diff --git a/example-config.yaml b/example-config.yaml
index 56e891c4..4a19329f 100644
--- a/example-config.yaml
+++ b/example-config.yaml
@@ -140,10 +140,6 @@ bridge:
     plaintext_highlights: false
     # Whether or not to make portals of publicly joinable channels/supergroups publicly joinable on Matrix.
     public_portals: true
-    # Whether or not to fetch and handle Telegram updates at startup from the time the bridge was down.
-    # Currently only works for private chats and normal groups.
-    # WARNING: This feature seems to be broken in the telegram library.
-    catch_up: false
     # Whether or not to use /sync to get presence, read receipts and typing notifications when using
     # your own Matrix account as the Matrix puppet for your Telegram account.
     sync_with_custom_puppets: true
diff --git a/mautrix_telegram/bot.py b/mautrix_telegram/bot.py
index cf87543e..9002a13d 100644
--- a/mautrix_telegram/bot.py
+++ b/mautrix_telegram/bot.py
@@ -117,12 +117,6 @@ class Bot(AbstractUser):
             except (ChannelPrivateError, ChannelInvalidError):
                 self.remove_chat(TelegramID(channel_id.channel_id))
 
-        if config["bridge.catch_up"]:
-            try:
-                await self.client.catch_up()
-            except Exception:
-                self.log.exception("Failed to run catch_up() for bot")
-
     def register_portal(self, portal: po.Portal) -> None:
         self.add_chat(portal.tgid, portal.peer_type)
 
diff --git a/mautrix_telegram/config.py b/mautrix_telegram/config.py
index eb42b33f..65240713 100644
--- a/mautrix_telegram/config.py
+++ b/mautrix_telegram/config.py
@@ -92,7 +92,6 @@ class Config(BaseBridgeConfig):
         copy("bridge.allow_matrix_login")
         copy("bridge.plaintext_highlights")
         copy("bridge.public_portals")
-        copy("bridge.catch_up")
         copy("bridge.sync_with_custom_puppets")
         copy("bridge.telegram_link_preview")
         copy("bridge.inline_images")
diff --git a/mautrix_telegram/user.py b/mautrix_telegram/user.py
index 008ad57d..c181d9bf 100644
--- a/mautrix_telegram/user.py
+++ b/mautrix_telegram/user.py
@@ -197,8 +197,6 @@ class User(AbstractUser):
             if not self.is_bot and config["bridge.startup_sync"]:
                 await self.sync_dialogs()
                 await self.sync_contacts()
-            if config["bridge.catch_up"]:
-                await self.client.catch_up()
         except Exception:
             self.log.exception("Failed to run post-login functions for %s", self.mxid)