diff --git a/src/config/runtime-schema.ts b/src/config/runtime-schema.ts
index d4dd138dcf3..77830c05d74 100644
--- a/src/config/runtime-schema.ts
+++ b/src/config/runtime-schema.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import { buildConfigSchema, type ConfigSchemaResponse } from "./schema.js";
 
 function loadManifestRegistry(config: OpenClawConfig, env?: NodeJS.ProcessEnv) {
   const workspaceDir = resolveAgentWorkspaceDir(config, resolveDefaultAgentId(config));
-  const currentSnapshot = getCurrentPluginMetadataSnapshot({ config, workspaceDir });
+  const currentSnapshot = getCurrentPluginMetadataSnapshot({ config, env, workspaceDir });
   if (currentSnapshot) {
     return currentSnapshot.manifestRegistry;
   }
diff --git a/src/plugins/current-plugin-metadata-snapshot.test.ts b/src/plugins/current-plugin-metadata-snapshot.test.ts
index 9b12b241ba0..3f65a41ad31 100644
--- a/src/plugins/current-plugin-metadata-snapshot.test.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/current-plugin-metadata-snapshot.test.ts
@@ -100,6 +100,23 @@ describe("current plugin metadata snapshot", () => {
     ).toBeUndefined();
   });
 
+  it("rejects a current snapshot when env-resolved plugin load paths change", () => {
+    const config = { plugins: { load: { paths: ["~/plugins"] } } };
+    const snapshot = createSnapshot({ config });
+    const snapshotEnv = {
+      HOME: "/home/snapshot",
+      OPENCLAW_HOME: undefined,
+    } as NodeJS.ProcessEnv;
+    const requestedEnv = {
+      HOME: "/home/requested",
+      OPENCLAW_HOME: undefined,
+    } as NodeJS.ProcessEnv;
+    setCurrentPluginMetadataSnapshot(snapshot, { config, env: snapshotEnv });
+
+    expect(getCurrentPluginMetadataSnapshot({ config, env: snapshotEnv })).toBe(snapshot);
+    expect(getCurrentPluginMetadataSnapshot({ config, env: requestedEnv })).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+
   it("keeps source-policy compatibility when storing an auto-enabled runtime config", () => {
     const sourceConfig = { channels: { telegram: { botToken: "token" } } };
     const autoEnabledConfig = {
diff --git a/src/plugins/current-plugin-metadata-snapshot.ts b/src/plugins/current-plugin-metadata-snapshot.ts
index abe686cb42a..0e4d13c69e7 100644
--- a/src/plugins/current-plugin-metadata-snapshot.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/current-plugin-metadata-snapshot.ts
@@ -5,36 +5,21 @@ import {
   setCurrentPluginMetadataSnapshotState,
 } from "./current-plugin-metadata-state.js";
 import { resolveInstalledPluginIndexPolicyHash } from "./installed-plugin-index-policy.js";
+import { resolvePluginMetadataSnapshotConfigFingerprint } from "./plugin-metadata-config-fingerprint.js";
 import type { PluginMetadataSnapshot } from "./plugin-metadata-snapshot.types.js";
-
-function normalizeLoadPaths(config: OpenClawConfig | undefined): readonly string[] {
-  const paths = config?.plugins?.load?.paths;
-  if (!Array.isArray(paths)) {
-    return [];
-  }
-  return paths.filter((entry) => typeof entry === "string");
-}
-
-export function resolvePluginMetadataSnapshotConfigFingerprint(
-  config: OpenClawConfig | undefined,
-  options: { policyHash?: string } = {},
-): string {
-  return JSON.stringify({
-    policyHash: options.policyHash ?? resolveInstalledPluginIndexPolicyHash(config),
-    pluginLoadPaths: normalizeLoadPaths(config),
-  });
-}
+export { resolvePluginMetadataSnapshotConfigFingerprint } from "./plugin-metadata-config-fingerprint.js";
 
