diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 1a0eaf75128..44474105896 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -118,6 +118,7 @@ Docs: https://docs.openclaw.ai
 - Memory/Embeddings: apply configured remote-base host pinning (`allowedHostnames`) across OpenAI/Voyage/Gemini embedding requests to keep private/self-hosted endpoints working without cross-host drift. (#18198) Thanks @ianpcook.
 - Memory/Batch: route OpenAI/Voyage/Gemini batch upload/create/status/download requests through the same guarded HTTP path for consistent SSRF policy enforcement.
 - Memory/QMD: on Windows, resolve bare `qmd`/`mcporter` command names to npm shim executables (`.cmd`) before spawning, so qmd boot updates and mcporter-backed searches no longer fail with `spawn ... ENOENT` on default npm installs. (#23899) Thanks @arcbuilder-ai.
+- Memory/QMD: parse plain-text `qmd collection list --json` output when older qmd builds ignore JSON mode, and retry memory searches once after re-ensuring managed collections when qmd returns `Collection not found ...`. (#23613) Thanks @leozhucn.
 - Signal/RPC: guard malformed Signal RPC JSON responses with a clear status-scoped error and add regression coverage for invalid JSON responses. (#22995) Thanks @adhitShet.
 - Gateway/Subagents: guard gateway and subagent session-key/message trim paths against undefined inputs to prevent early `Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'trim')` crashes during subagent spawn and wait flows.
 - Agents/Workspace: guard `resolveUserPath` against undefined/null input to prevent `Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'trim')` crashes when workspace paths are missing in embedded runner flows.
diff --git a/src/memory/qmd-manager.test.ts b/src/memory/qmd-manager.test.ts
index 53ab9bbb733..71713dbd341 100644
--- a/src/memory/qmd-manager.test.ts
+++ b/src/memory/qmd-manager.test.ts
@@ -496,6 +496,65 @@ describe("QmdMemoryManager", () => {
     expect(legacyCollections.has("memory-dir")).toBe(false);
   });
 
+  it("migrates unscoped legacy collections from plain-text collection list output", async () => {
+    cfg = {
+      ...cfg,
+      memory: {
+        backend: "qmd",
+        qmd: {
+          includeDefaultMemory: true,
+          update: { interval: "0s", debounceMs: 60_000, onBoot: false },
+          paths: [],
+        },
+      },
+    } as OpenClawConfig;
+
+    const removeCalls: string[] = [];
+    const addCalls: string[] = [];
+    spawnMock.mockImplementation((_cmd: string, args: string[]) => {
+      if (args[0] === "collection" && args[1] === "list") {
+        const child = createMockChild({ autoClose: false });
+        emitAndClose(
+          child,
+          "stdout",
+          [
+            "Collections (3):",
+            "",
+            "memory-root (qmd://memory-root/)",
+            "  Pattern:  MEMORY.md",
+            "",
+            "memory-alt (qmd://memory-alt/)",
+            "  Pattern:  memory.md",
+            "",
+            "memory-dir (qmd://memory-dir/)",
+            "  Pattern:  **/*.md",
+            "",
+          ].join("\n"),
+        );
+        return child;
+      }
+      if (args[0] === "collection" && args[1] === "remove") {
+        const child = createMockChild({ autoClose: false });
+        removeCalls.push(args[2] ?? "");
+        queueMicrotask(() => child.closeWith(0));
+        return child;
+      }
+      if (args[0] === "collection" && args[1] === "add") {
+        const child = createMockChild({ autoClose: false });
+        addCalls.push(args[args.indexOf("--name") + 1] ?? "");
+        queueMicrotask(() => child.closeWith(0));
+        return child;
+      }
+      return createMockChild();
+    });
+
+    const { manager } = await createManager({ mode: "full" });
+    await manager.close();
+
+    expect(removeCalls).toEqual(["memory-root", "memory-alt", "memory-dir"]);
+    expect(addCalls).toEqual(["memory-root-main", "memory-alt-main", "memory-dir-main"]);
+  });
+
   it("does not migrate unscoped collections when listed metadata differs", async () => {
     cfg = {
       ...cfg,
@@ -729,6 +788,96 @@ describe("QmdMemoryManager", () => {
     await manager.close();
   });
 
+  it("repairs missing managed collections and retries search once", async () => {
+    cfg = {
+      ...cfg,
+      memory: {
+        backend: "qmd",
+        qmd: {
+          includeDefaultMemory: true,
+          searchMode: "search",
+          update: { interval: "0s", debounceMs: 60_000, onBoot: false },
+          paths: [],
+        },
+      },
