diff --git a/docs/gateway/configuration.md b/docs/gateway/configuration.md
index f38e0ed5b174..497e6844560a 100644
--- a/docs/gateway/configuration.md
+++ b/docs/gateway/configuration.md
@@ -630,6 +630,11 @@ through replay; persistence alone is not an application acknowledgment. Shutdown
 supersession by different content, or failed application returns `UNAVAILABLE`
 with recovery guidance. `config.set` acknowledges persistence only.
 
+Once a reload has committed, it finishes its model and channel work before a
+newer config is applied. If that work needs restart recovery, the RPC returns
+`UNAVAILABLE`; wait for the Gateway to restart, then use `config.get` to verify
+the active revision.
+
 `config.patch` also accepts `replacePaths`, an array of config paths whose array
 replacement is intentional. If a patch would replace or delete an existing array
 with fewer entries, the Gateway rejects the write unless that exact path appears
diff --git a/qa/scenarios/memory/memory-dreaming-sweep.yaml b/qa/scenarios/memory/memory-dreaming-sweep.yaml
index 43895fb619f3..c20e652acdb2 100644
--- a/qa/scenarios/memory/memory-dreaming-sweep.yaml
+++ b/qa/scenarios/memory/memory-dreaming-sweep.yaml
@@ -167,6 +167,8 @@ flow:
         - set: transcriptPath
           value:
             expr: "path.join(sessionsDir, `${config.transcriptId}.jsonl`)"
+        - set: recallEvidence
+          value: []
         - try:
             actions:
               - call: fs.mkdir
@@ -228,6 +230,9 @@ flow:
                         expr: "JSON.stringify(payload.results ?? []).includes(config.expectedNeedle)"
                         message:
                           expr: "`memory search missed dreaming canary for query: ${query}`"
+                    - set: recallEvidence
+                      value:
+                        expr: "[...recallEvidence, { query, results: (payload.results ?? []).map(({ path, snippet }) => ({ path, snippet })) }]"
               - set: cronRunStartedAt
                 value:
                   expr: "Date.now()"
@@ -269,6 +274,7 @@ flow:
                   - 1000
             finally:
               - call: patchConfig
+                saveAs: restoreResult
                 args:
                   - env:
                       ref: env
@@ -286,4 +292,30 @@ flow:
                 args:
                   - ref: env
                   - 60000
-      detailsExpr: "JSON.stringify({ promotedTotal: promoted.status.dreaming?.promotedTotal ?? 0, shortTermCount: promoted.status.dreaming?.shortTermCount ?? 0, phaseSignalCount: promoted.status.dreaming?.phaseSignalCount ?? 0, lightSleep: promoted.lightReport.includes('# Light Sleep'), remSleep: promoted.remReport.includes('# REM Sleep'), promotionMarkerPresent: promoted.promotedMemory.includes(promoted.promotionMarker) })"
+      detailsExpr: "JSON.stringify({ promotedTotal: promoted.status.dreaming?.promotedTotal ?? 0, shortTermCount: promoted.status.dreaming?.shortTermCount ?? 0, phaseSignalCount: promoted.status.dreaming?.phaseSignalCount ?? 0, lightSleep: promoted.lightReport.includes('# Light Sleep'), remSleep: promoted.remReport.includes('# REM Sleep'), promotionMarkerPresent: promoted.promotedMemory.includes(promoted.promotionMarker), recallEvidence, cronRun: { id: cronId, status: finishedRun.status, ts: finishedRun.ts } })"
+
+    - name: reports restored configuration and runtime readiness
+      actions:
+        - call: readConfigSnapshot
+          saveAs: restored
+          args:
