diff --git a/telegram/handlers.go b/telegram/handlers.go
index 4b44463..c83f418 100644
--- a/telegram/handlers.go
+++ b/telegram/handlers.go
@@ -143,7 +143,8 @@ func (c *Client) updateNewChat(update *client.UpdateNewChat) {
 		c.cache.SetChat(update.Chat.Id, update.Chat)
 
 		var isChannel = false
-		if update.Chat.Type.ChatTypeType() == client.TypeChatTypeSupergroup {
+		chatType := update.Chat.Type.ChatTypeType()
+		if chatType == client.TypeChatTypeSupergroup {
 			typeSupergroup, ok := update.Chat.Type.(*client.ChatTypeSupergroup)
 			if !ok {
 				uhOh()
@@ -151,7 +152,13 @@ func (c *Client) updateNewChat(update *client.UpdateNewChat) {
 			isChannel = typeSupergroup.IsChannel
 		}
 
-		if !(isChannel && update.Chat.LastReadInboxMessageId == 0) {
+		// don't subscribe to channel posters
+		if !((isChannel && update.Chat.LastReadInboxMessageId == 0) ||
+			// don't subscribe to chats with no conversation
+			// (manual adding will trigger a subscribe anyway)
+			(update.Chat.LastReadInboxMessageId == 0 &&
+				update.Chat.LastReadOutboxMessageId == 0 &&
+				chatType == client.TypeChatTypePrivate)) {
 			gateway.SendPresence(
 				c.xmpp,
 				c.jid,