 // Single-slot Gateway-owned handoff. Replace or clear it at lifecycle boundaries;
 // never accumulate historical metadata snapshots here.
 export function setCurrentPluginMetadataSnapshot(
   snapshot: PluginMetadataSnapshot | undefined,
-  options: { config?: OpenClawConfig } = {},
+  options: { config?: OpenClawConfig; env?: NodeJS.ProcessEnv } = {},
 ): void {
   setCurrentPluginMetadataSnapshotState(
     snapshot,
     snapshot
       ? resolvePluginMetadataSnapshotConfigFingerprint(options.config, {
+          env: options.env,
           policyHash: snapshot.policyHash,
         })
       : undefined,
@@ -48,6 +33,7 @@ export function clearCurrentPluginMetadataSnapshot(): void {
 export function getCurrentPluginMetadataSnapshot(
   params: {
     config?: OpenClawConfig;
+    env?: NodeJS.ProcessEnv;
     workspaceDir?: string;
   } = {},
 ): PluginMetadataSnapshot | undefined {
@@ -62,12 +48,19 @@ export function getCurrentPluginMetadataSnapshot(
   ) {
     return undefined;
   }
-  if (
-    params.config &&
-    configFingerprint &&
-    configFingerprint !== resolvePluginMetadataSnapshotConfigFingerprint(params.config)
-  ) {
-    return undefined;
+  if (params.config) {
+    const requestedConfigFingerprint = resolvePluginMetadataSnapshotConfigFingerprint(
+      params.config,
+      {
+        env: params.env,
+      },
+    );
+    if (configFingerprint && configFingerprint !== requestedConfigFingerprint) {
+      return undefined;
+    }
+    if (snapshot.configFingerprint && snapshot.configFingerprint !== requestedConfigFingerprint) {
+      return undefined;
+    }
   }
   if (snapshot.workspaceDir !== undefined && params.workspaceDir === undefined) {
     return undefined;
diff --git a/src/plugins/plugin-lookup-table.test.ts b/src/plugins/plugin-lookup-table.test.ts
index 8ce6542cb30..03cf0ef7be3 100644
--- a/src/plugins/plugin-lookup-table.test.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/plugin-lookup-table.test.ts
@@ -303,6 +303,112 @@ describe("loadPluginLookUpTable", () => {
     );
   });
 