+            - ref: env
+        - call: fetchJson
+          saveAs: readyz
+          args:
+            - expr: "`${env.gateway.baseUrl}/readyz`"
+        - call: env.gateway.call
+          saveAs: restoredChannels
+          args:
+            - channels.status
+            - probe: false
+              timeoutMs: 10000
+            - timeoutMs: 15000
+      detailsExpr: >-
+        JSON.stringify({ dreamingBefore: dreamingOriginal ?? null,
+          dreamingAfter: restored.config.plugins?.entries?.['memory-core']?.config?.dreaming ?? null,
+          restoreReceipt: { ok: restoreResult?.ok ?? null, noop: restoreResult?.noop ?? false,
+            restarted: restoreResult?.restarted ?? false }, readyz,
+          channels: Object.fromEntries(Object.entries(restoredChannels.channelAccounts ?? {}).map(
+            ([channel, accounts]) => [channel, accounts.map(({ accountId, running, connected,
+              lifecycle, restartPending }) => ({ accountId, running, connected, lifecycle, restartPending }))])) })
diff --git a/src/gateway/config-reload.ts b/src/gateway/config-reload.ts
index e1a5aed229e0..735d773d99d5 100644
--- a/src/gateway/config-reload.ts
+++ b/src/gateway/config-reload.ts
@@ -171,6 +171,8 @@ export function startGatewayConfigReloader(opts: {
   onRuntimeConfigCommitted?: (plan: GatewayReloadPlan, nextConfig: OpenClawConfig) => void;
   /** Publishes the resolved source-config revision accepted by the active runtime. */
   onConfigRevisionApplied?: (hash: string) => void;
+  /** Reads the same restart owner that fences publication of the applied revision. */
+  hasOutstandingGatewayRestart?: () => boolean;
   /** Retires rejected lifecycle work after any newer config transaction is accepted. */
   onConfigAccepted?: (
     nextConfig: OpenClawConfig,
@@ -464,6 +466,12 @@ export function startGatewayConfigReloader(opts: {
     authoredConfig?: unknown,
     application?: RuntimeConfigWriteApplicationClaim,
   ) => {
+    const settleRuntimeApplication = (status: GatewayHotReloadApplicationStatus = "applied") => {
+      // A watcher replay must not turn recovery-owned runtime work into a success receipt.
+      application?.settle(
+        opts.hasOutstandingGatewayRestart?.() ? "applied-restart-required" : status,
+      );
+    };
     // Reprepare against the current accepted env owner. A managed write can
     // finish preflight while another watcher transaction accepts first.
     const preparedCandidate =
@@ -690,7 +698,7 @@ export function startGatewayConfigReloader(opts: {
         publishedSource?.commit?.();
       }
       opts.onConfigRevisionApplied?.(nextConfigRevisionHash);
-      application?.settle("applied");
+      settleRuntimeApplication();
       return;
     }
 
@@ -741,7 +749,7 @@ export function startGatewayConfigReloader(opts: {
       assertCurrent();
       await appliedRevision.apply(plan, nextConfig, nextConfigRevisionHash);
       await commitReloadBaseline();
-      application?.settle("applied");
+      settleRuntimeApplication();
       return;
     }
     if (followUp.requiresRestart) {
@@ -778,7 +786,7 @@ export function startGatewayConfigReloader(opts: {
     assertCurrent();
     await appliedRevision.apply(plan, nextConfig, nextConfigRevisionHash);
     await commitReloadBaseline();
-    application?.settle(applicationStatus);
+    settleRuntimeApplication(applicationStatus);
     if (plan.reloadPlugins) {
       // The committed reload republished the metadata snapshot generation.
