diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 08c49bcb501..3b3dd62903b 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ Docs: https://docs.openclaw.ai
 
 ### Fixes
 
+- Plugins/runtime-deps: memoize packaged bundled runtime dist-mirror preparation after the first successful pass while keeping source-checkout mirrors refreshable, so constrained Docker/VPS installs avoid repeated root scans before chat turns. Refs #73428, #73421, #73532, and #73477. Thanks @Dimaoggg, @oromeis, @oadiazp, @jmfraga, @bstanbury, @antoniusfelix, and @jkobject.
 - Channels/Discord: treat bare numeric outbound targets that match the effective Discord DM allowlist as user DMs while preserving account-specific legacy `dm.allowFrom` precedence over inherited root `allowFrom`. (#74303) Thanks @Squirbie.
 - Control UI: make the chat sidebar split divider focusable, keyboard-resizable, ARIA-described, and pointer-event based so sidebar resizing works without a mouse. Thanks @BunsDev.
 - Agents/auth: keep OAuth auth profiles inherited from the main agent read-through instead of copying refresh tokens into secondary agents, and refresh Codex app-server tokens against the owning store so multi-agent swarms avoid reused refresh-token failures. Fixes #74055. Thanks @ClarityInvest.
diff --git a/src/plugins/bundled-runtime-dist-mirror-cache.ts b/src/plugins/bundled-runtime-dist-mirror-cache.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..5a70c856eaa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/plugins/bundled-runtime-dist-mirror-cache.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+import fs from "node:fs";
+import path from "node:path";
+
+const preparedBundledRuntimeDistMirrors = new Set<string>();
+
+export function clearBundledRuntimeDistMirrorPreparationCache(): void {
+  preparedBundledRuntimeDistMirrors.clear();
+}
+
+export function shouldReusePreparedBundledRuntimeDistMirror(params: {
+  sourceDistRoot: string;
+  mirrorDistRoot: string;
+}): boolean {
+  if (isSourceCheckoutDistRoot(params.sourceDistRoot)) {
+    return false;
+  }
+  if (!preparedBundledRuntimeDistMirrors.has(bundledRuntimeDistMirrorCacheKey(params))) {
+    return false;
+  }
+  return (
+    fs.existsSync(params.mirrorDistRoot) &&
+    fs.existsSync(path.join(params.mirrorDistRoot, "extensions")) &&
+    fs.existsSync(path.join(params.mirrorDistRoot, "package.json"))
+  );
+}
+
+export function markBundledRuntimeDistMirrorPrepared(params: {
+  sourceDistRoot: string;
+  mirrorDistRoot: string;
+}): void {
+  if (isSourceCheckoutDistRoot(params.sourceDistRoot)) {
+    return;
+  }
+  preparedBundledRuntimeDistMirrors.add(bundledRuntimeDistMirrorCacheKey(params));
+}
+
+function bundledRuntimeDistMirrorCacheKey(params: {
+  sourceDistRoot: string;
+  mirrorDistRoot: string;
+}): string {
+  return `${path.resolve(params.sourceDistRoot)}\0${path.resolve(params.mirrorDistRoot)}`;
+}
+
+function isSourceCheckoutDistRoot(sourceDistRoot: string): boolean {
+  const packageRoot = path.dirname(sourceDistRoot);
+  return (
+    (fs.existsSync(path.join(packageRoot, ".git")) ||
+      fs.existsSync(path.join(packageRoot, "pnpm-workspace.yaml"))) &&
+    fs.existsSync(path.join(packageRoot, "src")) &&
+    fs.existsSync(path.join(packageRoot, "extensions"))
+  );
+}
diff --git a/src/plugins/bundled-runtime-root.test.ts b/src/plugins/bundled-runtime-root.test.ts
index d71202455b2..a07b547a374 100644
--- a/src/plugins/bundled-runtime-root.test.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/bundled-runtime-root.test.ts
@@ -198,7 +198,9 @@ describe("prepareBundledPluginRuntimeRoot", () => {
     }
 