+  it("rebuilds when a provided metadata snapshot has stale plugin load paths", async () => {
+    const plugins = [
+      createManifestRecord({
+        id: "telegram",
+        origin: "bundled",
+        channels: ["telegram"],
+      }),
+    ];
+    const snapshotConfig = {
+      plugins: {
+        load: { paths: ["/plugins/one"] },
+      },
+    } as OpenClawConfig;
+    const requestedConfig = {
+      plugins: {
+        load: { paths: ["/plugins/two"] },
+      },
+    } as OpenClawConfig;
+    const policyHash = resolveInstalledPluginIndexPolicyHash(snapshotConfig);
+    const index = createIndex(plugins, { policyHash });
+    const manifestRegistry: PluginManifestRegistry = {
+      plugins,
+      diagnostics: [],
+    };
+    loadPluginManifestRegistryForInstalledIndex.mockReturnValue(manifestRegistry);
+    const { loadPluginMetadataSnapshot } = await import("./plugin-metadata-snapshot.js");
+    const { loadPluginLookUpTable } = await import("./plugin-lookup-table.js");
+
+    const metadataSnapshot = loadPluginMetadataSnapshot({
+      config: snapshotConfig,
+      env: {},
+      index,
+    });
+    loadPluginManifestRegistryForInstalledIndex.mockClear();
+
+    loadPluginLookUpTable({
+      config: requestedConfig,
+      env: {},
+      index,
+      metadataSnapshot,
+    });
+
+    expect(loadPluginManifestRegistryForInstalledIndex).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+    expect(loadPluginManifestRegistryForInstalledIndex).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        index,
+        config: requestedConfig,
+      }),
+    );
+  });
+
+  it("rebuilds when a provided metadata snapshot has stale env-resolved plugin load paths", async () => {
+    const plugins = [
+      createManifestRecord({
+        id: "telegram",
+        origin: "bundled",
+        channels: ["telegram"],
+      }),
+    ];
+    const config = {
+      plugins: {
+        load: { paths: ["~/plugins"] },
+      },
+    } as OpenClawConfig;
+    const snapshotEnv = {
+      HOME: "/home/snapshot",
+      OPENCLAW_HOME: undefined,
+    } as NodeJS.ProcessEnv;
+    const requestedEnv = {
+      HOME: "/home/requested",
+      OPENCLAW_HOME: undefined,
+    } as NodeJS.ProcessEnv;
+    const policyHash = resolveInstalledPluginIndexPolicyHash(config);
+    const index = createIndex(plugins, { policyHash });
+    const manifestRegistry: PluginManifestRegistry = {
+      plugins,
+      diagnostics: [],
+    };
+    loadPluginManifestRegistryForInstalledIndex.mockReturnValue(manifestRegistry);
+    const { loadPluginMetadataSnapshot } = await import("./plugin-metadata-snapshot.js");
+    const { loadPluginLookUpTable } = await import("./plugin-lookup-table.js");
+
+    const metadataSnapshot = loadPluginMetadataSnapshot({
+      config,
+      env: snapshotEnv,
+      index,
+    });
+    loadPluginManifestRegistryForInstalledIndex.mockClear();
+
+    loadPluginLookUpTable({
+      config,
+      env: requestedEnv,
+      index,
+      metadataSnapshot,
+    });
+
+    expect(loadPluginManifestRegistryForInstalledIndex).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+    expect(loadPluginManifestRegistryForInstalledIndex).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        index,
+        config,
+        env: requestedEnv,
+      }),
+    );
+  });
+
   it("rebuilds when a provided metadata snapshot has stale plugin inventory", async () => {
     const snapshotPlugins = [
       createManifestRecord({
diff --git a/src/plugins/plugin-lookup-table.ts b/src/plugins/plugin-lookup-table.ts
index 63d2ac58219..ab09e15057e 100644
--- a/src/plugins/plugin-lookup-table.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/plugin-lookup-table.ts
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ export function loadPluginLookUpTable(params: LoadPluginLookUpTableParams): Plug
     isPluginMetadataSnapshotCompatible({
       snapshot: params.metadataSnapshot,
       config: requestedSnapshotConfig,
+      env: params.env,
       workspaceDir: params.workspaceDir,
       index: params.index,
     })
diff --git a/src/plugins/plugin-metadata-config-fingerprint.ts b/src/plugins/plugin-metadata-config-fingerprint.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6614c17d74a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/plugins/plugin-metadata-config-fingerprint.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+import type { OpenClawConfig } from "../config/types.openclaw.js";
+import { resolveHomeRelativePath } from "../infra/home-dir.js";
+import { resolveInstalledPluginIndexPolicyHash } from "./installed-plugin-index-policy.js";
+
+function normalizeResolvedLoadPaths(
+  config: OpenClawConfig | undefined,
+  env: NodeJS.ProcessEnv,
+): readonly string[] {
+  const paths = config?.plugins?.load?.paths;
+  if (!Array.isArray(paths)) {
+    return [];
+  }
+  return paths.flatMap((entry) => {
+    if (typeof entry !== "string") {
+      return [];
+    }
+    const trimmed = entry.trim();
+    return trimmed ? [resolveHomeRelativePath(trimmed, { env })] : [];
+  });
+}
+
+export function resolvePluginMetadataSnapshotConfigFingerprint(
+  config: OpenClawConfig | undefined,
+  options: { env?: NodeJS.ProcessEnv; policyHash?: string } = {},
+): string {
+  const env = options.env ?? process.env;
+  return JSON.stringify({
+    policyHash: options.policyHash ?? resolveInstalledPluginIndexPolicyHash(config),
+    pluginLoadPaths: normalizeResolvedLoadPaths(config, env),
+  });
+}
diff --git a/src/plugins/plugin-metadata-snapshot.ts b/src/plugins/plugin-metadata-snapshot.ts
index 472c5172084..a933210e239 100644
--- a/src/plugins/plugin-metadata-snapshot.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/plugin-metadata-snapshot.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import {
   resolveInstalledManifestRegistryIndexFingerprint,
 } from "./manifest-registry-installed.js";
 import type { PluginManifestRecord } from "./manifest-registry.js";
+import { resolvePluginMetadataSnapshotConfigFingerprint } from "./plugin-metadata-config-fingerprint.js";
 import type {
   LoadPluginMetadataSnapshotParams,
   PluginMetadataSnapshot,
@@ -36,13 +37,24 @@ function indexesMatch(
 }
 
