diff --git a/extensions/telegram/src/bot-handlers.runtime.ts b/extensions/telegram/src/bot-handlers.runtime.ts
index 00be09bef1b..84d7a61c45d 100644
--- a/extensions/telegram/src/bot-handlers.runtime.ts
+++ b/extensions/telegram/src/bot-handlers.runtime.ts
@@ -1764,8 +1764,8 @@ export const registerTelegramHandlers = ({
               ? "reset to default"
               : `changed to <b>${escapeHtml(selection.provider)}/${escapeHtml(selection.model)}</b>`;
             const scopeText = isDefaultSelection
-              ? "Session selection cleared. New replies use the agent's configured default."
-              : "Session-only selection. The agent default in openclaw.json is unchanged; /reset or a new session may return to that default.";
+              ? "Session selection cleared. Runtime unchanged. New replies use the agent's configured default."
+              : `Session-only model selection. Runtime unchanged. Use /model ${escapeHtml(selection.provider)}/${escapeHtml(selection.model)} --runtime &lt;runtime&gt; to switch harnesses. The agent default in openclaw.json is unchanged; /reset or a new session may return to that default.`;
             await editMessageWithButtons(
               `✅ Model ${actionText}\n\n${scopeText}`,
               [], // Empty buttons = remove inline keyboard
diff --git a/extensions/telegram/src/bot.create-telegram-bot.test.ts b/extensions/telegram/src/bot.create-telegram-bot.test.ts
index 2c8546e5088..1d6c747f93f 100644
--- a/extensions/telegram/src/bot.create-telegram-bot.test.ts
+++ b/extensions/telegram/src/bot.create-telegram-bot.test.ts
@@ -3768,7 +3768,7 @@ describe("createTelegramBot", () => {
 
     expect(editMessageTextSpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
     expect(String(editMessageTextSpy.mock.calls.at(-1)?.[2] ?? "")).toContain(
-      "Session-only selection. The agent default in openclaw.json is unchanged",
+      "Session-only model selection. Runtime unchanged.",
     );
     expect(
       editMessageTextSpy.mock.calls.some((call) =>
diff --git a/extensions/telegram/src/bot.test.ts b/extensions/telegram/src/bot.test.ts
index 63ed0cd1edc..6666167b17d 100644
--- a/extensions/telegram/src/bot.test.ts
+++ b/extensions/telegram/src/bot.test.ts
@@ -1062,7 +1062,7 @@ describe("createTelegramBot", () => {
         `${CHECK_MARK_EMOJI} Model reset to default`,
       );
       expect(editMessageTextSpy.mock.calls[0]?.[2]).toContain(
-        "Session selection cleared. New replies use the agent's configured default.",
+        "Session selection cleared. Runtime unchanged. New replies use the agent's configured default.",
       );
 
       const entry = Object.values(loadSessionStore(storePath, { skipCache: true }))[0];
@@ -1209,7 +1209,7 @@ describe("createTelegramBot", () => {
         `${CHECK_MARK_EMOJI} Model reset to default`,
       );
       expect(editMessageTextSpy.mock.calls[0]?.[2]).toContain(
-        "Session selection cleared. New replies use the agent's configured default.",
+        "Session selection cleared. Runtime unchanged. New replies use the agent's configured default.",
       );
 
       const entry = Object.values(loadSessionStore(storePath, { skipCache: true }))[0];
@@ -1281,7 +1281,7 @@ describe("createTelegramBot", () => {
       expect(editMessageTextSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
         1234,
         17,
-        `${CHECK_MARK_EMOJI} Model changed to <b>openai/gpt-5.4</b>\n\nSession-only selection. The agent default in openclaw.json is unchanged; /reset or a new session may return to that default.`,
+        `${CHECK_MARK_EMOJI} Model changed to <b>openai/gpt-5.4</b>\n\nSession-only model selection. Runtime unchanged. Use /model openai/gpt-5.4 --runtime &lt;runtime&gt; to switch harnesses. The agent default in openclaw.json is unchanged; /reset or a new session may return to that default.`,
         expect.objectContaining({ parse_mode: "HTML" }),
       );