       markPluginMetadataRefreshApplied();
diff --git a/src/gateway/server-reload-channel-restart.ts b/src/gateway/server-reload-channel-restart.ts
index a92f309d6d87..158e1b400c30 100644
--- a/src/gateway/server-reload-channel-restart.ts
+++ b/src/gateway/server-reload-channel-restart.ts
@@ -4,12 +4,11 @@ import { formatErrorMessage } from "../infra/errors.js";
 import { requireActivePluginChannelRegistry } from "../plugins/runtime.js";
 import { withPluginRuntimeRegistryScope } from "../plugins/runtime/gateway-request-scope.js";
 import { runOutsideGatewayRootWorkAdmission } from "../process/gateway-work-admission.js";
-import type { ChannelKind } from "./config-reload-plan.js";
-import type { GatewayReloadPlan } from "./config-reload.js";
+import type { ChannelKind, GatewayReloadPlan } from "./config-reload-plan.js";
 import type { GatewayReloadHandlerParams } from "./server-reload-contracts.js";
 import { collectChannelOperationFailures } from "./server-reload-utils.js";
 
-export function startGatewayChannelFromActiveRegistry(
+function startGatewayChannelFromActiveRegistry(
   params: Pick<GatewayReloadHandlerParams, "startChannel">,
   channel: ChannelKind,
   accountId?: string,
@@ -23,6 +22,47 @@ export function startGatewayChannelFromActiveRegistry(
   );
 }
 
+export async function rollbackStoppedGatewayChannels(
+  params: Pick<GatewayReloadHandlerParams, "startChannel" | "logChannels">,
+  channels: Set<ChannelKind>,
+  accounts: Map<ChannelKind, Set<string>>,
+  reason: string,
+): Promise<string[]> {
+  const failures: string[] = [];
+  for (const [channel, accountIds] of accounts) {
+    for (const accountId of accountIds) {
+      try {
+        params.logChannels.info(`restarting ${channel} account ${accountId} after ${reason}`);
+        await startGatewayChannelFromActiveRegistry(params, channel, accountId);
+        accountIds.delete(accountId);
+      } catch (err) {
+        failures.push(`${channel}[${accountId}]`);
+        params.logChannels.error(
+          `failed to restart ${channel} account ${accountId} after ${reason}: ${formatErrorMessage(err)}`,
+        );
+      }
+    }
+    if (accountIds.size === 0) {
+      accounts.delete(channel);
+    }
+  }
+  return failures.concat(
+    await collectChannelOperationFailures({
+      channels: [...channels],
+      run: async (channel) => {
+        params.logChannels.info(`restarting ${channel} channel after ${reason}`);
+        await startGatewayChannelFromActiveRegistry(params, channel);
+        channels.delete(channel);
+      },
+      onFailure: (channel, err) => {
+        params.logChannels.error(
+          `failed to restart ${channel} channel after ${reason}: ${formatErrorMessage(err)}`,
+        );
+      },
+    }),
+  );
+}
+
 export async function restartGatewayChannels(options: {
   params: GatewayReloadHandlerParams;
   plan: GatewayReloadPlan;
@@ -34,7 +74,6 @@ export async function restartGatewayChannels(options: {
   accountsStoppedBeforePluginReload: ReadonlyMap<ChannelKind, ReadonlySet<string>>;
   shouldSkipChannelRestart: boolean;
   skipChannelRestartLogMessage: string;
-  pluginReloadAborted: boolean;
   isLifecycleReloadAborted: () => boolean;
   getChannelAutostartSuppression: () => unknown;
   channelReloadTargets: () => Set<ChannelKind>;
@@ -52,7 +91,6 @@ export async function restartGatewayChannels(options: {
     accountsStoppedBeforePluginReload,
     shouldSkipChannelRestart,
     skipChannelRestartLogMessage,
-    pluginReloadAborted,
     isLifecycleReloadAborted,
     getChannelAutostartSuppression,
     channelReloadTargets,
@@ -102,108 +140,67 @@ export async function restartGatewayChannels(options: {
     return targets;
   };
 
-  if (channelsToRestart.size > 0 || restartChannelAccounts.size > 0) {
-    if (shouldSkipChannelRestart) {
-      params.logChannels.info(skipChannelRestartLogMessage);
-    } else if (getChannelAutostartSuppression()) {
-      const cancelledByRestart = pluginReloadAborted;
-      if (cancelledByRestart) {
-        params.logChannels.info("channel restart cancelled by in-process restart");