+    } as OpenClawConfig;
+
+    const expectedDocId = "abc123";
+    let missingCollectionSeen = false;
+    let addCallsAfterMissing = 0;
+    spawnMock.mockImplementation((_cmd: string, args: string[]) => {
+      if (args[0] === "collection" && args[1] === "list") {
+        const child = createMockChild({ autoClose: false });
+        emitAndClose(child, "stdout", "[]");
+        return child;
+      }
+      if (args[0] === "collection" && args[1] === "add") {
+        if (missingCollectionSeen) {
+          addCallsAfterMissing += 1;
+        }
+        return createMockChild();
+      }
+      if (args[0] === "search") {
+        const collectionFlagIndex = args.indexOf("-c");
+        const collection = collectionFlagIndex >= 0 ? args[collectionFlagIndex + 1] : "";
+        if (collection === "memory-root-main" && !missingCollectionSeen) {
+          missingCollectionSeen = true;
+          const child = createMockChild({ autoClose: false });
+          emitAndClose(child, "stderr", "Collection not found: memory-root-main", 1);
+          return child;
+        }
+        if (collection === "memory-root-main") {
+          const child = createMockChild({ autoClose: false });
+          emitAndClose(
+            child,
+            "stdout",
+            JSON.stringify([{ docid: expectedDocId, score: 1, snippet: "@@ -1,1\nremember this" }]),
+          );
+          return child;
+        }
+        const child = createMockChild({ autoClose: false });
+        emitAndClose(child, "stdout", "[]");
+        return child;
+      }
+      return createMockChild();
+    });
+
+    const { manager } = await createManager({ mode: "full" });
+    const inner = manager as unknown as {
+      db: { prepare: (query: string) => { all: (arg: unknown) => unknown }; close: () => void };
+    };
+    inner.db = {
+      prepare: (_query: string) => ({
+        all: (arg: unknown) => {
+          if (typeof arg === "string" && arg.startsWith(expectedDocId)) {
+            return [{ collection: "memory-root-main", path: "MEMORY.md" }];
+          }
+          return [];
+        },
+      }),
+      close: () => {},
+    };
+
+    await expect(
+      manager.search("remember", { sessionKey: "agent:main:slack:dm:u123" }),
+    ).resolves.toEqual([
+      {
+        path: "MEMORY.md",
+        startLine: 1,
+        endLine: 1,
+        score: 1,
+        snippet: "@@ -1,1\nremember this",
+        source: "memory",
+      },
+    ]);
+    expect(addCallsAfterMissing).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+    expect(logWarnMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.stringContaining("repairing collections and retrying once"),
+    );
+
+    await manager.close();
+  });
+
   it("uses qmd.cmd on Windows when qmd command is bare", async () => {
     const platformSpy = vi.spyOn(process, "platform", "get").mockReturnValue("win32");
     try {
diff --git a/src/memory/qmd-manager.ts b/src/memory/qmd-manager.ts
index 388a63080be..55fe04b2173 100644
--- a/src/memory/qmd-manager.ts
+++ b/src/memory/qmd-manager.ts
@@ -304,29 +304,9 @@ export class QmdMemoryManager implements MemorySearchManager {
       const result = await this.runQmd(["collection", "list", "--json"], {
         timeoutMs: this.qmd.update.commandTimeoutMs,
       });
-      const parsed = JSON.parse(result.stdout) as unknown;
-      if (Array.isArray(parsed)) {
-        for (const entry of parsed) {
-          if (typeof entry === "string") {
-            existing.set(entry, {});
-          } else if (entry && typeof entry === "object") {
-            const name = (entry as { name?: unknown }).name;
-            if (typeof name === "string") {
-              const listedPath = (entry as { path?: unknown }).path;
-              const listedPattern = (entry as { pattern?: unknown; mask?: unknown }).pattern;
-              const listedMask = (entry as { mask?: unknown }).mask;
-              existing.set(name, {
-                path: typeof listedPath === "string" ? listedPath : undefined,
-                pattern:
-                  typeof listedPattern === "string"
-                    ? listedPattern
-                    : typeof listedMask === "string"
-                      ? listedMask
-                      : undefined,
-              });
-            }
-          }
-        }
+      const parsed = this.parseListedCollections(result.stdout);
+      for (const [name, details] of parsed) {
+        existing.set(name, details);
       }
     } catch {
       // ignore; older qmd versions might not support list --json.
