diff --git a/pokemongo_bot/event_handlers/telegram_handler.py b/pokemongo_bot/event_handlers/telegram_handler.py
index 8b83c96515..d0063436e9 100755
--- a/pokemongo_bot/event_handlers/telegram_handler.py
+++ b/pokemongo_bot/event_handlers/telegram_handler.py
@@ -119,6 +119,7 @@ def handle_event(self, event, sender, level, formatted_msg, data):
                 thread.start_new_thread(self.tbot.run)
             except Exception as inst:
                 self.tbot = None
+                return
         if self.master:
             if not re.match(r'^[0-9]+$', str(self.master)):
                 return