-      } else {
-        const accountStops = collectChannelAccountTargets();
-        const accountStopFailures: string[] = [];
-        for (const [channel, accountId] of accountStops) {
-          try {
-            params.logChannels.info(
-              `stopping ${channel} account ${accountId} before suppressed hot reload`,
-            );
-            if (!wasStoppedBeforePluginReload(channel, accountId)) {
-              await params.stopChannel(channel, accountId, { manual: false });
-            }
-          } catch (err) {
-            accountStopFailures.push(`${channel}[${accountId}]`);
-            params.logChannels.error(
-              `failed to stop ${channel} account ${accountId} during suppressed hot reload: ${formatErrorMessage(err)}`,
-            );
-          }
-        }
-        const stopFailures = await collectChannelOperationFailures({
-          channels: channelsToRestart,
-          run: async (channel) => {
-            if (plan.reloadPlugins && activePluginChannelsAfterReload?.has(channel) === false) {
-              return;
-            }
-            if (channelsStoppedBeforePluginReload.has(channel)) {
-              return;
-            }
-            params.logChannels.info(`stopping ${channel} channel before suppressed hot reload`);
-            await params.stopChannel(channel, undefined, { manual: false });
-          },
-          onFailure: (channel, err) => {
-            params.logChannels.error(
-              `failed to stop ${channel} channel during suppressed hot reload: ${formatErrorMessage(
-                err,
-              )}`,
-            );
-          },
-        });
-        const allStopFailures = [...accountStopFailures, ...stopFailures];
-        if (allStopFailures.length > 0) {
-          scheduleRecoveryRestart(`channel stop (${allStopFailures.join(", ")})`);
-        }
-        logSuppressedChannelRestart(channelReloadTargets(), "channel restart during hot reload");
+  if (channelsToRestart.size === 0 && restartChannelAccounts.size === 0) {
+    return;
+  }
+  if (shouldSkipChannelRestart) {
+    params.logChannels.info(skipChannelRestartLogMessage);
+    return;
+  }
+  const suppressed = Boolean(getChannelAutostartSuppression());
+  const operation = suppressed ? "stop" : "restart";
+  const phase = suppressed ? "suppressed hot reload" : "hot reload";
+  const accountTargets = collectChannelAccountTargets();
+  const accountFailures: string[] = [];
+  for (const [channel, accountId] of accountTargets) {
+    try {
+      params.logChannels.info(
+        suppressed
+          ? `stopping ${channel} account ${accountId} before suppressed hot reload`
+          : `restarting ${channel} account ${accountId}`,
+      );
+      if (!wasStoppedBeforePluginReload(channel, accountId)) {
+        await params.stopChannel(channel, accountId, { manual: false });
       }
-    } else {
-      const cancelledByRestart = pluginReloadAborted;
-      if (cancelledByRestart) {
-        params.logChannels.info("channel restart cancelled by in-process restart");
-      } else {
-        const accountRestarts = collectChannelAccountTargets();
-        const accountRestartFailures: string[] = [];
-        for (const [channel, accountId] of accountRestarts) {
-          try {
-            params.logChannels.info(`restarting ${channel} account ${accountId}`);
-            if (!wasStoppedBeforePluginReload(channel, accountId)) {
-              await params.stopChannel(channel, accountId, { manual: false });
-            }
-            if (isLifecycleReloadAborted()) {
-              continue;
-            }
-            await startGatewayChannelFromActiveRegistry(params, channel, accountId);
-          } catch (err) {
-            accountRestartFailures.push(`${channel}[${accountId}]`);
-            params.logChannels.error(
-              `failed to restart ${channel} account ${accountId} during hot reload: ${formatErrorMessage(err)}`,
-            );
-          }
-        }
-        const restartChannel = async (name: ChannelKind) => {
