diff --git a/bot/bot.py b/bot/bot.py
index 034e9a8..906b9ce 100644
--- a/bot/bot.py
+++ b/bot/bot.py
@@ -675,8 +675,10 @@ def run_bot() -> None:
     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)
+        any_ids = [x for x in config.allowed_telegram_usernames if isinstance(x, int)]
+        user_ids = [x for x in any_ids if x > 0]
+        group_ids = [x for x in any_ids if x < 0]
+        user_filter = filters.User(username=usernames) | filters.User(user_id=user_ids) | filters.Chat(chat_id=group_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 8fb3e07..9064fb3 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. pass a username string to allow it and/or user ids as integers
+allowed_telegram_usernames: []  # if empty, the bot is available to anyone. pass a username string to allow it and/or user ids as positive integers and/or channel ids as negative integers
 new_dialog_timeout: 600  # new dialog starts after timeout (in seconds)
 return_n_generated_images: 1
 n_chat_modes_per_page: 5