@@ -444,6 +424,22 @@ export class QmdMemoryManager implements MemorySearchManager {
     );
   }
 
+  private isMissingCollectionSearchError(err: unknown): boolean {
+    const message = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
+    return this.isCollectionMissingError(message) && message.toLowerCase().includes("collection");
+  }
+
+  private async tryRepairMissingCollectionSearch(err: unknown): Promise<boolean> {
+    if (!this.isMissingCollectionSearchError(err)) {
+      return false;
+    }
+    log.warn(
+      "qmd search failed because a managed collection is missing; repairing collections and retrying once",
+    );
+    await this.ensureCollections();
+    return true;
+  }
+
   private async addCollection(pathArg: string, name: string, pattern: string): Promise<void> {
     await this.runQmd(["collection", "add", pathArg, "--name", name, "--mask", pattern], {
       timeoutMs: this.qmd.update.commandTimeoutMs,
@@ -456,6 +452,92 @@ export class QmdMemoryManager implements MemorySearchManager {
     });
   }
 
+  private parseListedCollections(output: string): Map<string, ListedCollection> {
+    const listed = new Map<string, ListedCollection>();
+    const trimmed = output.trim();
+    if (!trimmed) {
+      return listed;
+    }
+    try {
+      const parsed = JSON.parse(trimmed) as unknown;
+      if (Array.isArray(parsed)) {
+        for (const entry of parsed) {
+          if (typeof entry === "string") {
+            listed.set(entry, {});
+            continue;
+          }
+          if (!entry || typeof entry !== "object") {
+            continue;
+          }
+          const name = (entry as { name?: unknown }).name;
+          if (typeof name !== "string") {
+            continue;
+          }
+          const listedPath = (entry as { path?: unknown }).path;
+          const listedPattern = (entry as { pattern?: unknown; mask?: unknown }).pattern;
+          const listedMask = (entry as { mask?: unknown }).mask;
+          listed.set(name, {
+            path: typeof listedPath === "string" ? listedPath : undefined,
+            pattern:
+              typeof listedPattern === "string"
+                ? listedPattern
+                : typeof listedMask === "string"
+                  ? listedMask
+                  : undefined,
+          });
+        }
+        return listed;
+      }
+    } catch {
+      // Some qmd builds ignore `--json` and still print table output.
+    }
+
+    let currentName: string | null = null;
+    for (const rawLine of output.split(/\r?\n/)) {
+      const line = rawLine.trimEnd();
+      if (!line.trim()) {
+        currentName = null;
+        continue;
+      }
+      const collectionLine = /^\s*([a-z0-9._-]+)\s+\(qmd:\/\/[^)]+\)\s*$/i.exec(line);
+      if (collectionLine) {
+        currentName = collectionLine[1];
+        if (!listed.has(currentName)) {
+          listed.set(currentName, {});
+        }
+        continue;
+      }
+      if (/^\s*collections\b/i.test(line)) {
+        continue;
+      }
+      const bareNameLine = /^\s*([a-z0-9._-]+)\s*$/i.exec(line);
+      if (bareNameLine && !line.includes(":")) {
+        currentName = bareNameLine[1];
+        if (!listed.has(currentName)) {
+          listed.set(currentName, {});
+        }
+        continue;
+      }
+      if (!currentName) {
+        continue;
+      }
+      const patternLine = /^\s*(?:pattern|mask)\s*:\s*(.+?)\s*$/i.exec(line);
+      if (patternLine) {
+        const existing = listed.get(currentName) ?? {};
+        existing.pattern = patternLine[1].trim();
+        listed.set(currentName, existing);
+        continue;
+      }
+      const pathLine = /^\s*path\s*:\s*(.+?)\s*$/i.exec(line);
+      if (pathLine) {
+        const existing = listed.get(currentName) ?? {};
+        existing.path = pathLine[1].trim();
+        listed.set(currentName, existing);
+      }
+    }
+    return listed;
+  }
+
   private shouldRebindCollection(collection: ManagedCollection, listed: ListedCollection): boolean {
     if (!listed.path) {
       // Older qmd versions may only return names from `collection list --json`.
