diff --git a/apps/telegram-bot/commands.py b/apps/telegram-bot/commands.py
index d2f3562..51f5990 100644
--- a/apps/telegram-bot/commands.py
+++ b/apps/telegram-bot/commands.py
@@ -438,24 +438,14 @@ async def cmd_untrack(update: Update, ctx: ContextTypes.DEFAULT_TYPE) -> None:
 async def cmd_start(update: Update, ctx: ContextTypes.DEFAULT_TYPE) -> None:
     user_id = get_user_id(update)
     room_id = get_room_id(update)
-    import logging
-
-    logging.info(
-        f"cmd_start: user_id={user_id}, room_id={room_id}, is_group={is_group(update)}"
-    )
 
     if is_group(update):
         try:
             chat_member = await ctx.bot.get_chat_member(room_id, user_id)
-            logging.info(f"cmd_start: chat_member.status={chat_member.status}")
             if chat_member.status == "creator" and not BOUNTY_SERVICE.is_admin(
                 room_id, user_id
             ):
-                logging.info(f"cmd_start: Promoting user {user_id} to admin")
                 BOUNTY_SERVICE.add_admin(room_id, user_id, user_id)
-                logging.info(
-                    f"cmd_start: After add_admin, is_admin={BOUNTY_SERVICE.is_admin(room_id, user_id)}"
-                )
                 await update.message.reply_text(
                     "👻 JIGAIDO is watching.\n\n"
                     "This group's bounty list is now active.\n"
@@ -466,8 +456,7 @@ async def cmd_start(update: Update, ctx: ContextTypes.DEFAULT_TYPE) -> None:
                     "/my — your tracked bounties"
                 )
                 return
-        except Exception as e:
-            logging.error(f"cmd_start: Exception in group start: {e}")
+        except Exception:
             pass
 
         await update.message.reply_text(
@@ -480,7 +469,6 @@ async def cmd_start(update: Update, ctx: ContextTypes.DEFAULT_TYPE) -> None:
         )
     else:
         if not BOUNTY_SERVICE.is_admin(room_id, user_id):
-            logging.info(f"cmd_start: DM - promoting user {user_id} to admin")
             BOUNTY_SERVICE.add_admin(room_id, user_id, user_id)
 
         await update.message.reply_text(
diff --git a/core/services.py b/core/services.py
index f233aa1..a9105af 100644
--- a/core/services.py
+++ b/core/services.py
@@ -36,51 +36,23 @@ class BountyService:
         self, room_id: int, admin_user_id: int, requesting_user_id: int
     ) -> None:
         """Add an admin to a room. Requires admin permission, or self-promotion if first admin."""
-        import logging
-
-        logging.info(
-            f"add_admin: room_id={room_id}, admin_user_id={admin_user_id}, requesting_user_id={requesting_user_id}"
-        )
-
         room_data = self._storage.load(room_id)
-        logging.info(
-            f"add_admin: loaded room_data.admin_user_ids={room_data.admin_user_ids if room_data else None}"
-        )
 
         has_no_admins = room_data is None or not room_data.admin_user_ids
         is_self_promotion = requesting_user_id == admin_user_id
-        logging.info(
-            f"add_admin: has_no_admins={has_no_admins}, is_self_promotion={is_self_promotion}"
-        )
 
         if not self.is_admin(room_id, requesting_user_id):
             if not (has_no_admins and is_self_promotion):
-                logging.error("add_admin: PermissionError raised")
                 raise PermissionError("Only admins can add admins.")
-            logging.info("add_admin: Self-promotion allowed")
 
-        if room_data is None:
+        if room_data is None or room_data.admin_user_ids is None:
             room_data = RoomData(
                 room_id=room_id, bounties=[], next_id=1, admin_user_ids=[]
             )
-            logging.info("add_admin: Created new RoomData")
-
-        logging.info(
-            f"add_admin: Before append, room_data.admin_user_ids={room_data.admin_user_ids}"
-        )
 
         if admin_user_id not in (room_data.admin_user_ids or []):
-            logging.info(f"add_admin: Appending {admin_user_id}")
             room_data.admin_user_ids.append(admin_user_id)
-            logging.info(
-                f"add_admin: After append, room_data.admin_user_ids={room_data.admin_user_ids}"
-            )
             self._storage.save(room_data)
-            logging.info("add_admin: Saved")
-        else:
-            logging.info(
-                f"add_admin: {admin_user_id} already in admin_user_ids, not appending"
-            )
 
     def remove_admin(
         self, room_id: int, admin_user_id: int, requesting_user_id: int