diff --git a/hermes_cli/config.py b/hermes_cli/config.py
index e94441373d..a3b4d63381 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/config.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/config.py
@@ -932,6 +932,7 @@ DEFAULT_CONFIG = {
 
     # Telegram platform settings (gateway mode)
     "telegram": {
+        "reactions": False,            # Add 👀/✅/❌ reactions to messages during processing
         "channel_prompts": {},         # Per-chat/topic ephemeral system prompts (topics inherit from parent group)
     },