 export function isPluginMetadataSnapshotCompatible(params: {
-  snapshot: Pick<PluginMetadataSnapshot, "index" | "policyHash" | "workspaceDir">;
+  snapshot: Pick<
+    PluginMetadataSnapshot,
+    "configFingerprint" | "index" | "policyHash" | "workspaceDir"
+  >;
   config: OpenClawConfig;
+  env?: NodeJS.ProcessEnv;
   workspaceDir?: string;
   index?: InstalledPluginIndex;
 }): boolean {
+  const env = params.env ?? process.env;
   return (
     params.snapshot.policyHash === resolveInstalledPluginIndexPolicyHash(params.config) &&
+    (!params.snapshot.configFingerprint ||
+      params.snapshot.configFingerprint ===
+        resolvePluginMetadataSnapshotConfigFingerprint(params.config, {
+          env,
+          policyHash: params.snapshot.policyHash,
+        })) &&
     (params.snapshot.workspaceDir ?? "") === (params.workspaceDir ?? "") &&
     indexesMatch(params.snapshot.index, params.index)
   );
@@ -171,6 +183,10 @@ function loadPluginMetadataSnapshotImpl(
 
   return {
     policyHash: index.policyHash,
+    configFingerprint: resolvePluginMetadataSnapshotConfigFingerprint(params.config, {
+      env: params.env,
+      policyHash: index.policyHash,
+    }),
     ...(params.workspaceDir ? { workspaceDir: params.workspaceDir } : {}),
     index,
     registryDiagnostics: registryResult.diagnostics,
diff --git a/src/plugins/plugin-metadata-snapshot.types.ts b/src/plugins/plugin-metadata-snapshot.types.ts
index 223dcff7ec5..10eacc1afdc 100644
--- a/src/plugins/plugin-metadata-snapshot.types.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/plugin-metadata-snapshot.types.ts
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ export type PluginMetadataSnapshotRegistryDiagnostic = {
 
 export type PluginMetadataSnapshot = {
   policyHash: string;
+  configFingerprint?: string;
   workspaceDir?: string;
   index: InstalledPluginIndex;
   registryDiagnostics: readonly PluginMetadataSnapshotRegistryDiagnostic[];
diff --git a/src/plugins/plugin-module-loader-cache.test.ts b/src/plugins/plugin-module-loader-cache.test.ts
index 580828b5e7d..506d55f94b9 100644
--- a/src/plugins/plugin-module-loader-cache.test.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/plugin-module-loader-cache.test.ts
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ describe("getCachedPluginModuleLoader", () => {
     );
   });
 
-  it("lets callers intentionally share loaders behind a custom cache scope key", async () => {
+  it("keeps cache scope keys separated by loader options", async () => {
     const { createJiti, getCachedPluginModuleLoader } =
       await loadCachedPluginModuleLoader("cache-scope-key");
 
@@ -165,6 +165,41 @@ describe("getCachedPluginModuleLoader", () => {
       cacheScopeKey: "bundled:native",
     });
 
