fix(cli): handle scheduled gateway restarts consistently

src/cli/daemon-cli/lifecycle-core.test.ts

@@ -40,11 +40,12 @@ vi.mock("../../runtime.js", () => ({
 }));
 
 let runServiceRestart: typeof import("./lifecycle-core.js").runServiceRestart;
+let runServiceStart: typeof import("./lifecycle-core.js").runServiceStart;
 let runServiceStop: typeof import("./lifecycle-core.js").runServiceStop;
 
 describe("runServiceRestart token drift", () => {
   beforeAll(async () => {
-    ({ runServiceRestart, runServiceStop } = await import("./lifecycle-core.js"));
+    ({ runServiceRestart, runServiceStart, runServiceStop } = await import("./lifecycle-core.js"));
   });
 
   beforeEach(() => {
@@ -196,4 +197,21 @@ describe("runServiceRestart token drift", () => {
     expect(payload.result).toBe("scheduled");
     expect(payload.message).toBe("restart scheduled, gateway will restart momentarily");
   });
+
+  it("emits scheduled when service start routes through a scheduled restart", async () => {
+    service.restart.mockResolvedValue({ outcome: "scheduled" });
+
+    await runServiceStart({
+      serviceNoun: "Gateway",
+      service,
+      renderStartHints: () => [],
+      opts: { json: true },
+    });
+
+    expect(service.isLoaded).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    const jsonLine = runtimeLogs.find((line) => line.trim().startsWith("{"));
+    const payload = JSON.parse(jsonLine ?? "{}") as { result?: string; message?: string };
+    expect(payload.result).toBe("scheduled");
+    expect(payload.message).toBe("restart scheduled, gateway will restart momentarily");
+  });
 });

src/cli/daemon-cli/lifecycle-core.ts

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { formatConfigIssueLines } from "../../config/issue-format.js";
 import { resolveIsNixMode } from "../../config/paths.js";
 import { checkTokenDrift } from "../../daemon/service-audit.js";
 import type { GatewayServiceRestartResult } from "../../daemon/service-types.js";
+import { describeGatewayServiceRestart } from "../../daemon/service.js";
 import type { GatewayService } from "../../daemon/service.js";
 import { renderSystemdUnavailableHints } from "../../daemon/systemd-hints.js";
 import { isSystemdUserServiceAvailable } from "../../daemon/systemd.js";
@@ -224,7 +225,20 @@ export async function runServiceStart(params: {
   }
 
   try {
-    await params.service.restart({ env: process.env, stdout });
+    const restartResult = await params.service.restart({ env: process.env, stdout });
+    const restartStatus = describeGatewayServiceRestart(params.serviceNoun, restartResult);
+    if (restartStatus.scheduled) {
+      emit({
+        ok: true,
+        result: restartStatus.daemonActionResult,
+        message: restartStatus.message,
+        service: buildDaemonServiceSnapshot(params.service, loaded),
+      });
+      if (!json) {
+        defaultRuntime.log(restartStatus.message);
+      }
+      return;
+    }
   } catch (err) {
     const hints = params.renderStartHints();
     fail(`${params.serviceNoun} start failed: ${String(err)}`, hints);
@@ -318,7 +332,7 @@ export async function runServiceRestart(params: {
   renderStartHints: () => string[];
   opts?: DaemonLifecycleOptions;
   checkTokenDrift?: boolean;
-  postRestartCheck?: (ctx: RestartPostCheckContext) => Promise<void>;
+  postRestartCheck?: (ctx: RestartPostCheckContext) => Promise<GatewayServiceRestartResult | void>;
   onNotLoaded?: (ctx: NotLoadedActionContext) => Promise<NotLoadedActionResult | null>;
 }): Promise<boolean> {
   const json = Boolean(params.opts?.json);
@@ -407,22 +421,38 @@ export async function runServiceRestart(params: {
     if (loaded) {
       restartResult = await params.service.restart({ env: process.env, stdout });
     }
-    if (restartResult.outcome === "scheduled") {
-      const message = `restart scheduled, ${params.serviceNoun.toLowerCase()} will restart momentarily`;
+    let restartStatus = describeGatewayServiceRestart(params.serviceNoun, restartResult);
+    if (restartStatus.scheduled) {
       emit({
         ok: true,
-        result: "scheduled",
-        message,
+        result: restartStatus.daemonActionResult,
+        message: restartStatus.message,
         service: buildDaemonServiceSnapshot(params.service, loaded),
         warnings: warnings.length ? warnings : undefined,
       });
       if (!json) {
-        defaultRuntime.log(message);
+        defaultRuntime.log(restartStatus.message);
       }
       return true;
     }
     if (params.postRestartCheck) {
-      await params.postRestartCheck({ json, stdout, warnings, fail });
+      const postRestartResult = await params.postRestartCheck({ json, stdout, warnings, fail });
+      if (postRestartResult) {
+        restartStatus = describeGatewayServiceRestart(params.serviceNoun, postRestartResult);
+        if (restartStatus.scheduled) {
+          emit({
+            ok: true,
+            result: restartStatus.daemonActionResult,
+            message: restartStatus.message,
+            service: buildDaemonServiceSnapshot(params.service, loaded),
+            warnings: warnings.length ? warnings : undefined,
+          });
+          if (!json) {
+            defaultRuntime.log(restartStatus.message);
+          }
+          return true;
+        }
+      }
     }
     let restarted = loaded;
     if (loaded) {

