diff --git a/mautrix_telegram/matrix.py b/mautrix_telegram/matrix.py
index c6873cfb..e1f2e7d0 100644
--- a/mautrix_telegram/matrix.py
+++ b/mautrix_telegram/matrix.py
@@ -392,6 +392,11 @@ async def handle_typing(self, room_id: RoomID, now_typing: Set[UserID]) -> None:
     def filter_matrix_event(self, evt: Event) -> bool:
         if not isinstance(evt, (RedactionEvent, MessageEvent, StateEvent, EncryptedEvent)):
             return True
+        if evt.content.get("net.maunium.telegram.puppet", False):
+            puppet = pu.Puppet.get_by_custom_mxid(evt.sender)
+            if puppet:
+                self.log.debug("Ignoring puppet-sent event %s", evt.event_id)
+                return True
         return evt.sender and (evt.sender == self.az.bot_mxid
                                or pu.Puppet.get_id_from_mxid(evt.sender) is not None)
 
diff --git a/mautrix_telegram/portal/matrix.py b/mautrix_telegram/portal/matrix.py
index 047ff086..8c3d5e53 100644
--- a/mautrix_telegram/portal/matrix.py
+++ b/mautrix_telegram/portal/matrix.py
@@ -371,11 +371,6 @@ async def handle_matrix_message(self, sender: 'u.User', content: MessageEventCon
             self.log.debug(f"Ignoring message {event_id} in {self.mxid} without body or msgtype")
             return
 
-        puppet = p.Puppet.get_by_custom_mxid(sender.mxid)
-        if puppet and content.get("net.maunium.telegram.puppet", False):
-            self.log.debug("Ignoring puppet-sent message by confirmed puppet user %s", sender.mxid)
-            return
-
         logged_in = not await sender.needs_relaybot(self)
         client = sender.client if logged_in else self.bot.client
         sender_id = sender.tgid if logged_in else self.bot.tgid
diff --git a/mautrix_telegram/portal/metadata.py b/mautrix_telegram/portal/metadata.py
index e93d40ca..69e4fcfe 100644
--- a/mautrix_telegram/portal/metadata.py
+++ b/mautrix_telegram/portal/metadata.py
@@ -30,8 +30,9 @@
 
 from mautrix.errors import MForbidden
 from mautrix.types import (RoomID, UserID, RoomCreatePreset, EventType, Membership, Member,
-                           PowerLevelStateEventContent)
-from mautrix.appservice import IntentAPI
+                           PowerLevelStateEventContent, RoomTopicStateEventContent,
+                           RoomNameStateEventContent, RoomAvatarStateEventContent,
+                           StateEventContent)
 
 from ..types import TelegramID
 from ..context import Context
@@ -638,15 +639,18 @@ async def _update_username(self, username: str, save: bool = False) -> bool:
             self.save()
         return True
 
-    async def _try_use_intent(self, sender: Optional['p.Puppet'],
-                              action: Callable[[IntentAPI], Awaitable[None]]) -> None:
+    async def _try_set_state(self, sender: Optional['p.Puppet'], evt_type: EventType,
+                             content: StateEventContent) -> None:
         if sender:
             try:
-                await action(sender.intent_for(self))
+                intent = sender.intent_for(self)
+                if sender.is_real_user:
+                    content[self.az.real_user_content_key] = True
+                await intent.send_state_event(self.mxid, evt_type, content)
             except MForbidden:
-                await action(self.main_intent)
+                await self.main_intent.send_state_event(self.mxid, evt_type, content)
         else:
-            await action(self.main_intent)
+            await self.main_intent.send_state_event(self.mxid, evt_type, content)
 
     async def _update_about(self, about: str, sender: Optional['p.Puppet'] = None,
                             save: bool = False) -> bool:
@@ -654,8 +658,8 @@ async def _update_about(self, about: str, sender: Optional['p.Puppet'] = None,
             return False
 
         self.about = about
-        await self._try_use_intent(sender,
-                                   lambda intent: intent.set_room_topic(self.mxid, self.about))
+        await self._try_set_state(sender, EventType.ROOM_TOPIC,
+                                  RoomTopicStateEventContent(topic=self.about))
         if save:
             self.save()
         return True
@@ -666,8 +670,8 @@ async def _update_title(self, title: str, sender: Optional['p.Puppet'] = None,
             return False
 
         self.title = title
-        await self._try_use_intent(sender,
-                                   lambda intent: intent.set_room_name(self.mxid, self.title))
+        await self._try_set_state(sender, EventType.ROOM_NAME,
+                                  RoomNameStateEventContent(name=self.title))
         if save:
             self.save()
         return True
@@ -693,16 +697,16 @@ async def _update_avatar(self, user: 'AbstractUser', photo: TypeChatPhoto,
             raise ValueError(f"Unknown photo type {type(photo)}")
         if self.photo_id != photo_id:
             if not photo_id:
-                await self._try_use_intent(sender,
-                                           lambda intent: intent.set_room_avatar(self.mxid, None))
+                await self._try_set_state(sender, EventType.ROOM_AVATAR,
+                                          RoomAvatarStateEventContent(url=None))
                 self.photo_id = ""
                 if save:
                     self.save()
                 return True
             file = await util.transfer_file_to_matrix(user.client, self.main_intent, loc)
             if file:
-                await self._try_use_intent(sender, lambda intent: intent.set_room_avatar(self.mxid,
-                                                                                         file.mxc))
+                await self._try_set_state(sender, EventType.ROOM_AVATAR,
+                                          RoomAvatarStateEventContent(url=file.mxc))
                 self.photo_id = photo_id
                 if save:
                     self.save()