+    expect(second).not.toBe(first);
+    first("/repo/dist/extensions/demo-a/api.js");
+    second("/repo/dist/extensions/demo-b/api.js");
+    expect(createJiti).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
+    expect(cache.size).toBe(2);
+  });
+
+  it("lets callers explicitly share loaders behind an unsafe shared cache scope key", async () => {
+    const { createJiti, getCachedPluginModuleLoader } =
+      await loadCachedPluginModuleLoader("shared-cache-scope-key");
+
+    const cache = new Map();
+    const first = getCachedPluginModuleLoader({
+      cache,
+      modulePath: "/repo/dist/extensions/demo-a/api.js",
+      importerUrl: "file:///repo/src/plugins/public-surface-loader.ts",
+      loaderFilename: "file:///repo/src/plugins/public-surface-loader.ts",
+      aliasMap: {
+        demo: "/repo/demo-a.js",
+      },
+      tryNative: true,
+      sharedCacheScopeKey: "bundled:native",
+    });
+    const second = getCachedPluginModuleLoader({
+      cache,
+      modulePath: "/repo/dist/extensions/demo-b/api.js",
+      importerUrl: "file:///repo/src/plugins/public-surface-loader.ts",
+      loaderFilename: "file:///repo/src/plugins/public-surface-loader.ts",
+      aliasMap: {
+        demo: "/repo/demo-b.js",
+      },
+      tryNative: true,
+      sharedCacheScopeKey: "bundled:native",
+    });
+
     expect(second).toBe(first);
     second("/repo/dist/extensions/demo-b/api.js");
     expect(createJiti).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
diff --git a/src/plugins/plugin-module-loader-cache.ts b/src/plugins/plugin-module-loader-cache.ts
index 13c7d6d58ad..ffeb43fa6d8 100644
--- a/src/plugins/plugin-module-loader-cache.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/plugin-module-loader-cache.ts
@@ -24,15 +24,9 @@ export function getCachedPluginModuleLoader(params: {
   tryNative?: boolean;
   pluginSdkResolution?: PluginSdkResolutionPreference;
   cacheScopeKey?: string;
+  sharedCacheScopeKey?: string;
 }): PluginModuleLoader {
   const loaderFilename = toSafeImportPath(params.loaderFilename ?? params.modulePath);
-  if (params.cacheScopeKey) {
-    const scopedCacheKey = `${loaderFilename}::${params.cacheScopeKey}`;
-    const cached = params.cache.get(scopedCacheKey);
-    if (cached) {
-      return cached;
-    }
-  }
   const hasAliasOverride = Boolean(params.aliasMap);
   const hasTryNativeOverride = typeof params.tryNative === "boolean";
   const defaultConfig =
@@ -71,7 +65,10 @@ export function getCachedPluginModuleLoader(params: {
       tryNative,
       aliasMap,
     });
-  const scopedCacheKey = `${loaderFilename}::${params.cacheScopeKey ?? cacheKey}`;
+  const scopedCacheKey = `${loaderFilename}::${
+    params.sharedCacheScopeKey ??
+    (params.cacheScopeKey ? `${params.cacheScopeKey}::${cacheKey}` : cacheKey)
+  }`;
   const cached = params.cache.get(scopedCacheKey);
   if (cached) {
     return cached;
diff --git a/src/plugins/plugin-registry-snapshot.ts b/src/plugins/plugin-registry-snapshot.ts
index d1292f8ec8a..1d86c5335bf 100644
--- a/src/plugins/plugin-registry-snapshot.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/plugin-registry-snapshot.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import crypto from "node:crypto";
 import fs from "node:fs";
 import path from "node:path";
 import { resolveBundledPluginsDir } from "./bundled-dir.js";
@@ -109,6 +110,45 @@ function hasMismatchedPersistedBundledPluginRoot(
   );
 }
 
