diff --git a/docs/docs/configuration.md b/docs/docs/configuration.md
index e9243923..42806bc9 100644
--- a/docs/docs/configuration.md
+++ b/docs/docs/configuration.md
@@ -1023,6 +1023,14 @@ Accept prefixes up to /24 and /48 from covering parent IRR objects
 |------|---------|------------|
 | bool   | false      |          |
 
+### `gateway`
+
+The mode in which the gateway is defined for received routes (direct|recursive).
+
+| Type | Default | Validation |
+|------|---------|------------|
+| string   |       |          |
+
 ### `add-on-import`
 
 List of communities to add to all imported routes
diff --git a/pkg/config/config.go b/pkg/config/config.go
index 881360b8..70ce91c5 100644
--- a/pkg/config/config.go
+++ b/pkg/config/config.go
@@ -141,6 +141,7 @@ type Peer struct {
 	DisableAfterError      *bool     `yaml:"disable-after-error" description:"Disable peer after error" default:"false"`
 	PreferOlderRoutes      *bool     `yaml:"prefer-older-routes" description:"Prefer older routes instead of comparing router IDs (RFC 5004)" default:"false"`
 	IRRAcceptChildPrefixes *bool     `yaml:"irr-accept-child-prefixes" description:"Accept prefixes up to /24 and /48 from covering parent IRR objects" default:"false"`
+	Gateway                *string   `yaml:"gateway" description:"The mode in which the gateway is defined for received routes (direct|recursive)." default:"-"`
 
 	ImportCommunities    *[]string `yaml:"add-on-import" description:"List of communities to add to all imported routes" default:"-"`
 	ExportCommunities    *[]string `yaml:"add-on-export" description:"List of communities to add to all exported routes" default:"-"`
diff --git a/pkg/embed/templates/peer.tmpl b/pkg/embed/templates/peer.tmpl
index 88a04c72..e7f72cbd 100644
--- a/pkg/embed/templates/peer.tmpl
+++ b/pkg/embed/templates/peer.tmpl
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ protocol bgp {{ UniqueProtocolName $peer.ProtocolName $peerName $af $peer.ASN $p
         {{ if BoolDeref $peer.AddPathRx }}add paths rx;{{ end }}
         {{ if BoolDeref $peer.AdvertiseHostname }}advertise hostname on;{{ end }}
         {{ if BoolDeref $peer.DisableAfterError }}disable after error on;{{ end }}
+        {{ if StrDeref $peer.Gateway }}gateway "{{ StrDeref $peer.Gateway }}";{{ end }}
         import filter {
             {{ if $global.NoAccept }}reject; # no-accept: true{{ end }}
             {{ if (not (BoolDeref $peer.Import)) }}reject; # import: false{{ end }}
diff --git a/pkg/process/process.go b/pkg/process/process.go
index 286ab556..f8fa347f 100644
--- a/pkg/process/process.go
+++ b/pkg/process/process.go
@@ -629,6 +629,12 @@ func Load(configBlob []byte) (*config.Config, error) {
 			}
 		}
 
+		if peerData.Gateway != nil {
+			peerData.Gateway = util.Ptr(strings.ReplaceAll(*peerData.Gateway, "-", "_"))
+			if *peerData.Gateway != "direct" && *peerData.Gateway != "recursive" {
+				return nil, errors.New("invalid gateway type")
+			}
+		}
 		// Check for no originated prefixes but announce-originated enabled
 		if len(c.Prefixes) < 1 && *peerData.AnnounceOriginated {
 			// No locally originated prefixes are defined, so there's nothing to originate