-          if (plan.reloadPlugins && activePluginChannelsAfterReload?.has(name) === false) {
-            return;
-          }
-          params.logChannels.info(`restarting ${name} channel`);
-          if (!channelsStoppedBeforePluginReload.has(name)) {
-            await params.stopChannel(name, undefined, { manual: false });
-          }
-          if (isLifecycleReloadAborted()) {
-            return;
-          }
-          await startGatewayChannelFromActiveRegistry(params, name);
-        };
-        const restartFailures = await collectChannelOperationFailures({
-          channels: channelsToRestart,
-          run: restartChannel,
-          onFailure: (channel, err) => {
-            params.logChannels.error(
-              `failed to restart ${channel} channel during hot reload: ${formatErrorMessage(err)}`,
-            );
-          },
-        });
-        const allRestartFailures = [...accountRestartFailures, ...restartFailures];
-        if (allRestartFailures.length > 0) {
-          scheduleRecoveryRestart(`channel restart (${allRestartFailures.join(", ")})`);
-        }
+      if (!suppressed && !isLifecycleReloadAborted()) {
+        await startGatewayChannelFromActiveRegistry(params, channel, accountId);
       }
+    } catch (err) {
+      accountFailures.push(`${channel}[${accountId}]`);
+      params.logChannels.error(
+        `failed to ${operation} ${channel} account ${accountId} during ${phase}: ${formatErrorMessage(err)}`,
+      );
     }
   }
+  const channelFailures = await collectChannelOperationFailures({
+    channels: channelsToRestart,
+    run: async (channel) => {
+      if (plan.reloadPlugins && activePluginChannelsAfterReload?.has(channel) === false) {
+        return;
+      }
+      params.logChannels.info(
+        suppressed
+          ? `stopping ${channel} channel before suppressed hot reload`
+          : `restarting ${channel} channel`,
+      );
+      if (!channelsStoppedBeforePluginReload.has(channel)) {
+        await params.stopChannel(channel, undefined, { manual: false });
+      }
+      if (!suppressed && !isLifecycleReloadAborted()) {
+        await startGatewayChannelFromActiveRegistry(params, channel);
+      }
+    },
+    onFailure: (channel, err) => {
+      params.logChannels.error(
+        `failed to ${operation} ${channel} channel during ${phase}: ${formatErrorMessage(err)}`,
+      );
+    },
+  });
+  const failures = [...accountFailures, ...channelFailures];
+  if (failures.length > 0) {
+    scheduleRecoveryRestart(`channel ${operation} (${failures.join(", ")})`);
+  }
+  if (suppressed) {
+    logSuppressedChannelRestart(channelReloadTargets(), "channel restart during hot reload");
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/gateway/server-reload-handlers.test.ts b/src/gateway/server-reload-handlers.test.ts
index 41684bb3411a..01e152fed7f6 100644
--- a/src/gateway/server-reload-handlers.test.ts
+++ b/src/gateway/server-reload-handlers.test.ts
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ import {
 import {
   attachRuntimeConfigWriteApplication,
   createRuntimeConfigWriteApplication,
+  type RuntimeConfigWriteApplicationStatus,
 } from "../config/runtime-write-application.js";
 import type { OpenClawConfig } from "../config/types.openclaw.js";
 import { CronService } from "../cron/service.js";
@@ -60,6 +61,7 @@ import {
   setCommandLaneConcurrency,
 } from "../process/command-queue.js";
 import {
+  captureGatewayRootWorkAdmissionContinuationScope,
   getActiveGatewayRootWorkCount,
   isGatewayWorkAdmissionClosed,
   resetGatewayWorkAdmission,
@@ -6433,9 +6435,14 @@ describe("deferred channel reload abort generation", () => {
     );
   });
 
-  it.each([false, true])(
-    "cancels superseded active-work deferral (runtime committed: %s)",
-    async (committed) => {
+  it.each([
+    [false, "config"],
+    [true, "config"],
+    [false, "lifecycle"],
+    [true, "lifecycle"],
+  ] as const)(
+    "settles active-work deferral (runtime committed: %s, cancellation: %s)",
+    async (committed, cancellationKind) => {
