diff --git a/dsmr_parser/exceptions.py b/dsmr_parser/exceptions.py
index a5fa8f4..4babfd6 100644
--- a/dsmr_parser/exceptions.py
+++ b/dsmr_parser/exceptions.py
@@ -4,3 +4,7 @@ class ParseError(Exception):
 
 class InvalidChecksumError(ParseError):
     pass
+
+
+class TelegramSpecificationMatchError(ParseError):
+    pass
diff --git a/dsmr_parser/parsers.py b/dsmr_parser/parsers.py
index 6a9f465..7d238b7 100644
--- a/dsmr_parser/parsers.py
+++ b/dsmr_parser/parsers.py
@@ -4,16 +4,18 @@ import re
 from PyCRC.CRC16 import CRC16
 
 from dsmr_parser.objects import MBusObject, CosemObject
-from dsmr_parser.exceptions import ParseError, InvalidChecksumError
+from dsmr_parser.exceptions import ParseError, InvalidChecksumError, \
+    TelegramSpecificationMatchError
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
 class TelegramParser(object):
 
-    def __init__(self, telegram_specification, apply_checksum_validation=True):
+    def __init__(self, telegram_specification=None, apply_checksum_validation=True):
         """
-        :param telegram_specification: determines how the telegram is parsed
+        :param telegram_specification: determines how the telegram is parsed.
+            Will attempt to autodetect if omitted.
         :param apply_checksum_validation: validate checksum if applicable for
             telegram DSMR version (v4 and up).
         :type telegram_specification: dict
@@ -39,8 +41,10 @@ class TelegramParser(object):
                 ..
             }
         :raises ParseError:
-        :raises InvalidChecksumError:
         """
+        if not self.telegram_specification:
+            self.telegram_specification = \
+                match_telegram_specification(telegram_data)
 
         if self.apply_checksum_validation \
                 and self.telegram_specification['checksum_support']:
@@ -118,6 +122,11 @@ def match_telegram_specification(telegram_data):
         else:
             return specification
 
+    raise TelegramSpecificationMatchError(
+        'Could automatically match telegram specification. Make sure the data'
+        'is not corrupt. Alternatively manually specify one.'
+    )
+
 
 class DSMRObjectParser(object):
     """
diff --git a/test/test_match_telegram_specification.py b/test/test_match_telegram_specification.py
index 357495a..6f5134f 100644
--- a/test/test_match_telegram_specification.py
+++ b/test/test_match_telegram_specification.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import unittest
 
+from dsmr_parser.exceptions import TelegramSpecificationMatchError
 from dsmr_parser.parsers import match_telegram_specification
 from dsmr_parser import telegram_specifications
 from test import example_telegrams
@@ -22,3 +23,7 @@ class MatchTelegramSpecificationTest(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_v5(self):
         assert match_telegram_specification(example_telegrams.TELEGRAM_V5) \
            == telegram_specifications.V5
+
+    def test_malformed_telegram(self):
+        with self.assertRaises(TelegramSpecificationMatchError):
+            match_telegram_specification(example_telegrams.TELEGRAM_V5[:-4])
diff --git a/test/test_parse_v2_2.py b/test/test_parse_v2_2.py
index e7203ab..cba1a4d 100644
--- a/test/test_parse_v2_2.py
+++ b/test/test_parse_v2_2.py
@@ -12,6 +12,15 @@ from test.example_telegrams import TELEGRAM_V2_2
 class TelegramParserV2_2Test(unittest.TestCase):
     """ Test parsing of a DSMR v2.2 telegram. """
 
+    def test_telegram_specification_matching(self):
+        parser = TelegramParser()
+        parser.parse(TELEGRAM_V2_2)
+
+        self.assertEqual(
+            parser.telegram_specification,
+            telegram_specifications.V2_2
+        )
+
     def test_parse(self):
         parser = TelegramParser(telegram_specifications.V2_2)
         result = parser.parse(TELEGRAM_V2_2)
diff --git a/test/test_parse_v3.py b/test/test_parse_v3.py
index c50a86e..c583835 100644
--- a/test/test_parse_v3.py
+++ b/test/test_parse_v3.py
@@ -12,6 +12,15 @@ from test.example_telegrams import TELEGRAM_V3
 class TelegramParserV3Test(unittest.TestCase):
     """ Test parsing of a DSMR v3 telegram. """
 
+    def test_telegram_specification_matching(self):
+        parser = TelegramParser()
+        parser.parse(TELEGRAM_V3)
+
+        self.assertEqual(
+            parser.telegram_specification,
+            telegram_specifications.V3
+        )
+
     def test_parse(self):
         parser = TelegramParser(telegram_specifications.V3)
         result = parser.parse(TELEGRAM_V3)
diff --git a/test/test_parse_v4_2.py b/test/test_parse_v4_2.py
index 681783b..ba3ecbd 100644
--- a/test/test_parse_v4_2.py
+++ b/test/test_parse_v4_2.py
@@ -15,6 +15,15 @@ from test.example_telegrams import TELEGRAM_V4_2
 class TelegramParserV4_2Test(unittest.TestCase):
     """ Test parsing of a DSMR v4.2 telegram. """
 
+    def test_telegram_specification_matching(self):
+        parser = TelegramParser()
+        parser.parse(TELEGRAM_V4_2)
+
+        self.assertEqual(
+            parser.telegram_specification,
+            telegram_specifications.V4
+        )
+
     def test_parse(self):
         parser = TelegramParser(telegram_specifications.V4)
         result = parser.parse(TELEGRAM_V4_2)
diff --git a/test/test_parse_v5.py b/test/test_parse_v5.py
index 550fde9..b26cb60 100644
--- a/test/test_parse_v5.py
+++ b/test/test_parse_v5.py
@@ -16,6 +16,15 @@ from test.example_telegrams import TELEGRAM_V5
 class TelegramParserV5Test(unittest.TestCase):
     """ Test parsing of a DSMR v5.x telegram. """
 
+    def test_telegram_specification_matching(self):
+        parser = TelegramParser()
+        parser.parse(TELEGRAM_V5)
+
+        self.assertEqual(
+            parser.telegram_specification,
+            telegram_specifications.V5
+        )
+
     def test_parse(self):
         parser = TelegramParser(telegram_specifications.V5)
         result = parser.parse(TELEGRAM_V5)