diff --git a/src/api/http/index.ts b/src/api/http/index.ts
index b34744f..d2faae8 100644
--- a/src/api/http/index.ts
+++ b/src/api/http/index.ts
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@ import { corsMiddleware, errorMiddleware } from "./middleware";
 import { WebhookConfig } from "../../service/telegram/types";
 
 export class HttpApi {
-  app: Express;
-  webhook: WebhookConfig;
+  app!: Express;
+  webhook!: WebhookConfig;
 
   constructor(
     private props: HttpConfig,
diff --git a/src/api/telegram/index.ts b/src/api/telegram/index.ts
index 69df60e..0b376a1 100644
--- a/src/api/telegram/index.ts
+++ b/src/api/telegram/index.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 import { TelegramService } from "../../service/telegram";
+import axios from "axios";
+import logger from "../../service/logger";
 
 export class TelegramApi {
   constructor(private telegram: TelegramService) {}
@@ -16,4 +18,25 @@ export class TelegramApi {
       "CAACAgIAAxkBAAIB6F82KSeJBEFer895bb7mFI7_GzYoAAISAAOwODIrOXeFNb5v4aEaBA"
     );
   }
+
+  /**
+   * Probes webhook url and falls back to polling mode on error
+   */
+  public probe = async () => {
+    if (!this.telegram.webhook.enabled || !this.telegram.webhook.url) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    try {
+      await axios.get(this.telegram.webhook.url);
+      logger.info(
+        `probing telegram webhook at ${this.telegram.webhook.url} succeeded`
+      );
+    } catch (e) {
+      logger.warn(
+        `probing telegram webhook at ${this.telegram.webhook.url} failed, falling back to polling mode`
+      );
+      await this.telegram.bot.launch();
+    }
+  };
 }
diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index 56c7d78..f00c594 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -16,10 +16,15 @@ async function main() {
     const telegram = new TelegramService(config.telegram);
     const vkService = new VkService(config.vk, telegram, config.templates, db);
 
-    const telegramApi = new TelegramApi(telegram).listen();
+    const telegramApi = new TelegramApi(telegram);
+    telegramApi.listen();
+
     await telegram.start();
 
-    const httpApi = new HttpApi(config.http, telegram, vkService).listen();
+    const httpApi = new HttpApi(config.http, telegram, vkService);
+
+    await httpApi.listen();
+    await telegramApi.probe();
   } catch (e) {
     logger.error(e.message);
   }
diff --git a/templates/post_new.md b/templates/post_new.md
index b7b467b..19165f7 100644
--- a/templates/post_new.md
+++ b/templates/post_new.md
@@ -10,9 +10,11 @@
     likes: ['😱','🤔','😃']
 ---
 {{!-- 
+
     use handlebars template here
     available variables are: text, user, group, type
-    (see PostNewHandler) 
+    (see PostNewHandler)
+     
 --}}
 {{#ifEq type 'suggest'}}
 Предложка: