diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 4b0a1a64c9e..5edd3c6c24e 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ Docs: https://docs.openclaw.ai
 - Plugins: cache unchanged plugin manifest loads by file signature, reducing repeated JSON/JSON5 parsing and manifest normalization in bursty startup and runtime registry paths. Refs #73532 and #73647; carries forward #73678. Thanks @TheDutchRuler.
 - Plugins/runtime-deps: cache unchanged bundled runtime mirror dist-file materialization decisions and close file-lock handles on owner-write failures, reducing repeated startup chunk scans and avoiding FileHandle-GC recovery stalls. Refs #73532. Thanks @oadiazp and @bstanbury.
 - Plugins/runtime-deps: retry and defer transient cleanup failures for owned runtime staging directories so CLI startup no longer aborts after a successful bundled dependency swap. Refs #73903. Thanks @bobfreeman1989.
+- Plugins/runtime-deps: cache bundled runtime-deps JSON/package files and root chunk import scans by file signature, reducing repeated staged-runtime scanning during bundled channel startup. Refs #73647 and #73705. Thanks @mattmcintyre and @bmilne1981.
 - CLI/TUI: keep `chat.history` off model-catalog discovery so initial Gateway-backed TUI history loads cannot block behind slow provider/plugin model scans on low-core hosts. Refs #73524. Thanks @harshcatsystems-collab.
 - Channels/WhatsApp: flag recently reconnected linked accounts in channel status even when the socket is currently healthy, so flapping WhatsApp Web sessions no longer look clean after a brief reconnect. Refs #73602. Thanks @Vksh07.
 - Gateway: expose `gateway.handshakeTimeoutMs` in config, schema, and docs while preserving `OPENCLAW_HANDSHAKE_TIMEOUT_MS` precedence, so loaded or low-powered hosts can tune local WebSocket pre-auth handshakes without patching dist files. Supersedes #51282; refs #73592 and #73652. Thanks @henry-the-frog.
diff --git a/src/plugins/bundled-runtime-deps.ts b/src/plugins/bundled-runtime-deps.ts
index b22c3144b24..e6124adc0b9 100644
--- a/src/plugins/bundled-runtime-deps.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/bundled-runtime-deps.ts
@@ -76,12 +76,26 @@ const BUNDLED_RUNTIME_MIRROR_PLUGIN_REGION_RE = /(?:^|\n)\/\/#region extensions\
 const BUNDLED_RUNTIME_MIRROR_IMPORT_SPECIFIER_RE =
   /(?:^|[;\n])\s*(?:import|export)\s+(?:[^'"()]+?\s+from\s+)?["']([^"']+)["']|\bimport\(\s*["']([^"']+)["']\s*\)|\brequire\(\s*["']([^"']+)["']\s*\)/g;
 const NPM_EXECPATH_ENV_KEY = "npm_execpath";
+const MAX_RUNTIME_DEPS_FILE_CACHE_ENTRIES = 2048;
 
 const registeredBundledRuntimeDepNodePaths = new Set<string>();
 const bundledRuntimeMirrorMaterializeCache = new Map<
   string,
   { signature: string; materialize: boolean }
 >();
+const runtimeDepsTextFileCache = new Map<string, { signature: string; value: string }>();
+const runtimeDepsJsonObjectCache = new Map<
+  string,
+  { signature: string; value: JsonObject | null }
+>();
+const runtimeDepsImportSpecifierCache = new Map<
+  string,
+  { signature: string; value: readonly string[] }
+>();
+const runtimeMirrorMaterializeImportSpecifierCache = new Map<
+  string,
+  { signature: string; value: readonly string[] }
+>();
 
 export type BundledRuntimeDepsNpmRunner = {
   command: string;
@@ -98,17 +112,19 @@ function statSignature(stat: Pick<fs.Stats, "dev" | "ino" | "size" | "mtimeMs">)
 }
 
 function computeBundledRuntimeMirrorDistFileMaterialization(sourcePath: string): boolean {
-  let source: string;
-  try {
-    source = fs.readFileSync(sourcePath, "utf8");
-  } catch {
+  const signature = getRuntimeDepsFileSignature(sourcePath);
+  const source = readRuntimeDepsTextFile(sourcePath, signature);
+  if (source === null) {
     return false;
   }
   if (BUNDLED_RUNTIME_MIRROR_PLUGIN_REGION_RE.test(source)) {
     return true;
   }
-  for (const match of source.matchAll(BUNDLED_RUNTIME_MIRROR_IMPORT_SPECIFIER_RE)) {
-    const specifier = match[1] ?? match[2] ?? match[3] ?? "";
+  for (const specifier of readRuntimeMirrorMaterializeImportSpecifiers(
+    sourcePath,
+    signature,
+    source,
+  )) {
     if (
       specifier !== "" &&
       !specifier.startsWith(".") &&
@@ -279,17 +295,132 @@ function readInstalledDependencyVersion(rootDir: string, depName: string): strin
 }
 
 function readJsonObject(filePath: string): JsonObject | null {
+  const signature = getRuntimeDepsFileSignature(filePath);
+  const cached = signature ? runtimeDepsJsonObjectCache.get(filePath) : undefined;
+  if (cached?.signature === signature) {
+    return cached.value;
+  }
+  const source = readRuntimeDepsTextFile(filePath, signature);
+  if (source === null) {
+    cacheRuntimeDepsJsonObject(filePath, signature, null);
+    return null;
+  }
   try {
-    const parsed = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(filePath, "utf8")) as unknown;
+    const parsed = JSON.parse(source) as unknown;
     if (!parsed || typeof parsed !== "object" || Array.isArray(parsed)) {
+      cacheRuntimeDepsJsonObject(filePath, signature, null);
       return null;
     }
-    return parsed as JsonObject;
+    const value = parsed as JsonObject;
+    cacheRuntimeDepsJsonObject(filePath, signature, value);
+    return value;
+  } catch {
+    cacheRuntimeDepsJsonObject(filePath, signature, null);
+    return null;
+  }
+}
+
+function readRuntimeDepsTextFile(filePath: string, signature?: string | null): string | null {
+  const fileSignature = signature ?? getRuntimeDepsFileSignature(filePath);
+  const cached = fileSignature ? runtimeDepsTextFileCache.get(filePath) : undefined;
+  if (cached?.signature === fileSignature) {
+    return cached.value;
+  }
+  try {
+    const value = fs.readFileSync(filePath, "utf8");
+    if (fileSignature) {
+      rememberRuntimeDepsCacheEntry(runtimeDepsTextFileCache, filePath, {
+        signature: fileSignature,
+        value,
+      });
+    }
+    return value;
   } catch {
     return null;
   }
 }
 
