diff --git a/src/notifications/telegram_client.py b/src/notifications/telegram_client.py
index ee61bce..da430fe 100644
--- a/src/notifications/telegram_client.py
+++ b/src/notifications/telegram_client.py
@@ -516,6 +516,7 @@ class TelegramCommandHandler:
         self._last_update_id = 0
         self._polling_task: asyncio.Task[None] | None = None
         self._running = False
+        self._conflict_backoff_until: float = 0.0  # epoch time; skip polling until then
 
     def register_command(
         self, command: str, handler: Callable[[], Awaitable[None]]
@@ -574,6 +575,12 @@ class TelegramCommandHandler:
     async def _poll_loop(self) -> None:
         """Main polling loop that fetches updates."""
         while self._running:
+            # Skip this iteration while a conflict backoff is active
+            now = asyncio.get_event_loop().time()
+            if now < self._conflict_backoff_until:
+                await asyncio.sleep(self._polling_interval)
+                continue
+
             try:
                 updates = await self._get_updates()
                 for update in updates:
@@ -604,9 +611,21 @@ class TelegramCommandHandler:
             async with session.post(url, json=payload) as resp:
                 if resp.status != 200:
                     error_text = await resp.text()
-                    logger.error(
-                        "getUpdates API error (status=%d): %s", resp.status, error_text
-                    )
+                    if resp.status == 409:
+                        # Another bot instance is already polling — back off to reduce conflict.
+                        _conflict_backoff_secs = 30.0
+                        self._conflict_backoff_until = (
+                            asyncio.get_event_loop().time() + _conflict_backoff_secs
+                        )
+                        logger.warning(
+                            "Telegram conflict (409): another instance is polling. "
+                            "Backing off %.0fs. Ensure only one bot instance runs at a time.",
+                            _conflict_backoff_secs,
+                        )
+                    else:
+                        logger.error(
+                            "getUpdates API error (status=%d): %s", resp.status, error_text
+                        )
                     return []
 
                 data = await resp.json()
diff --git a/tests/test_telegram_commands.py b/tests/test_telegram_commands.py
index bf9b437..16147fe 100644
--- a/tests/test_telegram_commands.py
+++ b/tests/test_telegram_commands.py
@@ -876,6 +876,59 @@ class TestGetUpdates:
 
             assert updates == []
 
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_get_updates_409_sets_conflict_backoff(self) -> None:
+        """409 Conflict response sets conflict_backoff_until and returns empty list."""
+        client = TelegramClient(bot_token="123:abc", chat_id="456", enabled=True)
+        handler = TelegramCommandHandler(client)
+
+        mock_resp = AsyncMock()
+        mock_resp.status = 409
+        mock_resp.text = AsyncMock(
+            return_value='{"ok":false,"error_code":409,"description":"Conflict"}'
+        )
+        mock_resp.__aenter__ = AsyncMock(return_value=mock_resp)
+        mock_resp.__aexit__ = AsyncMock(return_value=False)
+
+        with patch("aiohttp.ClientSession.post", return_value=mock_resp):
+            updates = await handler._get_updates()
+
+        assert updates == []
+        assert handler._conflict_backoff_until > 0  # backoff was set
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_poll_loop_skips_during_conflict_backoff(self) -> None:
+        """_poll_loop skips _get_updates while conflict backoff is active."""
+        import asyncio as _asyncio
+
+        client = TelegramClient(bot_token="123:abc", chat_id="456", enabled=True)
+        handler = TelegramCommandHandler(client)
+
+        # Set an active backoff (far in the future)
+        handler._conflict_backoff_until = _asyncio.get_event_loop().time() + 600
+
+        get_updates_called = []
+
+        async def mock_get_updates() -> list[dict]:
+            get_updates_called.append(True)
+            return []
+
+        handler._get_updates = mock_get_updates  # type: ignore[method-assign]
+
+        # Run one iteration of the poll loop then stop
+        handler._running = True
+        task = _asyncio.create_task(handler._poll_loop())
+        await _asyncio.sleep(0.05)
+        handler._running = False
+        task.cancel()
+        try:
+            await task
+        except _asyncio.CancelledError:
+            pass
+
+        # _get_updates should NOT have been called while backoff is active
+        assert get_updates_called == []
+
 
 class TestCommandWithArgs:
     """Test register_command_with_args and argument dispatch."""