+function hashExistingFile(filePath: string): string | null {
+  try {
+    return crypto.createHash("sha256").update(fs.readFileSync(filePath)).digest("hex");
+  } catch {
+    return null;
+  }
+}
+
+function resolveRecordPackageJsonPath(plugin: InstalledPluginIndexRecord): string | null {
+  const packageJsonPath = plugin.packageJson?.path;
+  if (!packageJsonPath) {
+    return null;
+  }
+  const rootDir = plugin.rootDir || path.dirname(plugin.manifestPath);
+  const resolved = path.resolve(rootDir, packageJsonPath);
+  const relative = path.relative(rootDir, resolved);
+  return relative.startsWith("..") || path.isAbsolute(relative) ? null : resolved;
+}
+
+function hasStalePersistedPluginMetadata(index: InstalledPluginIndex): boolean {
+  return index.plugins.some((plugin) => {
+    if (!hasOptionalMissingPluginManifestFile(plugin)) {
+      const manifestHash = hashExistingFile(plugin.manifestPath);
+      if (manifestHash && manifestHash !== plugin.manifestHash) {
+        return true;
+      }
+    }
+    const packageJsonPath = resolveRecordPackageJsonPath(plugin);
+    if (!plugin.packageJson?.hash) {
+      return false;
+    }
+    if (!packageJsonPath) {
+      return true;
+    }
+    const packageJsonHash = hashExistingFile(packageJsonPath);
+    return packageJsonHash !== plugin.packageJson.hash;
+  });
+}
+
 export function loadPluginRegistrySnapshotWithMetadata(
   params: LoadPluginRegistryParams = {},
 ): PluginRegistrySnapshotResult {
@@ -154,6 +194,13 @@ export function loadPluginRegistrySnapshotWithMetadata(
           message:
             "Persisted plugin registry points at a different bundled plugin tree; using derived plugin index. Run `openclaw plugins registry --refresh` to update the persisted registry.",
         });
+      } else if (hasStalePersistedPluginMetadata(persistedIndex)) {
+        diagnostics.push({
+          level: "warn",
+          code: "persisted-registry-stale-source",
+          message:
+            "Persisted plugin registry metadata no longer matches plugin manifest or package files; using derived plugin index. Run `openclaw plugins registry --refresh` to update the persisted registry.",
+        });
       } else {
         return {
           snapshot: persistedIndex,
diff --git a/src/plugins/plugin-registry.test.ts b/src/plugins/plugin-registry.test.ts
index cad8c204791..2d7b83b7d96 100644
--- a/src/plugins/plugin-registry.test.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/plugin-registry.test.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import crypto from "node:crypto";
 import fs from "node:fs";
 import path from "node:path";
 import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
@@ -54,6 +55,10 @@ function hermeticEnv(overrides: NodeJS.ProcessEnv = {}): NodeJS.ProcessEnv {
   };
 }
 
+function hashFile(filePath: string): string {
+  return crypto.createHash("sha256").update(fs.readFileSync(filePath)).digest("hex");
+}
+
 function createCandidate(rootDir: string): PluginCandidate {
   fs.writeFileSync(
     path.join(rootDir, "index.ts"),
@@ -414,6 +419,7 @@ describe("plugin registry facade", () => {
           {
             ...createIndex("persisted").plugins[0],
             manifestPath: path.join(persistedRootDir, "openclaw.plugin.json"),
+            manifestHash: hashFile(path.join(persistedRootDir, "openclaw.plugin.json")),
             source: path.join(persistedRootDir, "index.ts"),
             rootDir: persistedRootDir,
           },
@@ -464,6 +470,125 @@ describe("plugin registry facade", () => {
     ]);
   });
 
