diff --git a/tests/channels/test_telegram_channel.py b/tests/channels/test_telegram_channel.py
index 803415dfd..591df84f4 100644
--- a/tests/channels/test_telegram_channel.py
+++ b/tests/channels/test_telegram_channel.py
@@ -1309,6 +1309,58 @@ async def test_on_help_includes_restart_command() -> None:
     assert "/dream-restore" in help_text
 
 
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_on_start_ignores_unauthorized_user_silently() -> None:
+    channel = TelegramChannel(
+        TelegramConfig(enabled=True, token="123:abc", allow_from=["999"], group_policy="open"),
+        MessageBus(),
+    )
+    update = _make_telegram_update(text="/start", chat_type="private")
+    update.message.reply_text = AsyncMock()
+
+    await channel._on_start(update, None)
+
+    update.message.reply_text.assert_not_awaited()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_on_help_ignores_unauthorized_user_silently() -> None:
+    channel = TelegramChannel(
+        TelegramConfig(enabled=True, token="123:abc", allow_from=["999"], group_policy="open"),
+        MessageBus(),
+    )
+    update = _make_telegram_update(text="/help", chat_type="private")
+    update.message.reply_text = AsyncMock()
+
+    await channel._on_help(update, None)
+
+    update.message.reply_text.assert_not_awaited()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_on_message_ignores_unauthorized_user_before_side_effects() -> None:
+    channel = TelegramChannel(
+        TelegramConfig(enabled=True, token="123:abc", allow_from=["999"], group_policy="open"),
+        MessageBus(),
+    )
+    channel._app = _FakeApp(lambda: None)
+    started_typing: list[str] = []
+    handled: list[dict] = []
+    channel._start_typing = lambda chat_id: started_typing.append(chat_id)
+    channel._add_reaction = AsyncMock(return_value=None)
+
+    async def capture_handle(**kwargs) -> None:
+        handled.append(kwargs)
+
+    channel._handle_message = capture_handle
+
+    await channel._on_message(_make_telegram_update(text="hello", chat_type="private"), None)
+
+    assert started_typing == []
+    channel._add_reaction.assert_not_awaited()
+    assert handled == []
+
+
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_on_message_location_content() -> None:
     """Location messages are forwarded as [location: lat, lon] content."""