diff --git a/telegram/handlers.go b/telegram/handlers.go
index aef8286..2756a2c 100644
--- a/telegram/handlers.go
+++ b/telegram/handlers.go
@@ -155,7 +155,11 @@ 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)) {
 			gateway.SendPresence(
 				c.xmpp,
 				c.jid,