     const realReadFileSync = fs.readFileSync.bind(fs);
+    const realReaddirSync = fs.readdirSync.bind(fs);
     const readPaths: string[] = [];
+    const readdirPaths: string[] = [];
     vi.spyOn(fs, "readFileSync").mockImplementation(((target, options) => {
       const targetPath = target.toString();
       if (targetPath === rootChunk || targetPath === externalChunk) {
@@ -206,6 +208,16 @@ describe("prepareBundledPluginRuntimeRoot", () => {
       }
       return realReadFileSync(target, options as never);
     }) as typeof fs.readFileSync);
+    vi.spyOn(fs, "readdirSync").mockImplementation(((target, options) => {
+      const targetPath = target.toString();
+      if (
+        targetPath === path.join(packageRoot, "dist") &&
+        new Error().stack?.includes("mirrorBundledRuntimeDistRootEntries")
+      ) {
+        readdirPaths.push(targetPath);
+      }
+      return realReaddirSync(target, options as never);
+    }) as typeof fs.readdirSync);
 
     for (const pluginId of ["alpha", "beta"]) {
       const pluginRoot = path.join(packageRoot, "dist", "extensions", pluginId);
@@ -219,6 +231,75 @@ describe("prepareBundledPluginRuntimeRoot", () => {
 
     expect(readPaths.filter((entry) => entry === rootChunk)).toHaveLength(1);
     expect(readPaths.filter((entry) => entry === externalChunk)).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(readdirPaths).toHaveLength(1);
+  });
+
+  it("does not memoize source-checkout dist mirrors", () => {
+    const packageRoot = makeTempRoot();
+    const stageDir = makeTempRoot();
+    const env = { ...process.env, OPENCLAW_PLUGIN_STAGE_DIR: stageDir };
+    fs.mkdirSync(path.join(packageRoot, ".git"), { recursive: true });
+    fs.mkdirSync(path.join(packageRoot, "src"), { recursive: true });
+    fs.mkdirSync(path.join(packageRoot, "extensions"), { recursive: true });
+    const pluginRoot = path.join(packageRoot, "dist", "extensions", "alpha");
+    fs.mkdirSync(pluginRoot, { recursive: true });
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(packageRoot, "package.json"),
+      JSON.stringify({ name: "openclaw", version: "2026.4.27", type: "module" }),
+      "utf8",
+    );
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(packageRoot, "dist", "shared-runtime.js"), "export {};\n", "utf8");
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(pluginRoot, "index.js"),
+      `import "../../shared-runtime.js"; export default { id: "alpha" };\n`,
+      "utf8",
+    );
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(pluginRoot, "package.json"),
+      JSON.stringify(
+        {
+          name: "@openclaw/alpha",
+          version: "1.0.0",
+          type: "module",
+          dependencies: { "alpha-runtime": "1.0.0" },
+          openclaw: { extensions: ["./index.js"] },
+        },
+        null,
+        2,
+      ),
+      "utf8",
+    );
+    const installRoot = resolveBundledRuntimeDependencyInstallRoot(pluginRoot, { env });
+    fs.mkdirSync(path.join(installRoot, "node_modules", "alpha-runtime"), { recursive: true });
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(installRoot, "node_modules", "alpha-runtime", "package.json"),
+      JSON.stringify({ name: "alpha-runtime", version: "1.0.0", type: "module" }),
+      "utf8",
+    );
+
+    const realReaddirSync = fs.readdirSync.bind(fs);
+    const readdirPaths: string[] = [];
+    vi.spyOn(fs, "readdirSync").mockImplementation(((target, options) => {
+      const targetPath = target.toString();
+      if (
+        targetPath === path.join(packageRoot, "dist") &&
+        new Error().stack?.includes("mirrorBundledRuntimeDistRootEntries")
+      ) {
+        readdirPaths.push(targetPath);
+      }
+      return realReaddirSync(target, options as never);
+    }) as typeof fs.readdirSync);
+
+    for (let index = 0; index < 2; index += 1) {
+      prepareBundledPluginRuntimeRoot({
+        pluginId: "alpha",
+        pluginRoot,
+        modulePath: path.join(pluginRoot, "index.js"),
+        env,
+      });
+    }
+
+    expect(readdirPaths).toHaveLength(2);
   });
 