       const logChannels = { info: vi.fn(), error: vi.fn() };
       const channels = {
         start: vi.fn(async () => {}),
@@ -6443,7 +6450,10 @@ describe("deferred channel reload abort generation", () => {
       };
       const reloadPlugins: ReloadHandlerParams["reloadPlugins"] = async (params) => {
         await params.commitRuntime();
-        return makePluginReloadResult({ restartChannels: new Set(["whatsapp"]) });
+        return makePluginReloadResult({
+          restartChannels: new Set(["whatsapp"]),
+          activeChannels: new Set(["whatsapp"]),
+        });
       };
       const { applyHotReload } = createTestHandlers(logChannels, channels, { reloadPlugins });
       hoisted.activeTaskBlockers.push(
@@ -6462,18 +6472,31 @@ describe("deferred channel reload abort generation", () => {
             publish: async (commit) => await commit(),
           },
         );
-        const cancellation = committed
-          ? GatewayHotReloadCancelledError
-          : GatewayConfigReloadSupersededError;
+        const cancellation =
+          committed || cancellationKind === "lifecycle"
+            ? GatewayHotReloadCancelledError
+            : GatewayConfigReloadSupersededError;
         const reloadError = reloadPromise.then(
           () => null,
           (error: unknown) => error,
         );
         await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(10);
 
-        transactionCurrent = false;
+        if (cancellationKind === "lifecycle") {
+          abortPendingChannelReloads();
+        } else {
+          transactionCurrent = false;
+        }
         await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(500);
         const error = await reloadError;
+        if (committed && cancellationKind === "config") {
+          expect(error).toBeNull();
+          expect(channels.stop).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+          expect(channels.start).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+          expect(hoisted.refreshPreparedModelRuntimeSnapshots).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+          expect(hoisted.rejectPendingPreparedModelRuntimeReplacement).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+          return;
+        }
         expect(error).toBeInstanceOf(cancellation);
 
         expect(channels.stop).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
@@ -6495,14 +6518,13 @@ describe("deferred channel reload abort generation", () => {
     },
   );
 
-  it.each([
-    ...(["channel", "plugin"] as const).flatMap((surface) =>
+  it.each(
+    (["channel", "plugin"] as const).flatMap((surface) =>
       (["same write", "newer content", "lifecycle stop", "publication failure"] as const).map(
         (outcome) => ({ surface, outcome }),
       ),
     ),
-    { surface: "committed plugin", outcome: "same write" } as const,
-  ])(
+  )(
     "settles a deferred $surface receipt after watcher handoff: $outcome",
     async ({ surface, outcome }) => {
       const initialConfig = {
@@ -6542,13 +6564,6 @@ describe("deferred channel reload abort generation", () => {
         );
       });
       const reloadPlugins = vi.fn<ReloadHandlerParams["reloadPlugins"]>(async (params) => {
-        if (surface === "committed plugin") {
-          await params.commitRuntime();
-          return makePluginReloadResult({
-            restartChannels: new Set(["whatsapp"]),
-            activeChannels: new Set(["whatsapp"]),
-          });
-        }
         await params.beforeReplace(new Set(["whatsapp"]));
         if (params.isAborted?.()) {
           return makePluginReloadResult({ cancelled: true });
@@ -6609,17 +6624,6 @@ describe("deferred channel reload abort generation", () => {
         await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(500);
         await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(300);
         await snapshotStarted.promise;
-        if (surface === "committed plugin") {
-          // A no-op replay cannot finish the interrupted runtime tail after commit.
