diff --git a/src/cron/isolated-agent.model-formatting.test.ts b/src/cron/isolated-agent.model-formatting.test.ts
index e78f251dc8b..7083c61e179 100644
--- a/src/cron/isolated-agent.model-formatting.test.ts
+++ b/src/cron/isolated-agent.model-formatting.test.ts
@@ -35,12 +35,12 @@ function mockEmbeddedOk() {
 }
 
 /**
- * Extract the provider and model from the last runEmbeddedPiAgent call.
+ * Extract select fields from the last runEmbeddedPiAgent call.
  */
-function lastEmbeddedCall(): { provider?: string; model?: string } {
+function lastEmbeddedCall(): { provider?: string; model?: string; lane?: string } {
   const calls = vi.mocked(runEmbeddedPiAgent).mock.calls;
   expect(calls.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
-  return calls.at(-1)?.[0] as { provider?: string; model?: string };
+  return calls.at(-1)?.[0] as { provider?: string; model?: string; lane?: string };
 }
 
 const DEFAULT_MESSAGE = "do it";
@@ -106,6 +106,14 @@ describe("cron model formatting and precedence edge cases", () => {
   // ------ provider/model string splitting ------
 
   describe("parseModelRef formatting", () => {
+    it("moves nested embedded runs off the cron lane to avoid self-deadlock", async () => {
+      await withTempHome(async (home) => {
+        const { res, call } = await runTurn(home);
+        expect(res.status).toBe("ok");
+        expect(call.lane).toBe("nested");
+      });
+    });
+
     it("splits standard provider/model", async () => {
       await withTempHome(async (home) => {
         const { res, call } = await runTurn(home, {
diff --git a/src/cron/isolated-agent/run.ts b/src/cron/isolated-agent/run.ts
index 0666b752e5c..bea43d5e2d1 100644
--- a/src/cron/isolated-agent/run.ts
+++ b/src/cron/isolated-agent/run.ts
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ import {
 import type { AgentDefaultsConfig } from "../../config/types.js";
 import { registerAgentRunContext } from "../../infra/agent-events.js";
 import { logWarn } from "../../logger.js";
+import { CommandLane } from "../../process/lanes.js";
 import { normalizeAgentId } from "../../routing/session-key.js";
 import {
   buildSafeExternalPrompt,
@@ -197,6 +198,17 @@ function appendCronDeliveryInstruction(params: {
   return `${params.commandBody}\n\nReturn your summary as plain text; it will be delivered automatically. If the task explicitly calls for messaging a specific external recipient, note who/where it should go instead of sending it yourself.`.trim();
 }
 
+function resolveCronEmbeddedAgentLane(lane?: string) {
+  const trimmed = lane?.trim();
+  // Cron jobs already execute inside the cron command lane. Reusing that same
+  // lane for the nested embedded-agent run deadlocks: the outer cron task holds
+  // the lane while the inner run waits to reacquire it.
+  if (!trimmed || trimmed === "cron") {
+    return CommandLane.Nested;
+  }
+  return trimmed;
+}
+
 export async function runCronIsolatedAgentTurn(params: {
   cfg: OpenClawConfig;
   deps: CliDeps;
@@ -610,7 +622,7 @@ export async function runCronIsolatedAgentTurn(params: {
             config: cfgWithAgentDefaults,
             skillsSnapshot,
             prompt: promptText,
-            lane: params.lane ?? "cron",
+            lane: resolveCronEmbeddedAgentLane(params.lane),
             provider: providerOverride,
             model: modelOverride,
             authProfileId,