+function readRuntimeDepsImportSpecifiers(
+  filePath: string,
+  signature: string | null,
+  source: string,
+): readonly string[] {
+  const cached = signature ? runtimeDepsImportSpecifierCache.get(filePath) : undefined;
+  if (cached?.signature === signature) {
+    return cached.value;
+  }
+  const value = extractStaticRuntimeImportSpecifiers(source);
+  if (signature) {
+    rememberRuntimeDepsCacheEntry(runtimeDepsImportSpecifierCache, filePath, { signature, value });
+  }
+  return value;
+}
+
+function readRuntimeMirrorMaterializeImportSpecifiers(
+  filePath: string,
+  signature: string | null,
+  source: string,
+): readonly string[] {
+  const cached = signature ? runtimeMirrorMaterializeImportSpecifierCache.get(filePath) : undefined;
+  if (cached?.signature === signature) {
+    return cached.value;
+  }
+  const value = extractRuntimeMirrorMaterializeImportSpecifiers(source);
+  if (signature) {
+    rememberRuntimeDepsCacheEntry(runtimeMirrorMaterializeImportSpecifierCache, filePath, {
+      signature,
+      value,
+    });
+  }
+  return value;
+}
+
+function extractRuntimeMirrorMaterializeImportSpecifiers(source: string): string[] {
+  const specifiers = new Set<string>();
+  for (const match of source.matchAll(BUNDLED_RUNTIME_MIRROR_IMPORT_SPECIFIER_RE)) {
+    const specifier = match[1] ?? match[2] ?? match[3];
+    if (specifier) {
+      specifiers.add(specifier);
+    }
+  }
+  return [...specifiers];
+}
+
+function getRuntimeDepsFileSignature(filePath: string): string | null {
+  try {
+    const stat = fs.statSync(filePath, { bigint: true });
+    if (!stat.isFile()) {
+      return null;
+    }
+    return [
+      stat.dev.toString(),
+      stat.ino.toString(),
+      stat.size.toString(),
+      stat.mtimeNs.toString(),
+    ].join(":");
+  } catch {
+    return null;
+  }
+}
+
+function cacheRuntimeDepsJsonObject(
+  filePath: string,
+  signature: string | null,
+  value: JsonObject | null,
+): void {
+  if (!signature) {
+    return;
+  }
+  rememberRuntimeDepsCacheEntry(runtimeDepsJsonObjectCache, filePath, { signature, value });
+}
+
+function rememberRuntimeDepsCacheEntry<T>(cache: Map<string, T>, key: string, value: T): void {
+  if (cache.size >= MAX_RUNTIME_DEPS_FILE_CACHE_ENTRIES && !cache.has(key)) {
+    cache.delete(cache.keys().next().value as string);
+  }
+  cache.set(key, value);
+}
+
 function sleepSync(ms: number): void {
   Atomics.wait(new Int32Array(new SharedArrayBuffer(4)), 0, 0, ms);
 }
@@ -686,9 +817,13 @@ function collectRootDistMirroredRuntimeDeps(params: {
     rootDir: distDir,
     skipTopLevelDirs: new Set(["extensions"]),
   })) {
-    const source = fs.readFileSync(filePath, "utf8");
+    const signature = getRuntimeDepsFileSignature(filePath);
+    const source = readRuntimeDepsTextFile(filePath, signature);
+    if (source === null) {
+      continue;
+    }
     const relativePath = path.relative(distDir, filePath).replaceAll(path.sep, "/");
-    for (const specifier of extractStaticRuntimeImportSpecifiers(source)) {
+    for (const specifier of readRuntimeDepsImportSpecifiers(filePath, signature, source)) {
       const dependencyName = packageNameFromSpecifier(specifier);
       if (!dependencyName) {
         continue;
diff --git a/src/plugins/bundled-runtime-root.test.ts b/src/plugins/bundled-runtime-root.test.ts
index 8ee368f5993..d71202455b2 100644
--- a/src/plugins/bundled-runtime-root.test.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/bundled-runtime-root.test.ts
@@ -68,6 +68,11 @@ describe("prepareBundledPluginRuntimeRoot", () => {
       "import JSON5 from 'json5'; export const parse = JSON5.parse;\n",
       "utf8",
     );
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(packageRoot, "dist", "string-runtime.js"),
+      `const text = 'not an import: from "zod"'; export const marker = text;\n`,
+      "utf8",
+    );
     fs.writeFileSync(
       path.join(pluginRoot, "index.js"),
       `import { marker } from "../../pw-ai.js"; export default { id: "browser", marker };\n`,
@@ -138,6 +143,82 @@ describe("prepareBundledPluginRuntimeRoot", () => {
     expect(fs.lstatSync(path.join(installRoot, "dist", "config-runtime.js")).isSymbolicLink()).toBe(
       true,
     );
+    expect(fs.lstatSync(path.join(installRoot, "dist", "string-runtime.js")).isSymbolicLink()).toBe(
+      false,
+    );
+  });
+
+  it("reuses root chunk materialization decisions across bundled plugin mirrors", () => {
+    const packageRoot = makeTempRoot();
+    const stageDir = makeTempRoot();
+    const env = { ...process.env, OPENCLAW_PLUGIN_STAGE_DIR: stageDir };
+    const rootChunk = path.join(packageRoot, "dist", "shared-runtime.js");
+    const externalChunk = path.join(packageRoot, "dist", "external-runtime.js");
+    fs.mkdirSync(path.join(packageRoot, "dist", "extensions"), { recursive: true });
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(packageRoot, "package.json"),
+      JSON.stringify({ name: "openclaw", version: "2026.4.27", type: "module" }),
+      "utf8",
+    );
+    fs.writeFileSync(rootChunk, "export const shared = 'root';\n", "utf8");
+    fs.writeFileSync(externalChunk, "import zod from 'zod'; export const schema = zod;\n", "utf8");
+
+    for (const pluginId of ["alpha", "beta"]) {
+      const pluginRoot = path.join(packageRoot, "dist", "extensions", pluginId);
+      fs.mkdirSync(pluginRoot, { recursive: true });
+      fs.writeFileSync(
+        path.join(pluginRoot, "index.js"),
+        `import { shared } from "../../shared-runtime.js"; export default { id: ${JSON.stringify(pluginId)}, shared };\n`,
+        "utf8",
+      );
+      fs.writeFileSync(
+        path.join(pluginRoot, "package.json"),
+        JSON.stringify(
+          {
+            name: `@openclaw/${pluginId}`,
+            version: "1.0.0",
+            type: "module",
+            dependencies: { [`${pluginId}-runtime`]: "1.0.0" },
+            openclaw: { extensions: ["./index.js"] },
+          },
+          null,
+          2,
+        ),
+        "utf8",
+      );
+      const installRoot = resolveBundledRuntimeDependencyInstallRoot(pluginRoot, { env });
+      fs.mkdirSync(path.join(installRoot, "node_modules", `${pluginId}-runtime`), {
+        recursive: true,
+      });
+      fs.writeFileSync(
+        path.join(installRoot, "node_modules", `${pluginId}-runtime`, "package.json"),
+        JSON.stringify({ name: `${pluginId}-runtime`, version: "1.0.0", type: "module" }),
+        "utf8",
+      );
+    }
+
+    const realReadFileSync = fs.readFileSync.bind(fs);
+    const readPaths: string[] = [];
+    vi.spyOn(fs, "readFileSync").mockImplementation(((target, options) => {
+      const targetPath = target.toString();
+      if (targetPath === rootChunk || targetPath === externalChunk) {
+        readPaths.push(targetPath);
+      }
+      return realReadFileSync(target, options as never);
+    }) as typeof fs.readFileSync);
+
+    for (const pluginId of ["alpha", "beta"]) {
+      const pluginRoot = path.join(packageRoot, "dist", "extensions", pluginId);
+      prepareBundledPluginRuntimeRoot({
+        pluginId,
+        pluginRoot,
+        modulePath: path.join(pluginRoot, "index.js"),
+        env,
+      });
+    }
+
+    expect(readPaths.filter((entry) => entry === rootChunk)).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(readPaths.filter((entry) => entry === externalChunk)).toHaveLength(1);
   });
 
   it("does not copy staged runtime mirror dist files onto themselves", () => {