-          expect(settled).toHaveBeenCalledExactlyOnceWith("failed");
-          expect(setState).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
-          expect(startChannel).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
-          snapshotGate.resolve();
-          unrelatedRequest.release();
-          await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(500);
-          await expect(application.result).resolves.toBe("failed");
-          return;
-        }
         expect(settled).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
         expect(setState).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
         expect(stopChannel).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
@@ -6677,6 +6681,146 @@ describe("deferred channel reload abort generation", () => {
     },
   );
 
+  it.each(["same watcher echo", "newer admitted write", "prepared refresh failure"] as const)(
+    "finishes committed runtime work before settling its receipt: %s",
+    async (successor) => {
+      const initialConfig: OpenClawConfig = {
+        gateway: { reload: {} },
+        channels: { whatsapp: { enabled: true, selfChatMode: false } },
+      };
+      const nextConfig: OpenClawConfig = {
+        ...initialConfig,
+        plugins: { entries: { fixture: { enabled: true } } },
+      };
+      activateSecretsRuntimeSnapshot(makePreparedSecretsSnapshot(initialConfig));
+      setActivePluginRegistry(
+        createTestRegistry([
+          {
+            pluginId: "whatsapp",
+            source: "test",
+            plugin: {
+              ...createChannelTestPluginBase({ id: "whatsapp" }),
+              reload: {
+                configPrefixes: ["channels.whatsapp.selfChatMode"],
+                noopPrefixes: ["channels.whatsapp"],
+              },
+            },
+          },
+        ]),
+      );
+      const watcher = new chokidar.FSWatcher();
+      const watch = vi.spyOn(chokidar, "watch").mockReturnValue(watcher);
+      const writeListenerRef = createConfigWriteListenerRef();
+      const channels = { start: vi.fn(async () => {}), stop: vi.fn(async () => {}) };
+      const commitTerminalConfig = vi.fn();
+      const logReload = { info: vi.fn(), warn: vi.fn(), error: vi.fn() };
+      const watchedConfig = successor === "newer admitted write" ? initialConfig : nextConfig;
+      const continuePlugin = createDeferred();
+      const requestRecoveryRestart = vi.fn(() => ({ status: "emitted" as const }));
+      let blocker: ReturnType<typeof tryBeginGatewayRootWorkAdmission> = null;
+      let successorRequest: Promise<RuntimeConfigWriteApplicationStatus> | undefined;
+      const submitWrite = (config: OpenClawConfig, hash: string, revision: number) =>
+        runWithGatewayIndependentRootWorkAdmission(async () => {
+          const application = createRuntimeConfigWriteApplication(
+            captureGatewayRootWorkAdmissionContinuationScope()?.run,
+          );
+          writeListenerRef.current!(
+            attachRuntimeConfigWriteApplication(
+              createConfigWriteNotification(config, hash, revision, "runtime", "source"),
+              application,
+            ),
+          );
+          return await application.result;
+        });
+      const reloader = startManagedGatewayConfigReloader({
+        initialConfig,
+        readSnapshot: vi.fn(async () => createValidConfigSnapshot(watchedConfig, "same-write")),
+        subscribeToWrites: captureConfigWriteListener(writeListenerRef),
+        startChannel: channels.start,
+        stopChannel: channels.stop,
+        reloadPlugins: async (params) => {
+          await params.beforeReplace(new Set(), new Map([["whatsapp", new Set(["default"])]]));
+          if (params.isAborted?.()) {
+            return makePluginReloadResult({ cancelled: true });
+          }
+          await params.commitRuntime();
+          if (params.sourceConfig === nextConfig) {
+            await continuePlugin.promise;
+          }
+          return makePluginReloadResult({ activeChannels: new Set(["whatsapp"]) });
+        },
+        commitTerminalConfig,
+        logReload,
+        requestRecoveryRestart,
+      });
+      if (successor === "prepared refresh failure") {
+        hoisted.refreshPreparedModelRuntimeSnapshots.mockRejectedValueOnce(
+          new Error("prepared runtime refresh failed"),
+        );
+      }
+      vi.useFakeTimers();
+      const request = submitWrite(nextConfig, "same-write", 1);
+
+      try {
+        await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(10);
+        expect(channels.stop).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+        blocker = tryBeginGatewayRootWorkAdmission();
+        if (!blocker) {
+          throw new Error("Expected unrelated gateway request admission");
+        }
+        continuePlugin.resolve();
+        await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(10);
+        expect(logReload.warn).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.stringContaining("deferring until"));
+        // A newer RPC remains admitted while waiting for the queued successor reload.
+        // The committed tail must not wait for that request to finish first.
