diff --git a/news/main.py b/news/main.py
index 0ba2772..26d827f 100644
--- a/news/main.py
+++ b/news/main.py
@@ -328,11 +328,10 @@ async def on_message(message: discord.Message) -> None:
     if message.author == bot.user:
         return
 
-    if message.author.id != 199680010267656192:
-        await message.channel.send("Only authorized users are allowed to use this bot.")
-        return
-
     if message.content.startswith("!"):
+        if message.author.id != 199680010267656192:
+            await message.channel.send("Only authorized users are allowed to use this bot.")
+            return
         if message.content == "!process":
             asyncio.create_task(process_articles(message))
         return
@@ -356,6 +355,10 @@ async def on_message(message: discord.Message) -> None:
     if not (is_dm or is_mention):
         return
 
+    if message.author.id != 199680010267656192:
+        await message.channel.send("Only authorized users are allowed to use this bot.")
+        return
+
     url = extract_first_url(message.content)
     if not url:
         await message.channel.send("Please send me a link to a news article.")