diff --git a/bot/data.go b/bot/data.go
index 029cf17..031de5e 100644
--- a/bot/data.go
+++ b/bot/data.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package bot
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/getsentry/sentry-go"
 	"maunium.net/go/mautrix/id"
@@ -66,6 +67,15 @@ func (b *Bot) getSettings(ctx context.Context, roomID id.RoomID) (settings, erro
 	var config settings
 	err := b.lp.GetClient().GetRoomAccountData(roomID, settingskey, &config)
 
+	if err != nil {
+		if strings.Contains(err.Error(), "M_NOT_FOUND") {
+			// Suppress `M_NOT_FOUND (HTTP 404): Room account data not found` errors.
+			// Until some settings are explicitly set, we don't store any.
+			// In such cases, just return a default (empty) settings object.
+			err = nil
+		}
+	}
+
 	return config, err
 }
 
diff --git a/bot/mailbox.go b/bot/mailbox.go
index 5408829..9f8557a 100644
--- a/bot/mailbox.go
+++ b/bot/mailbox.go
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@ func (b *Bot) getMailbox(ctx context.Context, evt *event.Event) {
 	cfg, err := b.getSettings(span.Context(), evt.RoomID)
 	if err != nil {
 		b.log.Warn("cannot get %s settings: %v", evt.RoomID, err)
+		b.Error(span.Context(), evt.RoomID, "failed to retrieve settings")
+		return
 	}
 
 	if cfg.Mailbox == "" {
@@ -82,6 +84,8 @@ func (b *Bot) setMailbox(ctx context.Context, evt *event.Event, mailbox string)
 	cfg, err := b.getSettings(span.Context(), evt.RoomID)
 	if err != nil {
 		b.log.Warn("cannot get settings: %v", err)
+		b.Error(span.Context(), evt.RoomID, "failed to retrieve settings")
+		return
 	}
 
 	if !cfg.Allowed(b.noowner, evt.Sender) {
diff --git a/bot/owner.go b/bot/owner.go
index 483fd43..6af5e2d 100644
--- a/bot/owner.go
+++ b/bot/owner.go
@@ -23,7 +23,8 @@ func (b *Bot) getOwner(ctx context.Context, evt *event.Event) {
 
 	cfg, err := b.getSettings(span.Context(), evt.RoomID)
 	if err != nil {
-		b.Error(span.Context(), evt.RoomID, "owner is not set yet")
+		b.log.Warn("cannot get settings: %v", err)
+		b.Error(span.Context(), evt.RoomID, "failed to retrieve settings")
 		return
 	}
 
@@ -48,6 +49,8 @@ func (b *Bot) setOwner(ctx context.Context, evt *event.Event, owner string) {
 	cfg, err := b.getSettings(span.Context(), evt.RoomID)
 	if err != nil {
 		b.log.Warn("cannot get settings: %v", err)
+		b.Error(span.Context(), evt.RoomID, "failed to retrieve settings")
+		return
 	}
 
 	if !cfg.Allowed(b.noowner, evt.Sender) {