src/cli/daemon-cli/lifecycle.test.ts

@@ -132,6 +132,7 @@ describe("runDaemonRestart health checks", () => {
       programArguments: ["openclaw", "gateway", "--port", "18789"],
       environment: {},
     });
+    service.restart.mockResolvedValue({ outcome: "completed" });
 
     runServiceRestart.mockImplementation(async (params: RestartParams) => {
       const fail = (message: string, hints?: string[]) => {
@@ -204,6 +205,25 @@ describe("runDaemonRestart health checks", () => {
     expect(waitForGatewayHealthyRestart).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
   });
 
+  it("skips stale-pid retry health checks when the retry restart is only scheduled", async () => {
+    const unhealthy: RestartHealthSnapshot = {
+      healthy: false,
+      staleGatewayPids: [1993],
+      runtime: { status: "stopped" },
+      portUsage: { port: 18789, status: "busy", listeners: [], hints: [] },
+    };
+    waitForGatewayHealthyRestart.mockResolvedValueOnce(unhealthy);
+    terminateStaleGatewayPids.mockResolvedValue([1993]);
+    service.restart.mockResolvedValueOnce({ outcome: "scheduled" });
+
+    const result = await runDaemonRestart({ json: true });
+
+    expect(result).toBe(true);
+    expect(terminateStaleGatewayPids).toHaveBeenCalledWith([1993]);
+    expect(service.restart).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(waitForGatewayHealthyRestart).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+  });
+
   it("fails restart when gateway remains unhealthy", async () => {
     const unhealthy: RestartHealthSnapshot = {
       healthy: false,

src/cli/daemon-cli/lifecycle.ts

@@ -286,7 +286,10 @@ export async function runDaemonRestart(opts: DaemonLifecycleOptions = {}): Promi
         }
 
         await terminateStaleGatewayPids(health.staleGatewayPids);
-        await service.restart({ env: process.env, stdout });
+        const retryRestart = await service.restart({ env: process.env, stdout });
+        if (retryRestart.outcome === "scheduled") {
+          return retryRestart;
+        }
         health = await waitForGatewayHealthyRestart({
           service,
           port: restartPort,

src/commands/configure.daemon.test.ts

@@ -1,13 +1,22 @@
 import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
 
-const withProgress = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn(async (_opts, run) => run({ setLabel: vi.fn() })));
+const progressSetLabel = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn());
+const withProgress = vi.hoisted(() =>
+  vi.fn(async (_opts, run) => run({ setLabel: progressSetLabel })),
+);
 const loadConfig = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn());
 const resolveGatewayInstallToken = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn());
 const buildGatewayInstallPlan = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn());
 const note = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn());
 const serviceIsLoaded = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn(async () => false));
 const serviceInstall = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn(async () => {}));
+const serviceRestart = vi.hoisted(() =>
+  vi.fn<() => Promise<{ outcome: "completed" } | { outcome: "scheduled" }>>(async () => ({
+    outcome: "completed",
+  })),
+);
 const ensureSystemdUserLingerInteractive = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn(async () => {}));
+const select = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn(async () => "node"));
 
 vi.mock("../cli/progress.js", () => ({
   withProgress,
@@ -32,7 +41,7 @@ vi.mock("../terminal/note.js", () => ({
 
 vi.mock("./configure.shared.js", () => ({
   confirm: vi.fn(async () => true),
-  select: vi.fn(async () => "node"),
+  select,
 }));
 
 vi.mock("./daemon-runtime.js", () => ({
@@ -40,12 +49,17 @@ vi.mock("./daemon-runtime.js", () => ({
   GATEWAY_DAEMON_RUNTIME_OPTIONS: [{ value: "node", label: "Node" }],
 }));
 