   it("does not copy staged runtime mirror dist files onto themselves", () => {
diff --git a/src/plugins/bundled-runtime-root.ts b/src/plugins/bundled-runtime-root.ts
index e29aac5b4da..5e90d010f17 100644
--- a/src/plugins/bundled-runtime-root.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/bundled-runtime-root.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,10 @@ import {
   shouldMaterializeBundledRuntimeMirrorDistFile,
   withBundledRuntimeDepsFilesystemLock,
 } from "./bundled-runtime-deps.js";
+import {
+  markBundledRuntimeDistMirrorPrepared,
+  shouldReusePreparedBundledRuntimeDistMirror,
+} from "./bundled-runtime-dist-mirror-cache.js";
 import {
   copyBundledPluginRuntimeRoot,
   precomputeBundledRuntimeMirrorMetadata,
@@ -162,10 +166,13 @@ function prepareBundledPluginRuntimeDistMirror(params: {
   ensureBundledRuntimeMirrorDirectory(mirrorDistRoot);
   fs.mkdirSync(mirrorExtensionsRoot, { recursive: true, mode: 0o755 });
   ensureBundledRuntimeDistPackageJson(mirrorDistRoot);
-  mirrorBundledRuntimeDistRootEntries({
-    sourceDistRoot,
-    mirrorDistRoot,
-  });
+  if (!shouldReusePreparedBundledRuntimeDistMirror({ sourceDistRoot, mirrorDistRoot })) {
+    mirrorBundledRuntimeDistRootEntries({
+      sourceDistRoot,
+      mirrorDistRoot,
+    });
+    markBundledRuntimeDistMirrorPrepared({ sourceDistRoot, mirrorDistRoot });
+  }
   if (sourceDistRootName === "dist-runtime") {
     mirrorCanonicalBundledRuntimeDistRoot({
       installRoot: params.installRoot,
@@ -242,10 +249,21 @@ function mirrorCanonicalBundledRuntimeDistRoot(params: {
   ensureBundledRuntimeMirrorDirectory(targetCanonicalDistRoot);
   fs.mkdirSync(path.join(targetCanonicalDistRoot, "extensions"), { recursive: true, mode: 0o755 });
   ensureBundledRuntimeDistPackageJson(targetCanonicalDistRoot);
-  mirrorBundledRuntimeDistRootEntries({
-    sourceDistRoot: sourceCanonicalDistRoot,
-    mirrorDistRoot: targetCanonicalDistRoot,
-  });
+  if (
+    !shouldReusePreparedBundledRuntimeDistMirror({
+      sourceDistRoot: sourceCanonicalDistRoot,
+      mirrorDistRoot: targetCanonicalDistRoot,
+    })
+  ) {
+    mirrorBundledRuntimeDistRootEntries({
+      sourceDistRoot: sourceCanonicalDistRoot,
+      mirrorDistRoot: targetCanonicalDistRoot,
+    });
+    markBundledRuntimeDistMirrorPrepared({
+      sourceDistRoot: sourceCanonicalDistRoot,
+      mirrorDistRoot: targetCanonicalDistRoot,
+    });
+  }
   ensureOpenClawPluginSdkAlias(targetCanonicalDistRoot);
 
