diff --git a/packages/client-telegram/src/messageManager.ts b/packages/client-telegram/src/messageManager.ts
index ee003005af6..554bd58cc6f 100644
--- a/packages/client-telegram/src/messageManager.ts
+++ b/packages/client-telegram/src/messageManager.ts
@@ -873,7 +873,7 @@ export class MessageManager {
             const response = await generateShouldRespond({
                 runtime: this.runtime,
                 context: shouldRespondContext,
-                modelClass: ModelClass.LARGE,
+                modelClass: ModelClass.SMALL,
             });
 
             return response === "RESPOND";