel: Kernel.IKernelConnection, expr: string
 /**
  * Build a cache key from an array of executable nodes
  *
- * @param nodes array of executable ndoes
+ * @param nodes array of executable nodes
  */
 function buildCacheKey(nodes: (ICellBlock | InlineExpression)[]): string {
   // Build an array of hashable items from an array of nodes
@@ -125,7 +131,7 @@ function buildCacheKey(nodes: (ICellBlock | InlineExpression)[]): string {
       });
     }
   }
-  // Serialise the array into JSON, and compute the hash
+  // Serialize the array into JSON, and compute the hash
   const hashableString = JSON.stringify(hashableItems);
   return createHash('md5').update(hashableString).digest('hex');
 }
@@ -158,7 +164,7 @@ function isInlineExpression(node: GenericNode): node is InlineExpression {
 
 /**
  * For each executable node, perform a kernel execution request and return the results.
- * Return an additional boolean indicating whether an error occured.
+ * Return an additional boolean indicating whether an error occurred.
  *
  * @param kernel
  * @param nodes
@@ -167,7 +173,7 @@ function isInlineExpression(node: GenericNode): node is InlineExpression {
 async function computeExecutableNodes(
   kernel: Kernel.IKernelConnection,
   nodes: (ICellBlock | InlineExpression)[],
-  vfile: VFile,
+  opts: { vfile: VFile; log?: Logger },
 ): Promise<{
   results: (IOutput[] | IExpressionResult)[];
   errorOccurred: boolean;
@@ -179,7 +185,7 @@ async function computeExecutableNodes(
     if (isCellBlock(matchedNode)) {
       // Pull out code to execute
       const code = select('code', matchedNode) as Code;
-      const { status, outputs } = await executeCode(kernel, code.value);
+      const { status, outputs } = await executeCode(kernel, code.value, { log: opts.log });
       // Cache result
       results.push(outputs);
 
@@ -187,7 +193,13 @@ async function computeExecutableNodes(
       const metadata = matchedNode.data || {};
       const allowErrors = !!metadata?.tags?.['raises-exception'];
       if (status === 'error' && !allowErrors) {
-        fileWarn(vfile, 'An exception occurred during code execution, halting further execution');
+        fileWarn(
+          opts.vfile,
+          'An exception occurred during code execution, halting further execution',
+          {
+            node: matchedNode,
+          },
+        );
         // Make a note of the failure
         errorOccurred = true;
         break;
@@ -199,8 +211,9 @@ async function computeExecutableNodes(
       // Check for errors
       if (status === 'error') {
         fileWarn(
-          vfile,
+          opts.vfile,
           'An exception occurred during expression evaluation, halting further execution',
+          { node: matchedNode },
         );
         // Make a note of the failure
         errorOccurred = true;
@@ -253,16 +266,18 @@ export type Options = {
   frontmatter: PageFrontmatter;
   ignoreCache?: boolean;
   errorIsFatal?: boolean;
+  log?: Logger;
 };
 
 /**
  * Transform an AST to include the outputs of executing the given notebook
  *
  * @param tree
- * @param file
+ * @param vfile
  * @param opts
  */
-export async function kernelExecutionTransform(tree: GenericParent, file: VFile, opts: Options) {
+export async function kernelExecutionTransform(tree: GenericParent, vfile: VFile, opts: Options) {
+  const log = opts.log ?? console;
   // Pull out code-like nodes
   const executableNodes = selectAll(
     'block:has(code[executable=true]):has(output),inlineExpression',
@@ -280,16 +295,15 @@ export async function kernelExecutionTransform(tree: GenericParent, file: VFile,
 
   // Do we need to re-execute notebook?
   if (opts.ignoreCache || cachedResults === undefined) {
-    fileInfo(
-      file,
-      opts.ignoreCache
-        ? 'Code cells and expressions will be re-evaluated, as the cache is being ignored'
-        : 'Code cells and expressions will be re-evaluated, as there is no entry in the execution cache',
+    log.info(
+      `💿 Executing Notebook (${vfile.path}) ${
+        opts.ignoreCache ? '[cache ignored]' : '[no execution cache found]'
+      }`,
     );
     const sessionManager = await opts.sessionFactory();
     // Do we not have a working session?
     if (sessionManager === undefined) {
-      fileError(file, `Could not load Jupyter session manager to run executable nodes`, {
+      fileError(vfile, `Could not load Jupyter session manager to run executable nodes`, {
         fatal: opts.errorIsFatal,
       });
     }
@@ -297,31 +311,36 @@ export async function kernelExecutionTransform(tree: GenericParent, file: VFile,
     else {
       let sessionConnection: Session.ISessionConnection | undefined;
       const sessionOpts = {
-        path: file.path,
+        path: vfile.path,
         type: 'notebook',
-        name: path.basename(file.path),
+        name: path.basename(vfile.path),
         kernel: {
           name: opts.frontmatter?.kernelspec?.name ?? 'python3',
         },
       };
       await sessionManager
         .startNew(sessionOpts)
+        .catch((err) => {
+          log.debug((err as Error).stack);
+          log.error('Jupyter connection error');
+        })
         .then(async (conn) => {
+          if (!conn) return;
           sessionConnection = conn;
           assert(conn.kernel);
-          fileInfo(file, `Connected to kernel ${conn.kernel.name}`);
+          log.debug(`Connected to kernel ${conn.kernel.name}`);
           // Execute notebook
           const { results, errorOccurred } = await computeExecutableNodes(
             conn.kernel,
             executableNodes,
-            file,
+            { vfile, log },
           );
           // Populate cache if things were successful
           if (!errorOccurred) {
             opts.cache.set(cacheKey, results);
           } else {
             // Otherwise, keep tabs on the error
-            fileError(file, 'An error occurred during kernel execution', {
+            fileError(vfile, 'An error occurred during kernel execution', {
               fatal: opts.errorIsFatal,
             });
           }
@@ -331,6 +350,9 @@ export async function kernelExecutionTransform(tree: GenericParent, file: VFile,
         // Ensure that we shut-down the kernel
         .finally(async () => sessionConnection !== undefined && sessionConnection.shutdown());
     }
+  } else {
+    // We found the cache, adding them in below!
+    log.info(`💾 Adding Cached Notebook Outputs (${vfile.path})`);
   }
 
