diff --git a/example-config.yaml b/example-config.yaml
index cefbbb0f..7785d488 100644
--- a/example-config.yaml
+++ b/example-config.yaml
@@ -123,6 +123,9 @@ bridge:
         m_text:
             plain: "<$sender_display_name> $message"
             html: "&lt;$sender_display_name&gt; $message"
+        m_emote:
+            plain: "* $sender_display_name $message"
+            html: "* $sender_display_name $message"
 
     filter:
         # Filter mode to use. Either "blacklist" or "whitelist".
diff --git a/mautrix_telegram/config.py b/mautrix_telegram/config.py
index f599a7c8..2d9aaccc 100644
--- a/mautrix_telegram/config.py
+++ b/mautrix_telegram/config.py
@@ -183,6 +183,8 @@ class Config(DictWithRecursion):
 
         copy("bridge.message_formats.m_text.plain")
         copy("bridge.message_formats.m_text.html")
+        copy("bridge.message_formats.m_emote.plain")
+        copy("bridge.message_formats.m_emote.html")
 
         copy("bridge.filter.mode")
         copy("bridge.filter.list")