diff --git a/internal/config/config.go b/internal/config/config.go
index 00e1983..01e1e40 100644
--- a/internal/config/config.go
+++ b/internal/config/config.go
@@ -33,6 +33,12 @@ type AppConfig struct {
 		current recommended value is 1000ms.
 	*/
 	VoiceActivityTimerSleepIntervalMillis int `yaml:"voice_activity_timer_sleep_interval_millis"`
+
+	/* persistent state file store */
+	PersistentCacheStore string `yaml:"persistent_cache_store"`
+
+	/* number of internal state events to cache in memory */
+	InMemoryEventCacheSize int `yaml:"InMemoryEventCacheSize"`
 }
 
 var config *AppConfig
@@ -87,4 +93,6 @@ func setDefaults() {
 	viper.SetDefault("LogAddSource", true)
 	viper.SetDefault("VoiceActivityThresholdSeconds", 600)
 	viper.SetDefault("VoiceActivityTimerSleepIntervalMillis", 1000)
+	viper.SetDefault("PersistentCacheStore", "/tmp/bingobot")
+	viper.SetDefault("InMemoryEventCacheSize", 512)
 }
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 1c072cb..ea3952c 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 	"gitlab.com/whom/bingobot/internal/config"
 	"gitlab.com/whom/bingobot/internal/discord"
 	"gitlab.com/whom/bingobot/internal/logging"
+	"gitlab.com/whom/bingobot/internal/state"
 )
 
 var (
@@ -28,6 +29,13 @@ func main() {
 
 	logging.Init()
 
+	if err := state.Init(
+		config.Get().InMemoryEventCacheSize,
+		config.Get().PersistentCacheStore,
+	); err != nil {
+		log.Fatalf("couldn't initialize state engine: %s", err.Error())
+	}
+
 	err = startBot()
 
 	if err != nil {