   const pluginId = path.basename(params.pluginRoot);
diff --git a/src/plugins/loader.ts b/src/plugins/loader.ts
index 2e738334e82..8d0696f5ac0 100644
--- a/src/plugins/loader.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/loader.ts
@@ -43,6 +43,11 @@ import {
   withBundledRuntimeDepsFilesystemLock,
   type BundledRuntimeDepsInstallParams,
 } from "./bundled-runtime-deps.js";
+import {
+  clearBundledRuntimeDistMirrorPreparationCache,
+  markBundledRuntimeDistMirrorPrepared,
+  shouldReusePreparedBundledRuntimeDistMirror,
+} from "./bundled-runtime-dist-mirror-cache.js";
 import {
   copyBundledPluginRuntimeRoot,
   precomputeBundledRuntimeMirrorMetadata,
@@ -114,8 +119,8 @@ import {
   normalizePluginIdScope,
   serializePluginIdScope,
 } from "./plugin-scope.js";
-import { createPluginRegistry, type PluginRecord, type PluginRegistry } from "./registry.js";
 import { createEmptyPluginRegistry } from "./registry-empty.js";
+import { createPluginRegistry, type PluginRecord, type PluginRegistry } from "./registry.js";
 import { resolvePluginCacheInputs } from "./roots.js";
 import {
   getActivePluginRegistry,
@@ -280,6 +285,7 @@ function createPluginCandidatesFromManifestRegistry(
 export function clearPluginLoaderCache(): void {
   pluginLoaderCacheState.clear();
   clearBundledRuntimeDependencyNodePaths();
+  clearBundledRuntimeDistMirrorPreparationCache();
   bundledRuntimeDependencyJitiAliases.clear();
   clearAgentHarnesses();
   clearPluginCommands();
@@ -770,10 +776,13 @@ function prepareBundledPluginRuntimeDistMirror(params: {
   ensureBundledRuntimeMirrorDirectory(mirrorDistRoot);
   fs.mkdirSync(mirrorExtensionsRoot, { recursive: true, mode: 0o755 });
   ensureBundledRuntimeDistPackageJson(mirrorDistRoot);
-  mirrorBundledRuntimeDistRootEntries({
-    sourceDistRoot,
-    mirrorDistRoot,
-  });
+  if (!shouldReusePreparedBundledRuntimeDistMirror({ sourceDistRoot, mirrorDistRoot })) {
+    mirrorBundledRuntimeDistRootEntries({
+      sourceDistRoot,
+      mirrorDistRoot,
+    });
+    markBundledRuntimeDistMirrorPrepared({ sourceDistRoot, mirrorDistRoot });
+  }
   if (sourceDistRootName === "dist-runtime") {
     mirrorCanonicalBundledRuntimeDistRoot({
       installRoot: params.installRoot,
@@ -850,10 +859,21 @@ function mirrorCanonicalBundledRuntimeDistRoot(params: {
   ensureBundledRuntimeMirrorDirectory(targetCanonicalDistRoot);
   fs.mkdirSync(path.join(targetCanonicalDistRoot, "extensions"), { recursive: true, mode: 0o755 });
   ensureBundledRuntimeDistPackageJson(targetCanonicalDistRoot);
-  mirrorBundledRuntimeDistRootEntries({
-    sourceDistRoot: sourceCanonicalDistRoot,
-    mirrorDistRoot: targetCanonicalDistRoot,
-  });
+  if (
+    !shouldReusePreparedBundledRuntimeDistMirror({
+      sourceDistRoot: sourceCanonicalDistRoot,
+      mirrorDistRoot: targetCanonicalDistRoot,
+    })
+  ) {
+    mirrorBundledRuntimeDistRootEntries({
+      sourceDistRoot: sourceCanonicalDistRoot,
+      mirrorDistRoot: targetCanonicalDistRoot,
+    });
+    markBundledRuntimeDistMirrorPrepared({
+      sourceDistRoot: sourceCanonicalDistRoot,
+      mirrorDistRoot: targetCanonicalDistRoot,
+    });
+  }
   ensureOpenClawPluginSdkAlias(targetCanonicalDistRoot);
 
   const pluginId = path.basename(params.pluginRoot);
@@ -2243,12 +2263,7 @@ export function loadOpenClawPlugins(options: PluginLoadOptions = {}): PluginRegi
       clearPluginInteractiveHandlers();
       clearDetachedTaskLifecycleRuntimeRegistration();
       clearMemoryPluginState();
-      activatePluginRegistry(
-        emptyRegistry,
-        cacheKey,
-        runtimeSubagentMode,
-        options.workspaceDir,
-      );
+      activatePluginRegistry(emptyRegistry, cacheKey, runtimeSubagentMode, options.workspaceDir);
     }
     return emptyRegistry;
   }