-vi.mock("../daemon/service.js", () => ({
-  resolveGatewayService: vi.fn(() => ({
-    isLoaded: serviceIsLoaded,
-    install: serviceInstall,
-  })),
-}));
+vi.mock("../daemon/service.js", async (importOriginal) => {
+  const actual = await importOriginal<typeof import("../daemon/service.js")>();
+  return {
+    ...actual,
+    resolveGatewayService: vi.fn(() => ({
+      isLoaded: serviceIsLoaded,
+      install: serviceInstall,
+      restart: serviceRestart,
+    })),
+  };
+});
 
 vi.mock("./onboard-helpers.js", () => ({
   guardCancel: (value: unknown) => value,
@@ -60,8 +74,10 @@ const { maybeInstallDaemon } = await import("./configure.daemon.js");
 describe("maybeInstallDaemon", () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
     vi.clearAllMocks();
+    progressSetLabel.mockReset();
     serviceIsLoaded.mockResolvedValue(false);
     serviceInstall.mockResolvedValue(undefined);
+    serviceRestart.mockResolvedValue({ outcome: "completed" });
     loadConfig.mockReturnValue({});
     resolveGatewayInstallToken.mockResolvedValue({
       token: undefined,
@@ -152,4 +168,19 @@ describe("maybeInstallDaemon", () => {
 
     expect(serviceInstall).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
   });
+
+  it("shows restart scheduled when a loaded service defers restart handoff", async () => {
+    serviceIsLoaded.mockResolvedValue(true);
+    select.mockResolvedValueOnce("restart");
+    serviceRestart.mockResolvedValueOnce({ outcome: "scheduled" });
+
+    await maybeInstallDaemon({
+      runtime: { log: vi.fn(), error: vi.fn(), exit: vi.fn() },
+      port: 18789,
+    });
+
+    expect(serviceRestart).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(serviceInstall).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(progressSetLabel).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith("Gateway service restart scheduled.");
+  });
 });

src/commands/configure.daemon.ts

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { withProgress } from "../cli/progress.js";
 import { loadConfig } from "../config/config.js";
-import { resolveGatewayService } from "../daemon/service.js";
+import { describeGatewayServiceRestart, resolveGatewayService } from "../daemon/service.js";
 import { isNonFatalSystemdInstallProbeError } from "../daemon/systemd.js";
 import type { RuntimeEnv } from "../runtime.js";
 import { note } from "../terminal/note.js";
@@ -50,11 +50,13 @@ export async function maybeInstallDaemon(params: {
         { label: "Gateway service", indeterminate: true, delayMs: 0 },
         async (progress) => {
           progress.setLabel("Restarting Gateway service…");
-          await service.restart({
+          const restartResult = await service.restart({
             env: process.env,
             stdout: process.stdout,
           });
-          progress.setLabel("Gateway service restarted.");
+          progress.setLabel(
+            describeGatewayServiceRestart("Gateway", restartResult).progressMessage,
+          );
         },
       );
       shouldCheckLinger = true;

