diff --git a/src/api/integrations/chatbot/base-chatbot.service.ts b/src/api/integrations/chatbot/base-chatbot.service.ts
index 212ec250..eddf2a38 100644
--- a/src/api/integrations/chatbot/base-chatbot.service.ts
+++ b/src/api/integrations/chatbot/base-chatbot.service.ts
@@ -126,11 +126,16 @@ export abstract class BaseChatbotService<BotType = any, SettingsType = any> {
   ): Promise<void> {
     try {
       // For new sessions or sessions awaiting initialization
-      if (!session || session.status === 'paused') {
+      if (!session) {
         await this.initNewSession(instance, remoteJid, bot, settings, session, content, pushName, msg);
         return;
       }
 
+      // If session is paused, ignore the message
+      if (session.status === 'paused') {
+        return;
+      }
+
       // For existing sessions, keywords might indicate the conversation should end
       const keywordFinish = (settings as any)?.keywordFinish || '';
       const normalizedContent = content.toLowerCase().trim();