diff --git a/persistence/sessions.go b/persistence/sessions.go
index 29c4918..0454d97 100644
--- a/persistence/sessions.go
+++ b/persistence/sessions.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package persistence
 import (
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 	"io/ioutil"
+	"sync"
 	"time"
 
 	"dev.narayana.im/narayana/telegabber/yamldb"
@@ -34,16 +35,18 @@ type SessionsMap struct {
 
 // Session is a key-values subtree
 type Session struct {
-	Login       string `yaml:":login"`
-	Timezone    string `yaml:":timezone"`
-	KeepOnline  bool   `yaml:":keeponline"`
-	RawMessages bool   `yaml:":rawmessages"`
-	AsciiArrows bool   `yaml:":asciiarrows"`
-	OOBMode     bool   `yaml:":oobmode"`
-	Carbons     bool   `yaml:":carbons"`
-	HideIds     bool   `yaml:":hideids"`
-	Receipts    bool   `yaml:":receipts"`
-	NativeEdits bool   `yaml:":nativeedits"`
+	Login           string         `yaml:":login"`
+	Timezone        string         `yaml:":timezone"`
+	KeepOnline      bool           `yaml:":keeponline"`
+	RawMessages     bool           `yaml:":rawmessages"`
+	AsciiArrows     bool           `yaml:":asciiarrows"`
+	OOBMode         bool           `yaml:":oobmode"`
+	Carbons         bool           `yaml:":carbons"`
+	HideIds         bool           `yaml:":hideids"`
+	Receipts        bool           `yaml:":receipts"`
+	NativeEdits     bool           `yaml:":nativeedits"`
+	IgnoredChats    []int64        `yaml:":ignoredchats"`
+	ignoredChatsMap map[int64]bool `yaml:"-"`
 }
 
 var configKeys = []string{
@@ -59,14 +62,21 @@ var configKeys = []string{
 }
 
 var sessionDB *SessionsYamlDB
+var sessionsLock sync.Mutex
 
 // SessionMarshaller implementation for YamlDB
 func SessionMarshaller() ([]byte, error) {
 	cleanedMap := SessionsMap{}
 	emptySessionsMap(&cleanedMap)
 
+	sessionsLock.Lock()
+	defer sessionsLock.Unlock()
 	for jid, session := range sessionDB.Data.Sessions {
 		if session.Login != "" {
+			session.IgnoredChats = make([]int64, 0, len(session.ignoredChatsMap))
+			for chatID := range session.ignoredChatsMap {
+				session.IgnoredChats = append(session.IgnoredChats, chatID)
+			}
 			cleanedMap.Sessions[jid] = session
 		}
 	}
@@ -108,6 +118,16 @@ func initYamlDB(path string, dataPtr *SessionsMap) (*SessionsYamlDB, error) {
 		emptySessionsMap(dataPtr)
 	}
 
+	// convert ignored users slice to map
+	for jid, session := range dataPtr.Sessions {
+		session.ignoredChatsMap = make(map[int64]bool)
+		for _, chatID := range session.IgnoredChats {
+			session.ignoredChatsMap[chatID] = true
+		}
+		session.IgnoredChats = nil
+		dataPtr.Sessions[jid] = session
+	}
+
 	return &SessionsYamlDB{
 		YamlDB: yamldb.YamlDB{
 			Path:    path,
@@ -119,6 +139,13 @@ func initYamlDB(path string, dataPtr *SessionsMap) (*SessionsYamlDB, error) {
 
 // Get retrieves a session value
 func (s *Session) Get(key string) (string, error) {
+	sessionsLock.Lock()
+	defer sessionsLock.Unlock()
+
+	return s.get(key)
+}
+
+func (s *Session) get(key string) (string, error) {
 	switch key {
 	case "timezone":
 		return s.Timezone, nil
@@ -145,9 +172,12 @@ func (s *Session) Get(key string) (string, error) {
 
 // ToMap converts the session to a map
 func (s *Session) ToMap() map[string]string {
+	sessionsLock.Lock()
+	defer sessionsLock.Unlock()
+
 	m := make(map[string]string)
 	for _, configKey := range configKeys {
-		value, _ := s.Get(configKey)
+		value, _ := s.get(configKey)
 		m[configKey] = value
 	}
 
@@ -156,6 +186,9 @@ func (s *Session) ToMap() map[string]string {
 
 // Set sets a session value
 func (s *Session) Set(key string, value string) (string, error) {
+	sessionsLock.Lock()
+	defer sessionsLock.Unlock()
+
 	switch key {
 	case "timezone":
 		s.Timezone = value
@@ -232,6 +265,51 @@ func (s *Session) TimezoneToLocation() *time.Location {
 	return zeroLocation
 }
 
