diff --git a/src/bub/channels/telegram.py b/src/bub/channels/telegram.py
index 45267d94..d5731a36 100644
--- a/src/bub/channels/telegram.py
+++ b/src/bub/channels/telegram.py
@@ -4,9 +4,10 @@
 
 import asyncio
 from dataclasses import dataclass
+from typing import Any, ClassVar
 
 from loguru import logger
-from telegram import Update
+from telegram import Message, Update
 from telegram.ext import Application, CommandHandler, ContextTypes, MessageHandler, filters
 
 from bub.channels.base import BaseChannel
@@ -14,6 +15,54 @@
 from bub.channels.events import InboundMessage, OutboundMessage
 
 
+class BubMessageFilter(filters.MessageFilter):
+    GROUP_CHAT_TYPES: ClassVar[set[str]] = {"group", "supergroup"}
+
+    def filter(self, message: Message) -> bool | dict[str, list[Any]] | None:
+        # Only text messages are allowed
+        text = message.text
+        if not text:
+            return False
+
+        # Private chat: accept all messages except for commands (starting with /)
+        if message.chat.type == "private":
+            return not filters.COMMAND.filter(message)
+
+        # Group chat: only allow `/bot`, mention bot, or reply to bot messages.
+        if message.chat.type in self.GROUP_CHAT_TYPES:
+            bot = message.get_bot()
+            bot_id = bot.id
+            bot_username = (bot.username or "").lower()
+            if text.startswith("/bot "):
+                return True
+
+            if self._mentions_bot(message, text, bot_id, bot_username):
+                return True
+
+            if self._is_reply_to_bot(message, bot_id):
+                return True
+
+        return False
+
+    def _mentions_bot(self, message: Message, text: str, bot_id: int, bot_username: str) -> bool:
+        for entity in message.entities or ():
+            if entity.type == "mention" and bot_username:
+                mention_text = text[entity.offset : entity.offset + entity.length]
+                if mention_text.lower() == f"@{bot_username}":
+                    return True
+                continue
+            if entity.type == "text_mention" and entity.user and entity.user.id == bot_id:
+                return True
+        return False
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _is_reply_to_bot(message: Message, bot_id: int) -> bool:
+        reply_to_message = message.reply_to_message
+        if reply_to_message is None or reply_to_message.from_user is None:
+            return False
+        return reply_to_message.from_user.id == bot_id
+
+
 @dataclass(frozen=True)
 class TelegramConfig:
     """Telegram adapter config."""
@@ -41,7 +90,7 @@ async def start(self) -> None:
         self._app = Application.builder().token(self._config.token).build()
         self._app.add_handler(CommandHandler("start", self._on_start))
         self._app.add_handler(CommandHandler("help", self._on_help))
-        self._app.add_handler(MessageHandler(filters.TEXT & ~filters.COMMAND, self._on_text))
+        self._app.add_handler(MessageHandler(BubMessageFilter(), self._on_text))
         await self._app.initialize()
         await self._app.start()
         updater = self._app.updater
diff --git a/tests/test_telegram_filter.py b/tests/test_telegram_filter.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9ad72f94
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_telegram_filter.py
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+from types import SimpleNamespace
+
+from bub.channels.telegram import BubMessageFilter
+
+
+@dataclass
+class DummyUser:
+    id: int
+
+
+@dataclass
+class DummyEntity:
+    type: str
+    offset: int = 0
+    length: int = 0
+    user: DummyUser | None = None
+
+
+class DummyMessage:
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        *,
+        text: str,
+        chat_type: str,
+        bot_id: int = 1000,
+        bot_username: str = "BubBot",
+        entities: list[DummyEntity] | None = None,
+        reply_to_message: object | None = None,
+    ) -> None:
+        self.text = text
+        self.chat = SimpleNamespace(type=chat_type)
+        self.entities = entities or []
+        self.reply_to_message = reply_to_message
+        self._bot_id = bot_id
+        self._bot_username = bot_username
+
+    def get_bot(self) -> object:
+        return SimpleNamespace(id=self._bot_id, username=self._bot_username)
+
+
+def test_group_allows_bot_prefix() -> None:
+    message = DummyMessage(text="/bot hello", chat_type="group")
+    assert BubMessageFilter().filter(message) is True
+
+
+def test_group_allows_at_mention_by_username_entity() -> None:
+    message = DummyMessage(
+        text="@BubBot ping",
+        chat_type="supergroup",
+        entities=[DummyEntity(type="mention", offset=0, length=7)],
+    )
+    assert BubMessageFilter().filter(message) is True
+
+
+def test_group_allows_at_mention_by_text_mention_entity() -> None:
+    message = DummyMessage(
+        text="ping bot",
+        chat_type="group",
+        entities=[DummyEntity(type="text_mention", user=DummyUser(id=1000))],
+    )
+    assert BubMessageFilter().filter(message) is True
+
+
+def test_group_allows_reply_to_bot_message() -> None:
+    reply_to_message = SimpleNamespace(from_user=SimpleNamespace(id=1000))
+    message = DummyMessage(text="reply", chat_type="group", reply_to_message=reply_to_message)
+    assert BubMessageFilter().filter(message) is True
+
+
+def test_group_rejects_unrelated_text() -> None:
+    message = DummyMessage(text="hello world", chat_type="group")
+    assert BubMessageFilter().filter(message) is False