diff --git a/mautrix_telegram/portal.py b/mautrix_telegram/portal.py
index 687d137a..9331c9bc 100644
--- a/mautrix_telegram/portal.py
+++ b/mautrix_telegram/portal.py
@@ -659,6 +659,8 @@ class Portal:
             SetTypingRequest(self.peer, action() if typing else SendMessageCancelAction()))
 
     async def mark_read(self, user, event_id):
+        if user.is_bot:
+            return
         space = self.tgid if self.peer_type == "channel" else user.tgid
         message = DBMessage.query.filter(DBMessage.mxid == event_id,
                                          DBMessage.mx_room == self.mxid,
diff --git a/mautrix_telegram/user.py b/mautrix_telegram/user.py
index 9c42089a..8e229f94 100644
--- a/mautrix_telegram/user.py
+++ b/mautrix_telegram/user.py
@@ -190,6 +190,8 @@ class User(AbstractUser):
         return super().ensure_started(even_if_no_session)
 
     def set_presence(self, online: bool = True):
+        if self.is_bot:
+            return
         return self.client(UpdateStatusRequest(offline=not online))
 
     async def update_info(self, info: User = None):