diff --git a/utils/system.go b/utils/system.go
index ec52be4..a76cc75 100644
--- a/utils/system.go
+++ b/utils/system.go
@@ -85,9 +85,12 @@ func SystemControl( tgMesg *tgbotapi.Message ) ( string, bool ) {
     //// Begin processing settings
 
     // ignore chats if enabled
-    if Settings.IgnoredChats[ chatId ] {
-        processed = true
-    }
+	if ignore, ok := Settings.IgnoredChats[ chatId ]; ok {
+        processed = processed || ignore;
+	} else {
+		// default ignore
+		processed = true;
+	}
 
     return mesg, processed
 }