src/commands/doctor-gateway-daemon-flow.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,194 @@
+import { afterEach, beforeAll, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+
+const service = vi.hoisted(() => ({
+  isLoaded: vi.fn(),
+  readRuntime: vi.fn(),
+  restart: vi.fn(),
+  install: vi.fn(),
+  readCommand: vi.fn(),
+}));
+const note = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn());
+const sleep = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn(async () => {}));
+const healthCommand = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn(async () => {}));
+const inspectPortUsage = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn());
+const readLastGatewayErrorLine = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn(async () => null));
+
+vi.mock("../config/config.js", () => ({
+  resolveGatewayPort: vi.fn(() => 18789),
+}));
+
+vi.mock("../daemon/constants.js", () => ({
+  resolveGatewayLaunchAgentLabel: vi.fn(() => "ai.openclaw.gateway"),
+  resolveNodeLaunchAgentLabel: vi.fn(() => "ai.openclaw.node"),
+}));
+
+vi.mock("../daemon/diagnostics.js", () => ({
+  readLastGatewayErrorLine,
+}));
+
+vi.mock("../daemon/launchd.js", async (importOriginal) => {
+  const actual = await importOriginal<typeof import("../daemon/launchd.js")>();
+  return {
+    ...actual,
+    isLaunchAgentListed: vi.fn(async () => false),
+    isLaunchAgentLoaded: vi.fn(async () => false),
+    launchAgentPlistExists: vi.fn(async () => false),
+    repairLaunchAgentBootstrap: vi.fn(async () => ({ ok: true })),
+  };
+});
+
+vi.mock("../daemon/service.js", async (importOriginal) => {
+  const actual = await importOriginal<typeof import("../daemon/service.js")>();
+  return {
+    ...actual,
+    resolveGatewayService: () => service,
+  };
+});
+
+vi.mock("../daemon/systemd-hints.js", () => ({
+  renderSystemdUnavailableHints: vi.fn(() => []),
+}));
+
+vi.mock("../daemon/systemd.js", async (importOriginal) => {
+  const actual = await importOriginal<typeof import("../daemon/systemd.js")>();
+  return {
+    ...actual,
+    isSystemdUserServiceAvailable: vi.fn(async () => true),
+  };
+});
+
+vi.mock("../infra/ports.js", () => ({
+  inspectPortUsage,
+  formatPortDiagnostics: vi.fn(() => []),
+}));
+
+vi.mock("../infra/wsl.js", () => ({
+  isWSL: vi.fn(async () => false),
+}));
+
+vi.mock("../terminal/note.js", () => ({
+  note,
+}));
+
+vi.mock("../utils.js", () => ({
+  sleep,
+}));
+
+vi.mock("./daemon-install-helpers.js", () => ({
+  buildGatewayInstallPlan: vi.fn(),
+  gatewayInstallErrorHint: vi.fn(() => "hint"),
+}));
+
+vi.mock("./doctor-format.js", () => ({
+  buildGatewayRuntimeHints: vi.fn(() => []),
+  formatGatewayRuntimeSummary: vi.fn(() => null),
+}));
+
+vi.mock("./gateway-install-token.js", () => ({
+  resolveGatewayInstallToken: vi.fn(),
+}));
+
+vi.mock("./health-format.js", () => ({
+  formatHealthCheckFailure: vi.fn(() => "health failed"),
+}));
+
+vi.mock("./health.js", () => ({
+  healthCommand,
+}));
+
+describe("maybeRepairGatewayDaemon", () => {
+  let maybeRepairGatewayDaemon: typeof import("./doctor-gateway-daemon-flow.js").maybeRepairGatewayDaemon;
+  const originalPlatformDescriptor = Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptor(process, "platform");
+
+  beforeAll(async () => {
+    ({ maybeRepairGatewayDaemon } = await import("./doctor-gateway-daemon-flow.js"));
+  });
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    vi.clearAllMocks();
+    service.isLoaded.mockResolvedValue(true);
+    service.readRuntime.mockResolvedValue({ status: "running" });
+    service.restart.mockResolvedValue({ outcome: "completed" });
+    inspectPortUsage.mockResolvedValue({
+      port: 18789,
+      status: "free",
+      listeners: [],
+      hints: [],
+    });
+  });
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    if (originalPlatformDescriptor) {
+      Object.defineProperty(process, "platform", originalPlatformDescriptor);
+    }
+  });
+
+  function setPlatform(platform: NodeJS.Platform) {
+    if (!originalPlatformDescriptor) {
+      return;
+    }
+    Object.defineProperty(process, "platform", {
+      ...originalPlatformDescriptor,
+      value: platform,
+    });
+  }
+
+  function createPrompter(confirmImpl: (message: string) => boolean) {
+    return {
+      confirm: vi.fn(),
+      confirmRepair: vi.fn(),
+      confirmAggressive: vi.fn(),
+      confirmSkipInNonInteractive: vi.fn(async ({ message }: { message: string }) =>
+        confirmImpl(message),
+      ),
+      select: vi.fn(),
+      shouldRepair: false,
+      shouldForce: false,
+    };
+  }
+
+  it("skips restart verification when a running service restart is only scheduled", async () => {
+    setPlatform("linux");
+    service.restart.mockResolvedValueOnce({ outcome: "scheduled" });
+
+    await maybeRepairGatewayDaemon({
+      cfg: { gateway: {} },
+      runtime: { log: vi.fn(), error: vi.fn(), exit: vi.fn() },
+      prompter: createPrompter((message) => message === "Restart gateway service now?"),
+      options: { deep: false },
+      gatewayDetailsMessage: "details",
+      healthOk: false,
+    });
+
+    expect(service.restart).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(note).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      "restart scheduled, gateway will restart momentarily",
+      "Gateway",
+    );
+    expect(sleep).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(healthCommand).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("skips start verification when a stopped service start is only scheduled", async () => {
+    setPlatform("linux");
+    service.readRuntime.mockResolvedValue({ status: "stopped" });
+    service.restart.mockResolvedValueOnce({ outcome: "scheduled" });
+
+    await maybeRepairGatewayDaemon({
+      cfg: { gateway: {} },
+      runtime: { log: vi.fn(), error: vi.fn(), exit: vi.fn() },
+      prompter: createPrompter((message) => message === "Start gateway service now?"),
+      options: { deep: false },
+      gatewayDetailsMessage: "details",
+      healthOk: false,
+    });
+
+    expect(service.restart).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(note).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      "restart scheduled, gateway will restart momentarily",
+      "Gateway",
+    );
+    expect(sleep).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(healthCommand).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+});