@@ -547,26 +629,28 @@ export class QmdMemoryManager implements MemorySearchManager {
     }
     const qmdSearchCommand = this.qmd.searchMode;
     const mcporterEnabled = this.qmd.mcporter.enabled;
-    let parsed: QmdQueryResult[];
-    try {
-      if (mcporterEnabled) {
-        const tool: "search" | "vector_search" | "deep_search" =
-          qmdSearchCommand === "search"
-            ? "search"
-            : qmdSearchCommand === "vsearch"
-              ? "vector_search"
-              : "deep_search";
-        const minScore = opts?.minScore ?? 0;
-        if (collectionNames.length > 1) {
-          parsed = await this.runMcporterAcrossCollections({
-            tool,
-            query: trimmed,
-            limit,
-            minScore,
-            collectionNames,
-          });
-        } else {
-          parsed = await this.runQmdSearchViaMcporter({
+    const runSearchAttempt = async (
+      allowMissingCollectionRepair: boolean,
+    ): Promise<QmdQueryResult[]> => {
+      try {
+        if (mcporterEnabled) {
+          const tool: "search" | "vector_search" | "deep_search" =
+            qmdSearchCommand === "search"
+              ? "search"
+              : qmdSearchCommand === "vsearch"
+                ? "vector_search"
+                : "deep_search";
+          const minScore = opts?.minScore ?? 0;
+          if (collectionNames.length > 1) {
+            return await this.runMcporterAcrossCollections({
+              tool,
+              query: trimmed,
+              limit,
+              minScore,
+              collectionNames,
+            });
+          }
+          return await this.runQmdSearchViaMcporter({
             mcporter: this.qmd.mcporter,
             tool,
             query: trimmed,
@@ -576,50 +660,61 @@ export class QmdMemoryManager implements MemorySearchManager {
             timeoutMs: this.qmd.limits.timeoutMs,
           });
         }
-      } else if (collectionNames.length > 1) {
-        parsed = await this.runQueryAcrossCollections(
-          trimmed,
-          limit,
-          collectionNames,
-          qmdSearchCommand,
-        );
-      } else {
+        if (collectionNames.length > 1) {
+          return await this.runQueryAcrossCollections(
+            trimmed,
+            limit,
+            collectionNames,
+            qmdSearchCommand,
+          );
+        }
         const args = this.buildSearchArgs(qmdSearchCommand, trimmed, limit);
         args.push(...this.buildCollectionFilterArgs(collectionNames));
         // Always scope to managed collections (default + custom). Even for `search`/`vsearch`,
         // pass collection filters; if a given QMD build rejects these flags, we fall back to `query`.
         const result = await this.runQmd(args, { timeoutMs: this.qmd.limits.timeoutMs });
-        parsed = parseQmdQueryJson(result.stdout, result.stderr);
-      }
-    } catch (err) {
-      if (
-        !mcporterEnabled &&
-        qmdSearchCommand !== "query" &&
-        this.isUnsupportedQmdOptionError(err)
-      ) {
-        log.warn(
-          `qmd ${qmdSearchCommand} does not support configured flags; retrying search with qmd query`,
-        );
-        try {
-          if (collectionNames.length > 1) {
-            parsed = await this.runQueryAcrossCollections(trimmed, limit, collectionNames, "query");
-          } else {
+        return parseQmdQueryJson(result.stdout, result.stderr);
+      } catch (err) {
+        if (allowMissingCollectionRepair && this.isMissingCollectionSearchError(err)) {
+          throw err;
+        }
+        if (
+          !mcporterEnabled &&
+          qmdSearchCommand !== "query" &&
+          this.isUnsupportedQmdOptionError(err)
+        ) {
+          log.warn(
+            `qmd ${qmdSearchCommand} does not support configured flags; retrying search with qmd query`,
+          );
+          try {
+            if (collectionNames.length > 1) {
+              return await this.runQueryAcrossCollections(trimmed, limit, collectionNames, "query");
+            }
             const fallbackArgs = this.buildSearchArgs("query", trimmed, limit);
             fallbackArgs.push(...this.buildCollectionFilterArgs(collectionNames));
             const fallback = await this.runQmd(fallbackArgs, {
               timeoutMs: this.qmd.limits.timeoutMs,
             });
-            parsed = parseQmdQueryJson(fallback.stdout, fallback.stderr);
+            return parseQmdQueryJson(fallback.stdout, fallback.stderr);
+          } catch (fallbackErr) {
+            log.warn(`qmd query fallback failed: ${String(fallbackErr)}`);
+            throw fallbackErr instanceof Error ? fallbackErr : new Error(String(fallbackErr));
           }
-        } catch (fallbackErr) {
-          log.warn(`qmd query fallback failed: ${String(fallbackErr)}`);
-          throw fallbackErr instanceof Error ? fallbackErr : new Error(String(fallbackErr));
         }
-      } else {
         const label = mcporterEnabled ? "mcporter/qmd" : `qmd ${qmdSearchCommand}`;
         log.warn(`${label} failed: ${String(err)}`);
         throw err instanceof Error ? err : new Error(String(err));
       }
+    };
+
+    let parsed: QmdQueryResult[];
+    try {
+      parsed = await runSearchAttempt(true);
+    } catch (err) {
+      if (!(await this.tryRepairMissingCollectionSearch(err))) {
+        throw err instanceof Error ? err : new Error(String(err));
+      }
+      parsed = await runSearchAttempt(false);
     }
     const results: MemorySearchResult[] = [];
     for (const entry of parsed) {