diff --git a/bot/bot.py b/bot/bot.py
index f5b72f7..115098f 100644
--- a/bot/bot.py
+++ b/bot/bot.py
@@ -308,10 +308,11 @@ def run_bot() -> None:
     )
 
     # add handlers
-    if len(config.allowed_telegram_usernames) == 0:
-        user_filter = filters.ALL
-    else:
-        user_filter = filters.User(username=config.allowed_telegram_usernames)
+    user_filter = filters.ALL
+    if len(config.allowed_telegram_usernames) > 0:
+        usernames = [x for x in config.allowed_telegram_usernames if isinstance(x, str)]
+        user_ids = [x for x in config.allowed_telegram_usernames if isinstance(x, int)]
+        user_filter = filters.User(username=usernames) | filters.User(user_id=user_ids)
 
     application.add_handler(CommandHandler("start", start_handle, filters=user_filter))
     application.add_handler(CommandHandler("help", help_handle, filters=user_filter))
diff --git a/config/config.example.yml b/config/config.example.yml
index 9a44c85..08b17b7 100644
--- a/config/config.example.yml
+++ b/config/config.example.yml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 telegram_token: ""
 openai_api_key: ""
 use_chatgpt_api: true
-allowed_telegram_usernames: []  # if empty, the bot is available to anyone
+allowed_telegram_usernames: []  # if empty, the bot is available to anyone. pass a username string to allow it and/or user ids as integers
 new_dialog_timeout: 600  # new dialog starts after timeout (in seconds)
 
 chatgpt_price_per_1000_tokens: 0.002