diff --git a/mastoposter/integrations/telegram.py b/mastoposter/integrations/telegram.py
index a916684..28da238 100644
--- a/mastoposter/integrations/telegram.py
+++ b/mastoposter/integrations/telegram.py
@@ -58,9 +58,9 @@ class TelegramIntegration(BaseIntegration):
         self.token = sect.get("token", "")
         self.chat_id = sect.get("chat", "")
         self.silent = sect.getboolean("silent", True)
-        self.template: Template = Template(
+        self.template: Template = Template(emojize(
             sect.get("template", DEFAULT_TEMPLATE)
-        )
+        ))
 
     async def _tg_request(self, method: str, **kwargs) -> TGResponse:
         url = API_URL.format(self.token, method)
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ class TelegramIntegration(BaseIntegration):
     async def __call__(self, status: Status) -> Optional[str]:
         source = status.reblog or status
 
-        text = emojize(self.template.render({"status": status}))
+        text = self.template.render({"status": status})
 
         ids = []