+// IgnoreChat adds a chat id to ignore list, returns false if already ignored
+func (s *Session) IgnoreChat(chatID int64) bool {
+	sessionsLock.Lock()
+	defer sessionsLock.Unlock()
+
+	if s.ignoredChatsMap == nil {
+		s.ignoredChatsMap = make(map[int64]bool)
+	} else if _, ok := s.ignoredChatsMap[chatID]; ok {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	s.ignoredChatsMap[chatID] = true
+	return true
+}
+
+// UnignoreChat removes a chat id from ignore list, returns false if not already ignored
+func (s *Session) UnignoreChat(chatID int64) bool {
+	sessionsLock.Lock()
+	defer sessionsLock.Unlock()
+
+	if s.ignoredChatsMap == nil {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	if _, ok := s.ignoredChatsMap[chatID]; !ok {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	delete(s.ignoredChatsMap, chatID)
+	return true
+}
+
+// IsChatIgnored checks the chat id against the ignore list
+func (s *Session) IsChatIgnored(chatID int64) bool {
+	sessionsLock.Lock()
+	defer sessionsLock.Unlock()
+
+	if s.ignoredChatsMap == nil {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	_, ok := s.ignoredChatsMap[chatID]
+	return ok
+}
+
 func fromBool(b bool) string {
 	if b {
 		return "true"
diff --git a/persistence/sessions_test.go b/persistence/sessions_test.go
index 0339378..001cfa0 100644
--- a/persistence/sessions_test.go
+++ b/persistence/sessions_test.go
@@ -88,3 +88,31 @@ func TestSessionSetAbsent(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Error("There shouldn't come a donkey!")
 	}
 }
+
+func TestSessionIgnore(t *testing.T) {
+	session := Session{}
+	if session.IsChatIgnored(3) {
+		t.Error("Shouldn't be ignored yet")
+	}
+	if !session.IgnoreChat(3) {
+		t.Error("Shouldn't have been ignored")
+	}
+	if session.IgnoreChat(3) {
+		t.Error("Shouldn't ignore second time")
+	}
+	if !session.IsChatIgnored(3) {
+		t.Error("Should be ignored already")
+	}
+	if session.IsChatIgnored(-145) {
+		t.Error("Wrong chat is ignored")
+	}
+	if !session.UnignoreChat(3) {
+		t.Error("Should successfully unignore")
+	}
+	if session.UnignoreChat(3) {
+		t.Error("Should unignore second time")
+	}
+	if session.IsChatIgnored(3) {
+		t.Error("Shouldn't be ignored already")
+	}
+}
diff --git a/telegram/commands.go b/telegram/commands.go
index 039798f..397ba91 100644
--- a/telegram/commands.go
+++ b/telegram/commands.go
@@ -94,8 +94,8 @@ var chatCommands = map[string]command{
 	"invite":     command{1, []string{"id or @username"}, "add user to current chat", &notForPM},
 	"link":       command{0, []string{}, "get invite link for current chat", &notForPM},
 	"kick":       command{1, []string{"id or @username"}, "remove user from current chat", &notForPM},
-	"mute":       command{1, []string{"id or @username", "hours"}, "mute user in current chat", &notForPMAndBasic},
-	"unmute":     command{1, []string{"id or @username"}, "unrestrict user from current chat", &notForPMAndBasic},
+	"mute":       command{0, []string{"id or @username", "hours"}, "mute the whole chat or a user in current chat", &notForPMAndBasic},
+	"unmute":     command{0, []string{"id or @username"}, "unmute the whole chat or a user in the current chat", &notForPMAndBasic},
 	"ban":        command{1, []string{"id or @username", "hours"}, "restrict @username from current chat for [hours] or forever", &notForPM},
 	"unban":      command{1, []string{"id or @username"}, "unbans @username in current chat (and devotes from admins)", &notForPM},
 	"promote":    command{1, []string{"id or @username", "title"}, "promote user to admin in current chat", &notForPM},
@@ -847,57 +847,71 @@ func (c *Client) ProcessChatCommand(chatID int64, cmdline string) (string, bool,
 		if err != nil {
 			return err.Error(), true, false
 		}
-	// mute @username [n hours]
+	// mute [@username [n hours]]
 	case "mute":
-		contact, _, err := c.GetContactByUsername(args[0])
-		if err != nil {
-			return err.Error(), true, false
-		}
-		if contact == nil {
-			return "Contact not found", true, false
-		}
-
-		var hours int64
-		if len(args) > 1 {
-			hours, err = strconv.ParseInt(args[1], 10, 32)
+		if len(args) > 0 {
+			contact, _, err := c.GetContactByUsername(args[0])
 			if err != nil {
-				return "Invalid number of hours", true, false
+				return err.Error(), true, false
+			}
+			if contact == nil {
+				return "Contact not found", true, false
 			}
-		}
 