   if (cachedResults) {
diff --git a/packages/myst-execute/src/manager.ts b/packages/myst-execute/src/manager.ts
index fc907c8c6..7f00fbb68 100644
--- a/packages/myst-execute/src/manager.ts
+++ b/packages/myst-execute/src/manager.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import which from 'which';
 import { spawn } from 'node:child_process';
 import * as readline from 'node:readline';
 import type { Logger } from 'myst-cli-utils';
+import chalk from 'chalk';
 
 export type JupyterServerSettings = Partial<ServerConnection.ISettings> & {
   dispose?: () => void;
@@ -48,6 +49,7 @@ export async function findExistingJupyterServer(): Promise<JupyterServerSettings
   }
   servers.sort((a, b) => a.pid - b.pid);
   const server = servers.pop()!;
+  // TODO: We should ping the server to ensure that it actually is up!
   return {
     baseUrl: server.url,
     token: server.token,
@@ -64,6 +66,7 @@ export function launchJupyterServer(
   contentPath: string,
   log: Logger,
 ): Promise<JupyterServerSettings> {
+  log.info(`🚀 ${chalk.yellowBright('Starting new Jupyter server')}`);
   const pythonPath = which.sync('python');
   const proc = spawn(pythonPath, ['-m', 'jupyter_server', '--ServerApp.root_dir', contentPath]);
   const promise = new Promise<JupyterServerSettings>((resolve, reject) => {
@@ -76,7 +79,7 @@ export function launchJupyterServer(
       }
 
       // Pull out the match information
-      const [_, addr, token] = match;
+      const [, addr, token] = match;
 
       // Resolve the promise
       resolve({
@@ -90,8 +93,9 @@ export function launchJupyterServer(
     setTimeout(reject, 20_000); // Fail after 20 seconds of nothing happening
   });
   // Inform log
-  promise.then((settings) =>
-    log.info(`Started up Jupyter Server on ${settings.baseUrl}?token=${settings.token}`),
-  );
+  promise.then((settings) => {
+    const url = `${settings.baseUrl}?token=${settings.token}`;
+    log.info(`🪐 ${chalk.greenBright('Jupyter Server Started')}\n   ${chalk.dim(url)}`);
+  });
   return promise;
 }
diff --git a/packages/mystmd/src/build.ts b/packages/mystmd/src/build.ts
index 0bae1ce58..6b113de6c 100644
--- a/packages/mystmd/src/build.ts
+++ b/packages/mystmd/src/build.ts
@@ -18,12 +18,14 @@ import {
   makeTypstOption,
   makeWatchOption,
   makeCIOption,
+  makeExecuteOption,
 } from './options.js';
 
 export function makeBuildCLI(program: Command) {
   const command = new Command('build')
     .description('Build PDF, LaTeX, Word and website exports from MyST files')
     .argument('[files...]', 'list of files to export')
+    .addOption(makeExecuteOption('Execute Notebooks'))
     .addOption(makePdfOption('Build PDF output'))
     .addOption(makeTexOption('Build LaTeX outputs'))
     .addOption(makeTypstOption('Build Typst outputs'))
diff --git a/packages/mystmd/src/clean.ts b/packages/mystmd/src/clean.ts
index 4141646b1..99136b91d 100644
--- a/packages/mystmd/src/clean.ts
+++ b/packages/mystmd/src/clean.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import {
   makeSiteOption,
   makeTexOption,
   makeTypstOption,
+  makeExecuteOption,
   makeYesOption,
 } from './options.js';
 
@@ -49,6 +50,7 @@ export function makeCleanCLI(program: Command) {
     .addOption(makeMecaOptions('Clean MECA zip output'))
     .addOption(makeSiteOption('Clean MyST site content'))
     .addOption(makeHtmlOption('Clean static HTML site content'))
+    .addOption(makeExecuteOption('Clean execute cache'))
     .addOption(makeTempOption())
     .addOption(makeExportsOption())
     .addOption(makeTemplatesOption())
diff --git a/packages/mystmd/src/options.ts b/packages/mystmd/src/options.ts
index fdd8f6c48..754eade8d 100644
--- a/packages/mystmd/src/options.ts
+++ b/packages/mystmd/src/options.ts
@@ -42,6 +42,10 @@ export function makeHtmlOption(description: string) {
   return new Option('--html', description).default(false);
 }
 
+export function makeExecuteOption(description: string) {
+  return new Option('--execute', description).default(false);
+}
+
 export function makeProjectOption(description: string) {
   return new Option('--project', description).default(false);
 }
diff --git a/packages/mystmd/src/site.ts b/packages/mystmd/src/site.ts
index af8746f51..fb2ac125d 100644
--- a/packages/mystmd/src/site.ts
+++ b/packages/mystmd/src/site.ts
@@ -6,11 +6,13 @@ import {
   makeHeadlessOption,
   makePortOption,
   makeServerPortOption,
+  makeExecuteOption,
 } from './options.js';
 
 export function makeStartCLI(program: Command) {
   const command = new Command('start')
     .description('Start the current project as a website')
+    .addOption(makeExecuteOption('Execute Notebooks'))
     .addOption(makeKeepHostOption())
     .addOption(makeHeadlessOption())
     .addOption(makePortOption())