src/commands/doctor-gateway-daemon-flow.ts

@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import {
   launchAgentPlistExists,
   repairLaunchAgentBootstrap,
 } from "../daemon/launchd.js";
-import { resolveGatewayService } from "../daemon/service.js";
+import { describeGatewayServiceRestart, resolveGatewayService } from "../daemon/service.js";
 import { renderSystemdUnavailableHints } from "../daemon/systemd-hints.js";
 import { isSystemdUserServiceAvailable } from "../daemon/systemd.js";
 import { formatPortDiagnostics, inspectPortUsage } from "../infra/ports.js";
@@ -235,11 +235,16 @@ export async function maybeRepairGatewayDaemon(params: {
       initialValue: true,
     });
     if (start) {
-      await service.restart({
+      const restartResult = await service.restart({
         env: process.env,
         stdout: process.stdout,
       });
-      await sleep(1500);
+      const restartStatus = describeGatewayServiceRestart("Gateway", restartResult);
+      if (!restartStatus.scheduled) {
+        await sleep(1500);
+      } else {
+        note(restartStatus.message, "Gateway");
+      }
     }
   }
 
@@ -257,10 +262,15 @@ export async function maybeRepairGatewayDaemon(params: {
       initialValue: true,
     });
     if (restart) {
-      await service.restart({
+      const restartResult = await service.restart({
         env: process.env,
         stdout: process.stdout,
       });
+      const restartStatus = describeGatewayServiceRestart("Gateway", restartResult);
+      if (restartStatus.scheduled) {
+        note(restartStatus.message, "Gateway");
+        return;
+      }
       await sleep(1500);
       try {
         await healthCommand({ json: false, timeoutMs: 10_000 }, params.runtime);

src/commands/status.service-summary.test.ts

@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ function createService(overrides: Partial<GatewayService>): GatewayService {
     install: vi.fn(async () => {}),
     uninstall: vi.fn(async () => {}),
     stop: vi.fn(async () => {}),
-    restart: vi.fn(async () => {}),
+    restart: vi.fn(async () => ({ outcome: "completed" as const })),
     isLoaded: vi.fn(async () => false),
     readCommand: vi.fn(async () => null),
     readRuntime: vi.fn(async () => ({ status: "stopped" as const })),

src/daemon/service.test.ts

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { afterEach, describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
-import { resolveGatewayService } from "./service.js";
+import { describeGatewayServiceRestart, resolveGatewayService } from "./service.js";
 
 const originalPlatformDescriptor = Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptor(process, "platform");
 
