diff --git a/config/template_config.toml b/config/template_config.toml
index eb1f00b..21ddc48 100644
--- a/config/template_config.toml
+++ b/config/template_config.toml
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ long_polling_timeout = 30
 timed_out_pause = 1
 # Time in seconds before retrying a request that returned an error
 error_pause = 5
+# Number of connections to keep in the connection pool
+con_pool_size = 10
 
 
 # General payment settings
diff --git a/core.py b/core.py
index ecacbcd..6f6119b 100644
--- a/core.py
+++ b/core.py
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ def main():
     sed.DeferredReflection.prepare(engine)
 
     # Create a bot instance
-    bot = duckbot.factory(user_cfg)()
+    bot = duckbot.factory(user_cfg)(request=telegram.utils.request.Request(user_cfg["Telegram"]["con_pool_size"]))
 
     # Test the specified token
     log.debug("Testing bot token...")