diff --git a/telegram/utils.go b/telegram/utils.go
index 6338b34..4884557 100644
--- a/telegram/utils.go
+++ b/telegram/utils.go
@@ -1983,7 +1983,9 @@ func (c *Client) SendMessageToGateway(chatId int64, message *client.Message, id
 					if prefix != "" {
 						separator := c.getPrefixSeparator(chatId)
 						newText.WriteString(separator)
-						reply.End += uint64(len(separator))
+						if reply != nil {
+							reply.End += uint64(len(separator))
+						}
 					}
 					newText.WriteString(text)
 				}