diff --git a/scripts/e2e/parallels-macos-smoke.sh b/scripts/e2e/parallels-macos-smoke.sh
index 1c3b1c05897..d5cb3f8b05d 100644
--- a/scripts/e2e/parallels-macos-smoke.sh
+++ b/scripts/e2e/parallels-macos-smoke.sh
@@ -1276,23 +1276,42 @@ start_manual_gateway_if_needed() {
   if ! headless_guest_fallback; then
     return 0
   fi
-  local gateway_log guest_home
+  local gateway_log guest_gateway_log guest_home launch_cmd
   guest_home="$(parallels_macos_resolve_desktop_home "$VM_NAME" "$GUEST_CURRENT_USER")"
   gateway_log="$RUN_DIR/macos-gateway-prlctl.log"
+  guest_gateway_log="/tmp/openclaw-parallels-macos-gateway.log"
   guest_current_user_exec /usr/bin/pkill -f 'openclaw.*gateway run' >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
   guest_current_user_exec /usr/bin/pkill -f 'openclaw-gateway' >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
   guest_current_user_exec /usr/bin/pkill -f 'openclaw.mjs gateway' >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
-  /usr/bin/nohup prlctl exec "$VM_NAME" /usr/bin/sudo -H -u "$GUEST_CURRENT_USER" /usr/bin/env \
-    "HOME=$guest_home" \
-    "USER=$GUEST_CURRENT_USER" \
-    "LOGNAME=$GUEST_CURRENT_USER" \
-    "PATH=$GUEST_EXEC_PATH" \
-    "$API_KEY_ENV=$API_KEY_VALUE" \
-    "OPENCLAW_HOME=$guest_home" \
-    "OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR=$guest_home/.openclaw" \
-    "OPENCLAW_CONFIG_PATH=$guest_home/.openclaw/openclaw.json" \
-    "$GUEST_NODE_BIN" "$GUEST_OPENCLAW_ENTRY" gateway run --bind loopback --port 18789 --force \
-    >"$gateway_log" 2>&1 &
+  launch_cmd="$(cat <<EOF
+set -euo pipefail
+trap '' HUP
+/usr/bin/env \\
+  HOME=$(shell_quote "$guest_home") \\
+  USER=$(shell_quote "$GUEST_CURRENT_USER") \\
+  LOGNAME=$(shell_quote "$GUEST_CURRENT_USER") \\
+  PATH=$(shell_quote "$GUEST_EXEC_PATH") \\
+  $(shell_quote "$API_KEY_ENV=$API_KEY_VALUE") \\
+  OPENCLAW_HOME=$(shell_quote "$guest_home") \\
+  OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR=$(shell_quote "$guest_home/.openclaw") \\
+  OPENCLAW_CONFIG_PATH=$(shell_quote "$guest_home/.openclaw/openclaw.json") \\
+  $(shell_quote "$GUEST_NODE_BIN") $(shell_quote "$GUEST_OPENCLAW_ENTRY") gateway run --bind loopback --port 18789 --force \\
+  < /dev/null >$(shell_quote "$guest_gateway_log") 2>&1 &
+gateway_pid="\$!"
+printf 'guest gateway pid %s\n' "\$gateway_pid"
+printf 'guest gateway log %s\n' $(shell_quote "$guest_gateway_log")
+sleep 1
+if ! kill -0 "\$gateway_pid" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  tail -n 120 $(shell_quote "$guest_gateway_log") >&2 || true
+  exit 1
+fi
+EOF
+)"
+  if ! guest_current_user_sh "$launch_cmd" >"$gateway_log" 2>&1; then
+    cat "$gateway_log" >&2 || true
+    return 1
+  fi
+  cat "$gateway_log"
 }
 
 verify_gateway() {