@@ -37,4 +37,13 @@ describe("resolveGatewayService", () => {
     setPlatform("aix");
     expect(() => resolveGatewayService()).toThrow("Gateway service install not supported on aix");
   });
+
+  it("describes scheduled restart handoffs consistently", () => {
+    expect(describeGatewayServiceRestart("Gateway", { outcome: "scheduled" })).toEqual({
+      scheduled: true,
+      daemonActionResult: "scheduled",
+      message: "restart scheduled, gateway will restart momentarily",
+      progressMessage: "Gateway service restart scheduled.",
+    });
+  });
 });

src/daemon/service.ts

@@ -66,6 +66,31 @@ export type GatewayService = {
   readRuntime: (env: GatewayServiceEnv) => Promise<GatewayServiceRuntime>;
 };
 
+export function describeGatewayServiceRestart(
+  serviceNoun: string,
+  result: GatewayServiceRestartResult,
+): {
+  scheduled: boolean;
+  daemonActionResult: "restarted" | "scheduled";
+  message: string;
+  progressMessage: string;
+} {
+  if (result.outcome === "scheduled") {
+    return {
+      scheduled: true,
+      daemonActionResult: "scheduled",
+      message: `restart scheduled, ${serviceNoun.toLowerCase()} will restart momentarily`,
+      progressMessage: `${serviceNoun} service restart scheduled.`,
+    };
+  }
+  return {
+    scheduled: false,
+    daemonActionResult: "restarted",
+    message: `${serviceNoun} service restarted.`,
+    progressMessage: `${serviceNoun} service restarted.`,
+  };
+}
+
 type SupportedGatewayServicePlatform = "darwin" | "linux" | "win32";
 
 const GATEWAY_SERVICE_REGISTRY: Record<SupportedGatewayServicePlatform, GatewayService> = {

src/wizard/onboarding.finalize.test.ts

@@ -13,6 +13,13 @@ const buildGatewayInstallPlan = vi.hoisted(() =>
   })),
 );
 const gatewayServiceInstall = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn(async () => {}));
+const gatewayServiceRestart = vi.hoisted(() =>
+  vi.fn<() => Promise<{ outcome: "completed" } | { outcome: "scheduled" }>>(async () => ({
+    outcome: "completed",
+  })),
+);
+const gatewayServiceUninstall = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn(async () => {}));
+const gatewayServiceIsLoaded = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn(async () => false));
 const resolveGatewayInstallToken = vi.hoisted(() =>
   vi.fn(async () => ({
     token: undefined,
@@ -56,14 +63,18 @@ vi.mock("../commands/health.js", () => ({
   healthCommand: vi.fn(async () => {}),
 }));
 
-vi.mock("../daemon/service.js", () => ({
-  resolveGatewayService: vi.fn(() => ({
-    isLoaded: vi.fn(async () => false),
-    restart: vi.fn(async () => {}),
-    uninstall: vi.fn(async () => {}),
-    install: gatewayServiceInstall,
-  })),
-}));
+vi.mock("../daemon/service.js", async (importOriginal) => {
+  const actual = await importOriginal<typeof import("../daemon/service.js")>();
+  return {
+    ...actual,
+    resolveGatewayService: vi.fn(() => ({
+      isLoaded: gatewayServiceIsLoaded,
+      restart: gatewayServiceRestart,
+      uninstall: gatewayServiceUninstall,
+      install: gatewayServiceInstall,
+    })),
+  };
+});
 
