diff --git a/manager/profiles.py b/manager/profiles.py
index 19f248a..6f63e52 100644
--- a/manager/profiles.py
+++ b/manager/profiles.py
@@ -492,8 +492,13 @@ async def _rss_ensure_channel(profile_id: int, b: "RunningBot", chat: Any, user_
         return None
 
 
-async def _rss_poll(b: "RunningBot", chat: Any, gid: int | None, config: dict, seed: bool) -> None:
-    """Fetch the feed; on the seed run just record existing ids, otherwise broadcast new items."""
+async def _rss_poll(b: "RunningBot", chat: Any, gid: int | None, config: dict,
+                    seed: bool, max_post: int | None = None) -> None:
+    """Fetch the feed and broadcast items not seen before.
+
+    seed=True   → only record ids (no posting), used on restart so we don't replay.
+    max_post=N  → post at most the N latest new items (used to populate a fresh channel
+                  without dumping the bot's entire backlog)."""
     url = (config.get("feed_url") or "").strip()
     if not url:
         return
@@ -505,18 +510,19 @@ async def _rss_poll(b: "RunningBot", chat: Any, gid: int | None, config: dict, s
         return
     new = [e for e in entries if e["id"] not in b.rss_seen]
     for e in new:
-        b.rss_seen.add(e["id"])
+        b.rss_seen.add(e["id"])  # mark all seen, even if we only post the latest few
     if seed:
         _append_log(b, f"RSS seeded {len(entries)} existing item(s)")
         return
     if not gid or not new:
         return
-    for e in reversed(new):  # post oldest → newest
+    to_post = new if max_post is None else new[:max_post]  # new is newest-first
+    for e in reversed(to_post):  # post oldest → newest
         try:
             await chat.api_send_text_message({"chatType": "group", "chatId": gid}, _rss_format(e))
         except Exception:
             log.exception("rss: failed to post to channel")
-    _append_log(b, f"RSS posted {len(new)} new item(s)")
+    _append_log(b, f"RSS posted {len(to_post)} item(s)")
 
 
 async def _run_bot(
@@ -617,7 +623,16 @@ async def _run_bot(
         rss_poll_s = float(config.get("poll_seconds", 300))
         if bot_type == "rss":
             b.rss_gid = await _rss_ensure_channel(profile_id, b, chat, user_id, name, config)
-            await _rss_poll(b, chat, b.rss_gid, config, seed=True)
+            if b.rss_gid and not config.get("rss_populated"):
+                # first run for this feed: fill the channel with the latest items so new
+                # subscribers see content (recent history). Done once, then flagged.
+                await _rss_poll(b, chat, b.rss_gid, config, seed=False, max_post=5)
+                config["rss_populated"] = True
+                import db as _db
+                _db.update_config(profile_id, config)
+            else:
+                # already populated on a previous run — just record current ids, don't replay
+                await _rss_poll(b, chat, b.rss_gid, config, seed=True)
             b.rss_next_poll = time.time() + rss_poll_s
             await refresh()
 
diff --git a/manager/rss_test.py b/manager/rss_test.py
index 5a4d799..06eda5f 100644
--- a/manager/rss_test.py
+++ b/manager/rss_test.py
@@ -100,11 +100,12 @@ async def main() -> int:
         print("channel created:", bool(gid), "gid", gid)
         assert gid, "rss bot did not create a channel"
 
-        # 2) the first item was seeded, not posted
-        await asyncio.sleep(2)
-        texts = await channel_texts(b.chat, gid)
-        assert not any("First post" in t for t in texts), "seeded item was wrongly broadcast"
-        print("seed OK (first item not broadcast)")
+        # 2) first run populates the channel with the existing item(s)
+        got_initial = await wait_until(
+            lambda: _contains(channel_texts(b.chat, gid), "First post"), timeout=20, every=2
+        )
+        print("initial item populated to channel:", bool(got_initial))
+        assert got_initial, "channel was not populated on first run"
 
         # 3) add a new item → it should be broadcast on the next poll
         FEED["items"].insert(0, ("Breaking news", "https://example.com/2"))