diff --git a/src/daemon/systemd-hints.test.ts b/src/daemon/systemd-hints.test.ts
index 9d7621bd798..529bd1409c5 100644
--- a/src/daemon/systemd-hints.test.ts
+++ b/src/daemon/systemd-hints.test.ts
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ describe("renderSystemdUnavailableHints", () => {
   it("renders generic Linux recovery hints outside WSL", () => {
     expect(renderSystemdUnavailableHints()).toEqual([
       "systemd user services are unavailable; install/enable systemd or run the gateway under your supervisor.",
+      "On a headless server (SSH/no desktop session): run `loginctl enable-linger` to persist your systemd user session across logins.",
+      "Also ensure XDG_RUNTIME_DIR is set: `export XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=/run/user/$(id -u)`, then retry.",
       `If you're in a container, run the gateway in the foreground instead of \`${formatCliCommand("openclaw gateway")}\`.`,
     ]);
   });
diff --git a/src/daemon/systemd-hints.ts b/src/daemon/systemd-hints.ts
index 49cd2a9016d..5709207503a 100644
--- a/src/daemon/systemd-hints.ts
+++ b/src/daemon/systemd-hints.ts
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ export function renderSystemdUnavailableHints(options: { wsl?: boolean } = {}):
   }
   return [
     "systemd user services are unavailable; install/enable systemd or run the gateway under your supervisor.",
+    "On a headless server (SSH/no desktop session): run `loginctl enable-linger` to persist your systemd user session across logins.",
+    "Also ensure XDG_RUNTIME_DIR is set: `export XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=/run/user/$(id -u)`, then retry.",
     `If you're in a container, run the gateway in the foreground instead of \`${formatCliCommand("openclaw gateway")}\`.`,
   ];
 }