 vi.mock("../daemon/systemd.js", async (importOriginal) => {
   const actual = await importOriginal<typeof import("../daemon/systemd.js")>();
@@ -113,6 +124,11 @@ describe("finalizeOnboardingWizard", () => {
     setupOnboardingShellCompletion.mockClear();
     buildGatewayInstallPlan.mockClear();
     gatewayServiceInstall.mockClear();
+    gatewayServiceIsLoaded.mockReset();
+    gatewayServiceIsLoaded.mockResolvedValue(false);
+    gatewayServiceRestart.mockReset();
+    gatewayServiceRestart.mockResolvedValue({ outcome: "completed" });
+    gatewayServiceUninstall.mockReset();
     resolveGatewayInstallToken.mockClear();
     isSystemdUserServiceAvailable.mockReset();
     isSystemdUserServiceAvailable.mockResolvedValue(true);
@@ -244,4 +260,51 @@ describe("finalizeOnboardingWizard", () => {
     expectFirstOnboardingInstallPlanCallOmitsToken();
     expect(gatewayServiceInstall).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
   });
+
+  it("stops after a scheduled restart instead of reinstalling the service", async () => {
+    const progressUpdate = vi.fn();
+    const progressStop = vi.fn();
+    gatewayServiceIsLoaded.mockResolvedValue(true);
+    gatewayServiceRestart.mockResolvedValueOnce({ outcome: "scheduled" });
+    const prompter = buildWizardPrompter({
+      select: vi.fn(async (params: { message: string }) => {
+        if (params.message === "Gateway service already installed") {
+          return "restart";
+        }
+        return "later";
+      }) as never,
+      confirm: vi.fn(async () => false),
+      progress: vi.fn(() => ({ update: progressUpdate, stop: progressStop })),
+    });
+
+    await finalizeOnboardingWizard({
+      flow: "advanced",
+      opts: {
+        acceptRisk: true,
+        authChoice: "skip",
+        installDaemon: true,
+        skipHealth: true,
+        skipUi: true,
+      },
+      baseConfig: {},
+      nextConfig: {},
+      workspaceDir: "/tmp",
+      settings: {
+        port: 18789,
+        bind: "loopback",
+        authMode: "token",
+        gatewayToken: undefined,
+        tailscaleMode: "off",
+        tailscaleResetOnExit: false,
+      },
+      prompter,
+      runtime: createRuntime(),
+    });
+
+    expect(gatewayServiceRestart).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(gatewayServiceInstall).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(gatewayServiceUninstall).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(progressUpdate).toHaveBeenCalledWith("Restarting Gateway service…");
+    expect(progressStop).toHaveBeenCalledWith("Gateway service restart scheduled.");
+  });
 });

src/wizard/onboarding.finalize.ts

@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ import {
 } from "../commands/onboard-helpers.js";
 import type { OnboardOptions } from "../commands/onboard-types.js";
 import type { OpenClawConfig } from "../config/config.js";
-import { resolveGatewayService } from "../daemon/service.js";
+import { describeGatewayServiceRestart, resolveGatewayService } from "../daemon/service.js";
 import { isSystemdUserServiceAvailable } from "../daemon/systemd.js";
 import { ensureControlUiAssetsBuilt } from "../infra/control-ui-assets.js";
 import type { RuntimeEnv } from "../runtime.js";
@@ -53,14 +53,16 @@ export async function finalizeOnboardingWizard(
 
   const withWizardProgress = async <T>(
     label: string,
-    options: { doneMessage?: string },
+    options: { doneMessage?: string | (() => string | undefined) },
     work: (progress: { update: (message: string) => void }) => Promise<T>,
   ): Promise<T> => {
     const progress = prompter.progress(label);
     try {
       return await work(progress);
     } finally {
-      progress.stop(options.doneMessage);
+      progress.stop(
+        typeof options.doneMessage === "function" ? options.doneMessage() : options.doneMessage,
+      );
     }
   };
 
@@ -128,6 +130,7 @@ export async function finalizeOnboardingWizard(
     }
     const service = resolveGatewayService();
     const loaded = await service.isLoaded({ env: process.env });
+    let restartWasScheduled = false;
     if (loaded) {
       const action = await prompter.select({
         message: "Gateway service already installed",
@@ -138,15 +141,19 @@ export async function finalizeOnboardingWizard(
         ],
       });
       if (action === "restart") {
+        let restartDoneMessage = "Gateway service restarted.";
         await withWizardProgress(
           "Gateway service",
-          { doneMessage: "Gateway service restarted." },
+          { doneMessage: () => restartDoneMessage },
           async (progress) => {
             progress.update("Restarting Gateway service…");
-            await service.restart({
+            const restartResult = await service.restart({
               env: process.env,
               stdout: process.stdout,
             });
+            const restartStatus = describeGatewayServiceRestart("Gateway", restartResult);
+            restartDoneMessage = restartStatus.progressMessage;
+            restartWasScheduled = restartStatus.scheduled;
           },
         );
       } else if (action === "reinstall") {
@@ -161,7 +168,10 @@ export async function finalizeOnboardingWizard(
       }
     }
 
-    if (!loaded || (loaded && !(await service.isLoaded({ env: process.env })))) {
+    if (
+      !loaded ||
+      (!restartWasScheduled && loaded && !(await service.isLoaded({ env: process.env })))
+    ) {
       const progress = prompter.progress("Gateway service");
       let installError: string | null = null;
       try {