diff --git a/pkg/connector/handletelegram.go b/pkg/connector/handletelegram.go
index 62e71f2b..fd68e45d 100644
--- a/pkg/connector/handletelegram.go
+++ b/pkg/connector/handletelegram.go
@@ -243,7 +243,10 @@ func (tc *TelegramClient) onUpdateNewMessage(ctx context.Context, entities tg.En
 			return err
 		}
 
-		return tc.handleTelegramReactions(ctx, msg.PeerID, topicID, msg.ID, msg.Reactions)
+		if len(msg.Reactions.Results) > 0 {
+			return tc.handleTelegramReactions(ctx, msg.PeerID, topicID, msg.ID, msg.Reactions, "updateNewMessage")
+		}
+		return nil
 	case *tg.MessageService:
 		return tc.handleServiceMessage(ctx, msg)
 
@@ -958,7 +961,7 @@ func (tc *TelegramClient) onUpdate(ctx context.Context, e tg.Entities, upd tg.Up
 }
 
 func (tc *TelegramClient) onMessageReactions(ctx context.Context, update *tg.UpdateMessageReactions) error {
-	return tc.handleTelegramReactions(ctx, update.Peer, update.TopMsgID, update.MsgID, update.Reactions)
+	return tc.handleTelegramReactions(ctx, update.Peer, update.TopMsgID, update.MsgID, update.Reactions, "updateMessageReactions")
 }
 
 func (tc *TelegramClient) onMessageEdit(ctx context.Context, update IGetMessage) error {
@@ -975,7 +978,7 @@ func (tc *TelegramClient) onMessageEdit(ctx context.Context, update IGetMessage)
 	// with an empty reactions list, which would confuse the handle method. Therefore, just don't sync reactions
 	// on channel message edits.
 	if _, isChannel := msg.PeerID.(*tg.PeerChannel); !isChannel {
-		err := tc.handleTelegramReactions(ctx, msg.PeerID, topicID, msg.ID, msg.Reactions)
+		err := tc.handleTelegramReactions(ctx, msg.PeerID, topicID, msg.ID, msg.Reactions, "updateMessageEdit")
 		if err != nil {
 			zerolog.Ctx(ctx).Err(err).Msg("Failed to handle reactions on edited message")
 		}
diff --git a/pkg/connector/reactions.go b/pkg/connector/reactions.go
index 45b9977e..ff274fe3 100644
--- a/pkg/connector/reactions.go
+++ b/pkg/connector/reactions.go
@@ -155,9 +155,10 @@ func (tc *TelegramClient) prepareReactionSync(ctx context.Context, peer tg.PeerC
 	return &bridgev2.ReactionSyncData{Users: users, HasAllUsers: isFull}, nil
 }
 
-func (tc *TelegramClient) handleTelegramReactions(ctx context.Context, peer tg.PeerClass, topicID, msgID int, reactions tg.MessageReactions) error {
+func (tc *TelegramClient) handleTelegramReactions(ctx context.Context, peer tg.PeerClass, topicID, msgID int, reactions tg.MessageReactions, source string) error {
 	ctx = zerolog.Ctx(ctx).With().
 		Str("handler", "handle_telegram_reactions").
+		Str("sync_source", source).
 		Int("message_id", msgID).
 		Logger().WithContext(ctx)
 
@@ -170,7 +171,7 @@ func (tc *TelegramClient) handleTelegramReactions(ctx context.Context, peer tg.P
 		EventMeta: simplevent.EventMeta{
 			Type: bridgev2.RemoteEventReactionSync,
 			LogContext: func(c zerolog.Context) zerolog.Context {
-				return c.Int("message_id", msgID)
+				return c.Int("message_id", msgID).Str("sync_source", source)
 			},
 			PortalKey: tc.makePortalKeyFromPeer(peer, topicID),
 		},
@@ -307,7 +308,7 @@ func (tc *TelegramClient) pollForReactions(ctx context.Context, portalKey networ
 			EventMeta: simplevent.EventMeta{
 				Type: bridgev2.RemoteEventReactionSync,
 				LogContext: func(c zerolog.Context) zerolog.Context {
-					return c.Int("message_id", reaction.MsgID)
+					return c.Int("message_id", reaction.MsgID).Str("sync_source", "poll")
 				},
 				PortalKey: dbMsg.Room,
 			},