+  it("falls back to the derived registry when persisted manifest metadata is stale", async () => {
+    const stateDir = makeTempDir();
+    const rootDir = makeTempDir();
+    const candidate = createCandidate(rootDir);
+    const config = {} as const;
+    const persisted = loadPluginRegistrySnapshot({
+      candidates: [candidate],
+      config,
+      env: hermeticEnv(),
+      preferPersisted: false,
+    });
+    await writePersistedInstalledPluginIndex(persisted, { stateDir });
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(rootDir, "openclaw.plugin.json"),
+      JSON.stringify({
+        id: "demo",
+        name: "Demo",
+        configSchema: { type: "object" },
+        providers: ["demo", "demo-next"],
+      }),
+      "utf8",
+    );
+
+    const result = loadPluginRegistrySnapshotWithMetadata({
+      stateDir,
+      candidates: [candidate],
+      config,
+      env: hermeticEnv(),
+    });
+
+    expect(result.source).toBe("derived");
+    expect(result.diagnostics).toEqual([
+      expect.objectContaining({ code: "persisted-registry-stale-source" }),
+    ]);
+    expect(result.snapshot.plugins[0]?.manifestHash).not.toBe(persisted.plugins[0]?.manifestHash);
+  });
+
+  it("falls back to the derived registry when persisted package metadata is stale", async () => {
+    const stateDir = makeTempDir();
+    const rootDir = makeTempDir();
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(rootDir, "package.json"),
+      JSON.stringify({ name: "demo-plugin", version: "1.0.0" }),
+      "utf8",
+    );
+    const candidate = {
+      ...createCandidate(rootDir),
+      packageDir: rootDir,
+      packageName: "demo-plugin",
+      packageVersion: "1.0.0",
+    } satisfies PluginCandidate;
+    const config = {} as const;
+    const persisted = loadPluginRegistrySnapshot({
+      candidates: [candidate],
+      config,
+      env: hermeticEnv(),
+      preferPersisted: false,
+    });
+    await writePersistedInstalledPluginIndex(persisted, { stateDir });
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(rootDir, "package.json"),
+      JSON.stringify({ name: "demo-plugin", version: "1.0.1" }),
+      "utf8",
+    );
+
+    const result = loadPluginRegistrySnapshotWithMetadata({
+      stateDir,
+      candidates: [candidate],
+      config,
+      env: hermeticEnv(),
+    });
+
+    expect(result.source).toBe("derived");
+    expect(result.diagnostics).toEqual([
+      expect.objectContaining({ code: "persisted-registry-stale-source" }),
+    ]);
+    expect(result.snapshot.plugins[0]?.packageJson?.hash).not.toBe(
+      persisted.plugins[0]?.packageJson?.hash,
+    );
+  });
+
+  it("falls back to the derived registry when persisted package metadata disappears", async () => {
+    const stateDir = makeTempDir();
+    const rootDir = makeTempDir();
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(rootDir, "package.json"),
+      JSON.stringify({ name: "demo-plugin", version: "1.0.0" }),
+      "utf8",
+    );
+    const candidate = {
+      ...createCandidate(rootDir),
+      packageDir: rootDir,
+      packageName: "demo-plugin",
+      packageVersion: "1.0.0",
+    } satisfies PluginCandidate;
+    const config = {} as const;
+    const persisted = loadPluginRegistrySnapshot({
+      candidates: [candidate],
+      config,
+      env: hermeticEnv(),
+      preferPersisted: false,
+    });
+    await writePersistedInstalledPluginIndex(persisted, { stateDir });
+    fs.rmSync(path.join(rootDir, "package.json"));
+
+    const result = loadPluginRegistrySnapshotWithMetadata({
+      stateDir,
+      candidates: [candidate],
+      config,
+      env: hermeticEnv(),
+    });
+
+    expect(result.source).toBe("derived");
+    expect(result.diagnostics).toEqual([
+      expect.objectContaining({ code: "persisted-registry-stale-source" }),
+    ]);
+    expect(result.snapshot.plugins[0]?.packageJson).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+
   it("falls back to the derived registry when persisted bundled roots point at another checkout", async () => {
     const stateDir = makeTempDir();
     const rootDir = makeTempDir();