diff --git a/src/config.rs b/src/config.rs
index 6d341e27..40be0be6 100644
--- a/src/config.rs
+++ b/src/config.rs
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ pub struct DiscordConfig {
     pub allowed_channels: Vec<String>,
     #[serde(default)]
     pub allowed_users: Vec<String>,
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub allow_bot_trigger: bool,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Deserialize)]
diff --git a/src/discord.rs b/src/discord.rs
index f176a3d6..36601f72 100644
--- a/src/discord.rs
+++ b/src/discord.rs
@@ -19,12 +19,14 @@ pub struct Handler {
     pub allowed_channels: HashSet<u64>,
     pub allowed_users: HashSet<u64>,
     pub reactions_config: ReactionsConfig,
+    pub allow_bot_trigger: bool,
 }
 
 #[async_trait]
 impl EventHandler for Handler {
     async fn message(&self, ctx: Context, msg: Message) {
-        if msg.author.bot {
+        // Skip bot messages unless allow_bot_trigger is enabled
+        if msg.author.bot && !self.allow_bot_trigger {
             return;
         }
 
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 39817342..def44017 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -40,13 +40,15 @@ async fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
 
     let allowed_channels = parse_id_set(&cfg.discord.allowed_channels, "allowed_channels")?;
     let allowed_users = parse_id_set(&cfg.discord.allowed_users, "allowed_users")?;
-    info!(channels = allowed_channels.len(), users = allowed_users.len(), "parsed allowlists");
+    let allow_bot_trigger = cfg.discord.allow_bot_trigger;
+    info!(channels = allowed_channels.len(), users = allowed_users.len(), allow_bot_trigger, "parsed allowlists");
 
     let handler = discord::Handler {
         pool: pool.clone(),
         allowed_channels,
         allowed_users,
         reactions_config: cfg.reactions,
+        allow_bot_trigger,
     };
 
     let intents = GatewayIntents::GUILD_MESSAGES