diff --git a/whatsapp-gateway/server.js b/whatsapp-gateway/server.js
index 94cd05a..9384a07 100644
--- a/whatsapp-gateway/server.js
+++ b/whatsapp-gateway/server.js
@@ -197,6 +197,15 @@ const handleSendMessage = async (req, res) => {
         }
 
         const response = await client.sendMessage(targetJid, message);
+        
+        // Mark the chat as unread so it shows up as a notification/badge on the user's phone
+        try {
+            const chat = await client.getChatById(targetJid);
+            await chat.markUnread();
+        } catch (err) {
+            console.error('[WhatsApp Bot] Failed to mark chat as unread:', err);
+        }
+
         res.json({ success: true, messageId: response.id._serialized, recipient: targetJid });
 
     } catch (error) {