diff --git a/mautrix_telegram/commands/portal.py b/mautrix_telegram/commands/portal.py
index 76a24375..1ee0b506 100644
--- a/mautrix_telegram/commands/portal.py
+++ b/mautrix_telegram/commands/portal.py
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ async def confirm_bridge(evt: CommandEvent):
 
 async def _get_initial_state(evt: CommandEvent):
     state = await evt.az.intent.get_room_state(evt.room_id)
-    title = None
+    title = evt.room_id
     about = None
     levels = None
     for event in state:
@@ -282,8 +282,6 @@ async def create(evt: CommandEvent):
         return await evt.reply("This is already a portal room.")
 
     title, about, levels = await _get_initial_state(evt)
-    if not title:
-        return await evt.reply("Please set a title before creating a Telegram chat.")
 
     supergroup = type == "supergroup"
     type = {
diff --git a/mautrix_telegram/portal.py b/mautrix_telegram/portal.py
index 0bc3ec95..b1f2d1f9 100644
--- a/mautrix_telegram/portal.py
+++ b/mautrix_telegram/portal.py
@@ -862,6 +862,7 @@ class Portal:
         self.tg_receiver = self.tgid
         self.by_tgid[self.tgid_full] = self
         await self.update_info(source, entity)
+        self.db.add(self.db_instance)
         self.save()
 
         if self.bot and self.bot.tgid in invites: