diff --git a/playbooks/health_check.yml b/playbooks/health_check.yml
index bfa93e7..53c203e 100644
--- a/playbooks/health_check.yml
+++ b/playbooks/health_check.yml
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@
 #
 # Extra vars (optional):
 #   disk_warn_pct      - default 80
-#   telegram_bot_token - or environment variable TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN
-#   telegram_chat_id   - or environment variable TELEGRAM_CHAT_ID
+#   telegram_bot_token / TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN - extra var or environment variable
+#   telegram_chat_id / TELEGRAM_CHAT_ID     - extra var or environment variable
 # Without both Telegram values the playbook only prints the report.
 
 - name: Check Host Availability
@@ -86,9 +86,11 @@
 
   vars:
     disk_warn_pct: 80
-    telegram_bot_token: "{{ lookup('env', 'TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN') }}"
-    telegram_chat_id: "{{ lookup('env', 'TELEGRAM_CHAT_ID') }}"
-    telegram_configured: "{{ telegram_bot_token | length > 0 and telegram_chat_id | length > 0 }}"
+    # Accepted from a Semaphore variable group as extra vars (telegram_bot_token
+    # or TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN) or as environment variables (TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN).
+    telegram_bot_token: "{{ TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN | default(lookup('env', 'TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN'), true) | string }}"
+    telegram_chat_id: "{{ TELEGRAM_CHAT_ID | default(lookup('env', 'TELEGRAM_CHAT_ID'), true) | string }}"
+    telegram_configured: "{{ telegram_bot_token | string | length > 0 and telegram_chat_id | string | length > 0 }}"
     offline_hosts: "{{ groups['all'] | difference(groups['reachable_hosts'] | default([])) }}"
 
   tasks:
@@ -113,7 +115,11 @@
 
     - name: Print alerts when Telegram is not configured
       ansible.builtin.debug:
-        msg: "ALERTS (Telegram not configured - set telegram_bot_token and telegram_chat_id):\n{{ alert_text }}"
+        msg: |-
+          ALERTS (Telegram not configured - bot token {{ 'set' if telegram_bot_token | string | length > 0 else 'MISSING' }},
+          chat id {{ 'set' if telegram_chat_id | string | length > 0 else 'MISSING' }};
+          pass TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN and TELEGRAM_CHAT_ID through the variable group attached to this template)
+          {{ alert_text }}
       when:
         - alert_text | length > 0
         - not telegram_configured
diff --git a/playbooks/service_check.yml b/playbooks/service_check.yml
index 8fdb302..26e7144 100644
--- a/playbooks/service_check.yml
+++ b/playbooks/service_check.yml
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@
 #
 # Extra vars (optional):
 #   restart_stopped    - default false; when true, start services found stopped
-#   telegram_bot_token - or environment variable TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN
-#   telegram_chat_id   - or environment variable TELEGRAM_CHAT_ID
+#   telegram_bot_token / TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN - extra var or environment variable
+#   telegram_chat_id / TELEGRAM_CHAT_ID     - extra var or environment variable
 
 - name: Check Host Availability
   hosts: ubuntu:rocky
@@ -92,9 +92,11 @@
 
   vars:
     restart_stopped: false
-    telegram_bot_token: "{{ lookup('env', 'TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN') }}"
-    telegram_chat_id: "{{ lookup('env', 'TELEGRAM_CHAT_ID') }}"
-    telegram_configured: "{{ telegram_bot_token | length > 0 and telegram_chat_id | length > 0 }}"
+    # Accepted from a Semaphore variable group as extra vars (telegram_bot_token
+    # or TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN) or as environment variables (TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN).
+    telegram_bot_token: "{{ TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN | default(lookup('env', 'TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN'), true) | string }}"
+    telegram_chat_id: "{{ TELEGRAM_CHAT_ID | default(lookup('env', 'TELEGRAM_CHAT_ID'), true) | string }}"
+    telegram_configured: "{{ telegram_bot_token | string | length > 0 and telegram_chat_id | string | length > 0 }}"
 
   tasks:
     - name: Build alert text
@@ -116,7 +118,11 @@
 
     - name: Print alerts when Telegram is not configured
       ansible.builtin.debug:
-        msg: "ALERTS (Telegram not configured - set telegram_bot_token and telegram_chat_id):\n{{ alert_text }}"
+        msg: |-
+          ALERTS (Telegram not configured - bot token {{ 'set' if telegram_bot_token | string | length > 0 else 'MISSING' }},
+          chat id {{ 'set' if telegram_chat_id | string | length > 0 else 'MISSING' }};
+          pass TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN and TELEGRAM_CHAT_ID through the variable group attached to this template)
+          {{ alert_text }}
       when:
         - alert_text | length > 0
         - not telegram_configured