-		_, err = c.client.SetChatMemberStatus(&client.SetChatMemberStatusRequest{
-			ChatId:   chatID,
-			MemberId: &client.MessageSenderUser{UserId: contact.Id},
-			Status: &client.ChatMemberStatusRestricted{
-				IsMember:            true,
-				RestrictedUntilDate: c.formatBantime(hours),
-				Permissions:         &permissionsReadonly,
-			},
-		})
-		if err != nil {
-			return err.Error(), true, false
+			var hours int64
+			if len(args) > 1 {
+				hours, err = strconv.ParseInt(args[1], 10, 32)
+				if err != nil {
+					return "Invalid number of hours", true, false
+				}
+			}
+
+			_, err = c.client.SetChatMemberStatus(&client.SetChatMemberStatusRequest{
+				ChatId:   chatID,
+				MemberId: &client.MessageSenderUser{UserId: contact.Id},
+				Status: &client.ChatMemberStatusRestricted{
+					IsMember:            true,
+					RestrictedUntilDate: c.formatBantime(hours),
+					Permissions:         &permissionsReadonly,
+				},
+			})
+			if err != nil {
+				return err.Error(), true, false
+			}
+		} else {
+			if !c.Session.IgnoreChat(chatID) {
+				return "Chat is already ignored", true, false
+			}
+			gateway.DirtySessions = true
 		}
-	// unmute @username
+	// unmute [@username]
 	case "unmute":
-		contact, _, err := c.GetContactByUsername(args[0])
-		if err != nil {
-			return err.Error(), true, false
-		}
-		if contact == nil {
-			return "Contact not found", true, false
-		}
+		if len(args) > 0 {
+			contact, _, err := c.GetContactByUsername(args[0])
+			if err != nil {
+				return err.Error(), true, false
+			}
+			if contact == nil {
+				return "Contact not found", true, false
+			}
 
-		_, err = c.client.SetChatMemberStatus(&client.SetChatMemberStatusRequest{
-			ChatId:   chatID,
-			MemberId: &client.MessageSenderUser{UserId: contact.Id},
-			Status: &client.ChatMemberStatusRestricted{
-				IsMember:            true,
-				RestrictedUntilDate: 0,
-				Permissions:         &permissionsMember,
-			},
-		})
-		if err != nil {
-			return err.Error(), true, false
+			_, err = c.client.SetChatMemberStatus(&client.SetChatMemberStatusRequest{
+				ChatId:   chatID,
+				MemberId: &client.MessageSenderUser{UserId: contact.Id},
+				Status: &client.ChatMemberStatusRestricted{
+					IsMember:            true,
+					RestrictedUntilDate: 0,
+					Permissions:         &permissionsMember,
+				},
+			})
+			if err != nil {
+				return err.Error(), true, false
+			}
+		} else {
+			if !c.Session.UnignoreChat(chatID) {
+				return "Chat wasn't ignored", true, false
+			}
+			gateway.DirtySessions = true
 		}
 	// ban @username from current chat [for N hours]
 	case "ban":
diff --git a/telegram/handlers.go b/telegram/handlers.go
index 6266292..1ccd622 100644
--- a/telegram/handlers.go
+++ b/telegram/handlers.go
@@ -235,6 +235,9 @@ func (c *Client) updateChatLastMessage(update *client.UpdateChatLastMessage) {
 // message received
 func (c *Client) updateNewMessage(update *client.UpdateNewMessage) {
 	chatId := update.Message.ChatId
+	if c.Session.IsChatIgnored(chatId) {
+		return
+	}
 
 	// guarantee sequential message delivering per chat
 	lock := c.getChatMessageLock(chatId)
@@ -261,6 +264,10 @@ func (c *Client) updateNewMessage(update *client.UpdateNewMessage) {
 
 // message content updated
 func (c *Client) updateMessageContent(update *client.UpdateMessageContent) {
+	if c.Session.IsChatIgnored(update.ChatId) {
+		return
+	}
+
 	markupFunction := c.getFormatter()
 
 	defer c.updateLastMessageHash(update.ChatId, update.MessageId, update.NewContent)
@@ -353,6 +360,10 @@ func (c *Client) updateMessageContent(update *client.UpdateMessageContent) {
 // message(s) deleted
 func (c *Client) updateDeleteMessages(update *client.UpdateDeleteMessages) {
 	if update.IsPermanent {
+		if c.Session.IsChatIgnored(update.ChatId) {
+			return
+		}
+
 		var deleteChar string
 		if c.Session.AsciiArrows {
 			deleteChar = "X "