diff --git a/src/agents/runtime-plugins.test.ts b/src/agents/runtime-plugins.test.ts
index 659de14fd050..74af31517dd4 100644
--- a/src/agents/runtime-plugins.test.ts
+++ b/src/agents/runtime-plugins.test.ts
@@ -8,12 +8,17 @@ const hoisted = vi.hoisted(() => ({
     () => "default",
   ),
   getActivePluginRegistryWorkspaceDir: vi.fn<() => string | undefined>(() => undefined),
+  getActiveRuntimePluginRegistry: vi.fn<() => unknown>(() => null),
 }));
 
 vi.mock("../plugins/current-plugin-metadata-snapshot.js", () => ({
   getCurrentPluginMetadataSnapshot: hoisted.getCurrentPluginMetadataSnapshot,
 }));
 
+vi.mock("../plugins/active-runtime-registry.js", () => ({
+  getActiveRuntimePluginRegistry: hoisted.getActiveRuntimePluginRegistry,
+}));
+
 vi.mock("../plugins/runtime/standalone-runtime-registry-loader.js", () => ({
   ensureStandaloneRuntimePluginRegistryLoaded: hoisted.ensureStandaloneRuntimePluginRegistryLoaded,
 }));
@@ -36,6 +41,8 @@ describe("ensureRuntimePluginsLoaded", () => {
     hoisted.getActivePluginRuntimeSubagentMode.mockReturnValue("default");
     hoisted.getActivePluginRegistryWorkspaceDir.mockReset();
     hoisted.getActivePluginRegistryWorkspaceDir.mockReturnValue(undefined);
+    hoisted.getActiveRuntimePluginRegistry.mockReset();
+    hoisted.getActiveRuntimePluginRegistry.mockReturnValue(null);
     vi.resetModules();
     ({ ensureRuntimePluginsLoaded } = await import("./runtime-plugins.js"));
   });
@@ -52,6 +59,19 @@ describe("ensureRuntimePluginsLoaded", () => {
     expect(hoisted.ensureStandaloneRuntimePluginRegistryLoaded).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
   });
 
+  it("skips loading entirely when a runtime plugin registry is already active", () => {
+    hoisted.getActiveRuntimePluginRegistry.mockReturnValue({});
+
+    ensureRuntimePluginsLoaded({
+      config: {} as never,
+      workspaceDir: "/tmp/workspace",
+      allowGatewaySubagentBinding: true,
+    });
+
+    expect(hoisted.getCurrentPluginMetadataSnapshot).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(hoisted.ensureStandaloneRuntimePluginRegistryLoaded).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
   it("resolves runtime plugins through the shared runtime helper", () => {
     ensureRuntimePluginsLoaded({
       config: {} as never,
diff --git a/src/agents/runtime-plugins.ts b/src/agents/runtime-plugins.ts
index 45049a7173da..650b48094463 100644
--- a/src/agents/runtime-plugins.ts
+++ b/src/agents/runtime-plugins.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
  * plugin IDs from metadata scope the load when available.
  */
 import type { OpenClawConfig } from "../config/types.openclaw.js";
+import { getActiveRuntimePluginRegistry } from "../plugins/active-runtime-registry.js";
 import { normalizePluginsConfig } from "../plugins/config-state.js";
 import { getCurrentPluginMetadataSnapshot } from "../plugins/current-plugin-metadata-snapshot.js";
 import { getActivePluginRuntimeSubagentMode } from "../plugins/runtime.js";
@@ -41,6 +42,13 @@ export function ensureRuntimePluginsLoaded(params: {
   if (params.config && !normalizePluginsConfig(params.config.plugins).enabled) {
     return;
   }
+  // Activating a replacement registry retires the active one and runs its
+  // plugin host cleanup, which cron.remove()s persistent plugin-scheduled
+  // jobs the replacement hasn't re-registered yet (async, still in flight).
+  // Once a registry is active there is nothing left for this call to do.
+  if (getActiveRuntimePluginRegistry()) {
+    return;
+  }
   const workspaceDir =
     typeof params.workspaceDir === "string" && params.workspaceDir.trim()
       ? resolveUserPath(params.workspaceDir)