diff --git a/src/auto-reply/types.ts b/src/auto-reply/types.ts
index 6726c6492..0bd7671d7 100644
--- a/src/auto-reply/types.ts
+++ b/src/auto-reply/types.ts
@@ -18,5 +18,7 @@ export type ReplyPayload = {
   mediaUrl?: string;
   mediaUrls?: string[];
   replyToId?: string;
+  /** Send audio as voice message (bubble) instead of audio file. Defaults to false. */
+  audioAsVoice?: boolean;
   isError?: boolean;
 };
diff --git a/src/telegram/bot.ts b/src/telegram/bot.ts
index 64591a1ee..bacdabc98 100644
--- a/src/telegram/bot.ts
+++ b/src/telegram/bot.ts
@@ -1250,9 +1250,16 @@ async function deliverReplies(params: {
           ...mediaParams,
         });
       } else if (kind === "audio") {
-        await bot.api.sendAudio(chatId, file, {
-          ...mediaParams,
-        });
+        const useVoice = reply.audioAsVoice === true; // default false
+        if (useVoice) {
+          await bot.api.sendVoice(chatId, file, {
+            ...mediaParams,
+          });
+        } else {
+          await bot.api.sendAudio(chatId, file, {
+            ...mediaParams,
+          });
+        }
       } else {
         await bot.api.sendDocument(chatId, file, {
           ...mediaParams,