diff --git a/extensions/qa-lab/src/live-transports/telegram/telegram-live.runtime.test.ts b/extensions/qa-lab/src/live-transports/telegram/telegram-live.runtime.test.ts
index 99a1603e37d3..08789c0da3ea 100644
--- a/extensions/qa-lab/src/live-transports/telegram/telegram-live.runtime.test.ts
+++ b/extensions/qa-lab/src/live-transports/telegram/telegram-live.runtime.test.ts
@@ -700,7 +700,10 @@ describe("telegram live qa runtime", () => {
     ).buildRun("sut_bot").steps;
     expect(repeatedSteps[0]?.driverGroupAuthorization).toBe("deny");
     expect(repeatedSteps[0]?.input).toBe("/status@sut_bot");
-    expect(repeatedSteps[0]?.expectReply).toBe(false);
+    expect(repeatedSteps[0]?.expectReply).toBe(true);
+    expect(repeatedSteps[0]?.expectedTextIncludes).toEqual([
+      "You are not authorized to use this command.",
+    ]);
     expect(repeatedSteps[1]?.driverGroupAuthorization).toBe("allow");
     expect(repeatedSteps[1]?.input).toBe("/status@sut_bot");
     expect(repeatedSteps[1]?.expectReply).toBe(true);
diff --git a/extensions/qa-lab/src/live-transports/telegram/telegram-live.runtime.ts b/extensions/qa-lab/src/live-transports/telegram/telegram-live.runtime.ts
index e8448362aec2..6b4351b50d46 100644
--- a/extensions/qa-lab/src/live-transports/telegram/telegram-live.runtime.ts
+++ b/extensions/qa-lab/src/live-transports/telegram/telegram-live.runtime.ts
@@ -332,8 +332,9 @@ const TELEGRAM_QA_SCENARIOS: TelegramQaScenarioDefinition[] = [
       const steps = [
         {
           driverGroupAuthorization: "deny",
-          expectReply: false,
+          expectReply: true,
           input: `/status@${sutUsername}`,
+          expectedTextIncludes: ["You are not authorized to use this command."],
           timeoutMs: 8_000,
         },
         {