diff --git a/src/helpers/newcomers/kickCandidates.ts b/src/helpers/newcomers/kickCandidates.ts
index 2536c55e..ecbda0c0 100644
--- a/src/helpers/newcomers/kickCandidates.ts
+++ b/src/helpers/newcomers/kickCandidates.ts
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ export async function kickCandidates(chat: Chat, candidates: Candidate[]) {
       kickChatMemberProxy(
         chat.id,
         candidate.id,
-        chat.banUsers ? 0 : parseInt(`${new Date().getTime() / 1000 + 45}`)
+        chat.banUsers
       )
     } catch (err) {
       report(err, addKickedUser.name)
@@ -52,14 +52,18 @@ export async function kickCandidates(chat: Chat, candidates: Candidate[]) {
 async function kickChatMemberProxy(
   id: number,
   candidateId: number,
-  duration: number
+  banUsers: boolean
 ) {
   try {
     if (!chatMembersBeingKicked[id]) {
       chatMembersBeingKicked[id] = {}
     }
     chatMembersBeingKicked[id][candidateId] = true
-    await bot.telegram.kickChatMember(id, candidateId, duration)
+    if (banUsers) {
+      await bot.telegram.kickChatMember(id, candidateId)
+    } else {
+      await bot.telegram.unbanChatMember(id, candidateId) // kick without ban
+    }
   } catch (err) {
     report(err, kickChatMemberProxy.name)
   } finally {
diff --git a/src/helpers/newcomers/kickChatMember.ts b/src/helpers/newcomers/kickChatMember.ts
index bcfd4294..c662e71e 100644
--- a/src/helpers/newcomers/kickChatMember.ts
+++ b/src/helpers/newcomers/kickChatMember.ts
@@ -11,11 +11,11 @@ export async function kickChatMember(chat: DocumentType<Chat>, user: User) {
   // Try kicking the member
   try {
     await addKickedUser(chat, user.id)
-    await bot.telegram.kickChatMember(
-      chat.id,
-      user.id,
-      chat.banUsers ? 0 : parseInt(`${new Date().getTime() / 1000 + 45}`)
-    )
+    if (chat.banUsers) {
+      await bot.telegram.kickChatMember(chat.id, user.id)
+    } else {
+      await bot.telegram.unbanChatMember(chat.id, user.id) // kick without ban
+    }
   } catch (err) {
     report(err, kickChatMember.name)
   }