diff --git a/utils.py b/utils.py
index 23b90b6..5ee755c 100644
--- a/utils.py
+++ b/utils.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 
 import logging
 
+import telegram
 from telegram.ext.dispatcher import run_async
 
 from internationalization import _, __
@@ -87,6 +88,8 @@ def send_async(bot, *args, **kwargs):
     """Send a message asynchronously"""
     if 'timeout' not in kwargs:
         kwargs['timeout'] = TIMEOUT
+    if 'parse_mode' not in kwargs:
+        kwargs['parse_mode'] = telegram.ParseMode.MARKDOWN
 
     try:
         bot.sendMessage(*args, **kwargs)