diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d58aa33..dafaea0 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -186,6 +186,21 @@ data:
   parse_mode: "HTML"  # Default, can be omitted
 ```
 
+Non-blocking mode (fire-and-forget):
+
+```yaml
+service: immich_album_watcher.send_telegram_notification
+target:
+  entity_id: sensor.album_name_asset_count
+data:
+  chat_id: "-1001234567890"
+  urls:
+    - url: "https://immich.example.com/api/assets/xxx/thumbnail?key=yyy"
+      type: photo
+  caption: "Quick notification"
+  wait_for_response: false  # Automation continues immediately
+```
+
 | Field | Description | Required |
 |-------|-------------|----------|
 | `chat_id` | Telegram chat ID to send to | Yes |
@@ -197,8 +212,9 @@ data:
 | `parse_mode` | How to parse caption/text. Options: `HTML`, `Markdown`, `MarkdownV2`, or empty string for plain text. Default: `HTML` | No |
 | `max_group_size` | Maximum media items per group (2-10). Large lists split into multiple groups. Default: 10 | No |
 | `chunk_delay` | Delay in milliseconds between sending multiple groups (0-60000). Useful for rate limiting. Default: 0 | No |
+| `wait_for_response` | Wait for Telegram to finish processing. Set to `false` for fire-and-forget (automation continues immediately). Default: `true` | No |
 
-The service returns a response with `success` status and `message_id` (single message), `message_ids` (media group), or `groups_sent` (number of groups when split).
+The service returns a response with `success` status and `message_id` (single message), `message_ids` (media group), or `groups_sent` (number of groups when split). When `wait_for_response` is `false`, the service returns immediately with `{"success": true, "status": "queued"}` while processing continues in the background.
 
 ## Events
 
diff --git a/custom_components/immich_album_watcher/sensor.py b/custom_components/immich_album_watcher/sensor.py
index c3cfb17..93a08fb 100644
--- a/custom_components/immich_album_watcher/sensor.py
+++ b/custom_components/immich_album_watcher/sensor.py
@@ -114,9 +114,10 @@ async def async_setup_entry(
             vol.Optional("chunk_delay", default=0): vol.All(
                 vol.Coerce(int), vol.Range(min=0, max=60000)
             ),
+            vol.Optional("wait_for_response", default=True): bool,
         },
         "async_send_telegram_notification",
-        supports_response=SupportsResponse.ONLY,
+        supports_response=SupportsResponse.OPTIONAL,
     )
 
 
@@ -186,6 +187,7 @@ class ImmichAlbumBaseSensor(CoordinatorEntity[ImmichAlbumWatcherCoordinator], Se
         parse_mode: str = "HTML",
         max_group_size: int = 10,
         chunk_delay: int = 0,
+        wait_for_response: bool = True,
     ) -> ServiceResponse:
         """Send notification to Telegram.
 
@@ -197,7 +199,53 @@ class ImmichAlbumBaseSensor(CoordinatorEntity[ImmichAlbumWatcherCoordinator], Se
 
         Each item in urls should be a dict with 'url' and 'type' (photo/video).
         Downloads media and uploads to Telegram to bypass CORS restrictions.
+
+        If wait_for_response is False, the task will be executed in the background
+        and the service will return immediately.
         """
+        # If non-blocking mode, create a background task and return immediately
+        if not wait_for_response:
+            self.hass.async_create_task(
+                self._execute_telegram_notification(
+                    chat_id=chat_id,
+                    urls=urls,
+                    bot_token=bot_token,
+                    caption=caption,
+                    reply_to_message_id=reply_to_message_id,
+                    disable_web_page_preview=disable_web_page_preview,
+                    parse_mode=parse_mode,
+                    max_group_size=max_group_size,
+                    chunk_delay=chunk_delay,
+                )
+            )
+            return {"success": True, "status": "queued", "message": "Notification queued for background processing"}
+
+        # Blocking mode - execute and return result
+        return await self._execute_telegram_notification(
+            chat_id=chat_id,
+            urls=urls,
+            bot_token=bot_token,
+            caption=caption,
+            reply_to_message_id=reply_to_message_id,
+            disable_web_page_preview=disable_web_page_preview,
+            parse_mode=parse_mode,
+            max_group_size=max_group_size,
+            chunk_delay=chunk_delay,
+        )
+
+    async def _execute_telegram_notification(
+        self,
+        chat_id: str,
+        urls: list[dict[str, str]] | None = None,
+        bot_token: str | None = None,
+        caption: str | None = None,
+        reply_to_message_id: int | None = None,
+        disable_web_page_preview: bool | None = None,
+        parse_mode: str = "HTML",
+        max_group_size: int = 10,
+        chunk_delay: int = 0,
+    ) -> ServiceResponse:
+        """Execute the Telegram notification (internal method)."""
         import json
         import aiohttp
         from aiohttp import FormData
diff --git a/custom_components/immich_album_watcher/services.yaml b/custom_components/immich_album_watcher/services.yaml
index d0f3690..618ee30 100644
--- a/custom_components/immich_album_watcher/services.yaml
+++ b/custom_components/immich_album_watcher/services.yaml
@@ -109,3 +109,10 @@ send_telegram_notification:
           step: 100
           unit_of_measurement: "ms"
           mode: slider
+    wait_for_response:
+      name: Wait For Response
+      description: Wait for Telegram to finish processing before returning. Set to false for fire-and-forget (automation continues immediately).
+      required: false
+      default: true
+      selector:
+        boolean:
diff --git a/custom_components/immich_album_watcher/translations/en.json b/custom_components/immich_album_watcher/translations/en.json
index 66df4ae..ef45e30 100644
--- a/custom_components/immich_album_watcher/translations/en.json
+++ b/custom_components/immich_album_watcher/translations/en.json
@@ -182,6 +182,10 @@
                 "chunk_delay": {
                     "name": "Chunk Delay",
                     "description": "Delay in milliseconds between sending multiple media groups (0-60000). Useful for rate limiting."
+                },
+                "wait_for_response": {
+                    "name": "Wait For Response",
+                    "description": "Wait for Telegram to finish processing before returning. Set to false for fire-and-forget (automation continues immediately)."
                 }
             }
         }
diff --git a/custom_components/immich_album_watcher/translations/ru.json b/custom_components/immich_album_watcher/translations/ru.json
index 74627f5..e75f475 100644
--- a/custom_components/immich_album_watcher/translations/ru.json
+++ b/custom_components/immich_album_watcher/translations/ru.json
@@ -182,6 +182,10 @@
                 "chunk_delay": {
                     "name": "Задержка между группами",
                     "description": "Задержка в миллисекундах между отправкой нескольких медиа-групп (0-60000). Полезно для ограничения скорости."
+                },
+                "wait_for_response": {
+                    "name": "Ждать ответа",
+                    "description": "Ждать завершения отправки в Telegram перед возвратом. Установите false для фоновой отправки (автоматизация продолжается немедленно)."
                 }
             }
         }