diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index bcc9bc6..614e755 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ func main() {
 	}
 SKIP_RESTART:
 
-	if !startMessageSuccessful {
+	if !startMessageSuccessful && !cfg.Telegram.SkipStartupMessage {
 		state.State.TelegramBot.SendMessage(cfg.Telegram.OwnerID, "Successfully started WaTgBridge", &gotgbot.SendMessageOpts{})
 	}
 
diff --git a/sample_config.yaml b/sample_config.yaml
index 6ddb873..dc2aaf3 100644
--- a/sample_config.yaml
+++ b/sample_config.yaml
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ telegram:
   silent_confirmation: true               # Send a silent "Successfully sent" message
   emoji_confirmation: true                # Reacts to the message with a "👍" emoji instead of replying
 
+  skip_startup_message: false             # If set to true, then a message will NOT be sent to your Telegram DM when the bot starts
+
 whatsapp:
   session_name: watgbridge        # This will appear in your Linked Devices in mobile app
   # All these values can be obtained by running /findcontacts and /getwagroups commands
diff --git a/state/config.go b/state/config.go
index 548f713..95e3ea7 100644
--- a/state/config.go
+++ b/state/config.go
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ type Config struct {
 		SendMyReadReceipts  bool    `yaml:"send_my_read_receipts"`
 		SilentConfirmation  bool    `yaml:"silent_confirmation"`
 		EmojiConfirmation   bool    `yaml:"emoji_confirmation"`
+		SkipStartupMessage  bool    `yaml:"skip_startup_message"`
 	} `yaml:"telegram"`
 
 	WhatsApp struct {
diff --git a/state/state.go b/state/state.go
index 041d278..9dc3c24 100644
--- a/state/state.go
+++ b/state/state.go
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import (
 	"gorm.io/gorm"
 )
 
-const WATGBRIDGE_VERSION = "1.9.2"
+const WATGBRIDGE_VERSION = "1.9.3"
 
 type state struct {
 	Config   *Config