diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 5151828..1efbd25 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -10,18 +10,18 @@ live from `bot.settings` so it can change at runtime via a command.
 `requirements.txt`:
 
 ```
-dpy_logger @ git+ssh://git@git.rethinkstudios.io/rethink-public/dpy_logger.git@v0.1.2
+dpy_logger @ git+ssh://git@git.rethinkstudios.io/rethink-public/dpy_logger.git@v0.1.3
 ```
 
 Direct:
 
 ```bash
-pip install "dpy_logger @ git+ssh://git@git.rethinkstudios.io/rethink-public/dpy_logger.git@v0.1.2"
+pip install "dpy_logger @ git+ssh://git@git.rethinkstudios.io/rethink-public/dpy_logger.git@v0.1.3"
 ```
 
 Requires `discord.py` (pulled transitively).
 
-Drop the `@v0.1.2` suffix from the line above to install the latest unpinned.
+Drop the `@v0.1.3` suffix from the line above to install the latest unpinned.
 
 ## Usage
 
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index d05f3f2..afdc534 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ build-backend = "hatchling.build"
 
 [project]
 name = "dpy_logger"
-version = "0.1.2"
+version = "0.1.3"
 description = "Leveled Discord channel logger for discord.py — config-free, injectable, installable."
 requires-python = ">=3.10"
 dependencies = [
diff --git a/src/dpy_logger/dpy_logger.py b/src/dpy_logger/dpy_logger.py
index 4e95cd6..b121142 100644
--- a/src/dpy_logger/dpy_logger.py
+++ b/src/dpy_logger/dpy_logger.py
@@ -111,6 +111,14 @@ class DPYLogger:
             if not self.guild:
                 raise ValueError(f"[dpy_logger] cannot resolve channel {self.channel} without a guild")
             self.channel = await self._get_channel(self.guild)
+        # a channel object passed with no guild (e.g. bot.get_channel(id)) would pass
+        # setup silently but then fail every send at _get_guild(None) — swallowed, so
+        # nothing reaches discord. derive the guild from the channel it already carries,
+        # or fail loud at setup (matching the int-channel guard above) rather than later.
+        if self.guild is None and isinstance(self.channel, discord.TextChannel):
+            self.guild = self.channel.guild
+        if self.guild is None and self.channel is not None:
+            raise ValueError("[dpy_logger] channel provided without a resolvable guild")
 
     async def _get_guild(self, guild):
         """resolve a guild from id-or-object, raising if unresolvable"""