diff --git a/mautrix_telegram/bot.py b/mautrix_telegram/bot.py
index 4506f22c..6758d0a3 100644
--- a/mautrix_telegram/bot.py
+++ b/mautrix_telegram/bot.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 #
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
-from typing import Awaitable, Callable, Dict, List, Optional, Pattern, TYPE_CHECKING
+from typing import Awaitable, Callable, Dict, List, Optional, Pattern, Tuple, TYPE_CHECKING
 import logging
 import re
 
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ from telethon.tl.types import (
     ChannelParticipantAdmin, ChannelParticipantCreator, ChatForbidden, ChatParticipantAdmin,
     ChatParticipantCreator, InputChannel, InputUser, MessageActionChatAddUser,
     MessageActionChatDeleteUser, MessageEntityBotCommand, PeerChannel, PeerChat, TypePeer,
-    UpdateNewChannelMessage, UpdateNewMessage, MessageActionChatMigrateTo)
+    UpdateNewChannelMessage, UpdateNewMessage, MessageActionChatMigrateTo, User)
 from telethon.tl.functions.messages import GetChatsRequest, GetFullChatRequest
 from telethon.tl.functions.channels import GetChannelsRequest, GetParticipantRequest
 from telethon.errors import ChannelInvalidError, ChannelPrivateError
@@ -60,6 +60,14 @@ class Bot(AbstractUser):
         self.tg_whitelist = []  # type: List[int]
         self.whitelist_group_admins = (config["bridge.relaybot.whitelist_group_admins"]
                                        or False)  # type: bool
+        self._me_info = None  # type: Optional[User]
+        self._me_mxid = None  # type: Optional[MatrixUserID]
+
+    async def get_me(self, use_cache: bool = True) -> Tuple[User, MatrixUserID]:
+        if not use_cache or not self._me_mxid:
+            self._me_info = await self.client.get_me()
+            self._me_mxid = pu.Puppet.get_mxid_from_id(TelegramID(self._me_info.id))
+        return self._me_info, self._me_mxid
 
     async def init_permissions(self) -> None:
         whitelist = config["bridge.relaybot.whitelist"] or []
diff --git a/mautrix_telegram/commands/telegram/auth.py b/mautrix_telegram/commands/telegram/auth.py
index 815dce98..754301c3 100644
--- a/mautrix_telegram/commands/telegram/auth.py
+++ b/mautrix_telegram/commands/telegram/auth.py
@@ -46,11 +46,9 @@ async def ping(evt: CommandEvent) -> Optional[Dict]:
 async def ping_bot(evt: CommandEvent) -> Optional[Dict]:
     if not evt.tgbot:
         return await evt.reply("Telegram message relay bot not configured.")
-    bot_info = await evt.tgbot.client.get_me()
-    mxid = pu.Puppet.get_mxid_from_id(bot_info.id)
-    displayname = bot_info.first_name
+    info, mxid = await evt.tgbot.get_me(use_cache=False)
     return await evt.reply("Telegram message relay bot is active: "
-                           f"[{displayname}](https://matrix.to/#/{mxid}) (ID {bot_info.id})\n\n"
+                           f"[{info.first_name}](https://matrix.to/#/{mxid}) (ID {info.id})\n\n"
                            "To use the bot, simply invite it to a portal room.")
 
 
diff --git a/mautrix_telegram/portal.py b/mautrix_telegram/portal.py
index a86d6eee..aced8f22 100644
--- a/mautrix_telegram/portal.py
+++ b/mautrix_telegram/portal.py
@@ -1304,8 +1304,13 @@ class Portal:
 
         invites = await self._get_telegram_users_in_matrix_room()
         if len(invites) < 2:
+            if self.bot is not None:
+                info, mxid = await self.bot.get_me()
+                raise ValueError("Not enough Telegram users to create a chat. "
+                                 "Invite more Telegram ghost users to the room, such as the "
+                                 f"relaybot ([{info.first_name}](https://matrix.to/#/{mxid})).")
             raise ValueError("Not enough Telegram users to create a chat. "
-                             "Invite more Telegram ghost users to the room, such as the relaybot.")
+                             "Invite more Telegram ghost users to the room.")
         if self.peer_type == "chat":
             response = await source.client(CreateChatRequest(title=self.title, users=invites))
             entity = response.chats[0]