+        if (successor === "newer admitted write") {
+          successorRequest = submitWrite(initialConfig, "newer-write", 2);
+        } else {
+          watcher.emit("change", "/tmp/openclaw.json");
+        }
+        await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(500);
+        blocker.release();
+        await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(1_000);
+        await expect(request).resolves.toBe(
+          successor === "prepared refresh failure"
+            ? "applied-restart-required"
+            : successor === "newer admitted write"
+              ? "superseded"
+              : "applied",
+        );
+        if (successor === "prepared refresh failure") {
+          expect(channels.stop).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+          expect(channels.start).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+          expect(requestRecoveryRestart).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+          expect(hoisted.rejectPendingPreparedModelRuntimeReplacement).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+        } else {
+          const reloadCount = successorRequest ? 2 : 1;
+          expect(channels.stop).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(reloadCount);
+          expect(channels.start).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(reloadCount);
+          expect(hoisted.refreshPreparedModelRuntimeSnapshots).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+            nextConfig,
+            expect.anything(),
+          );
+          expect(hoisted.rejectPendingPreparedModelRuntimeReplacement).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+          expect(commitTerminalConfig).toHaveBeenCalledWith(nextConfig);
+          if (successorRequest) {
+            await expect(successorRequest).resolves.toBe("applied");
+            expect(commitTerminalConfig).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith(initialConfig);
+          }
+        }
+        expect(getActiveSecretsRuntimeSnapshot()?.sourceConfig).toEqual(watchedConfig);
+        expect(logReload.error).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+      } finally {
+        continuePlugin.resolve();
+        blocker?.release();
+        await reloader.stop();
+        await request;
+        await successorRequest;
+        watch.mockRestore();
+      }
+    },
+  );
+
   it("new reload lifecycle is not affected by a previous lifecycle abort", async () => {
     const logChannels = { info: vi.fn(), error: vi.fn() };
     const channels = {
diff --git a/src/gateway/server-reload-hot.ts b/src/gateway/server-reload-hot.ts
index 128a9f40905b..e85bf2fd3b92 100644
--- a/src/gateway/server-reload-hot.ts
+++ b/src/gateway/server-reload-hot.ts
@@ -12,19 +12,18 @@ import { isTruthyEnvValue } from "../infra/env.js";
 import { formatErrorMessage } from "../infra/errors.js";
 import { resetDirectoryCache } from "../infra/outbound/target-resolver.js";
 import { setGatewaySigusr1RestartPolicy } from "../infra/restart.js";
-import type { ChannelKind } from "./config-reload-plan.js";
+import type { ChannelKind, GatewayReloadPlan } from "./config-reload-plan.js";
 import {
   shouldRefreshContextWindowCache,
   shouldRewarmProviderAuthState,
 } from "./config-reload-recovery.js";
-import type { GatewayReloadPlan } from "./config-reload.js";
 import { commitHooksConfigReload, resolveHooksConfig } from "./hooks.js";
 import { buildGatewayCronService, type GatewayCronExitWatcherHandoff } from "./server-cron.js";
 import { applyGatewayLaneConcurrency, resolveGatewayLaneConcurrency } from "./server-lanes.js";
 import { createGatewayActiveWorkTracker } from "./server-reload-active-work.js";
 import {
   restartGatewayChannels,
-  startGatewayChannelFromActiveRegistry,
+  rollbackStoppedGatewayChannels,
 } from "./server-reload-channel-restart.js";
 import {
   assertReloadPublicationCurrent,
@@ -365,45 +364,13 @@ export function createGatewayReloadHandlers(params: GatewayReloadHandlerParams)
       }
     };
     if (plan.reloadPlugins) {
-      const restartStoppedPluginAccounts = async (reason: string): Promise<string[]> => {
-        const failures: string[] = [];
-        for (const [channel, accountIds] of accountsStoppedBeforePluginReload) {
-          for (const accountId of accountIds) {
-            try {
-              params.logChannels.info(`restarting ${channel} account ${accountId} after ${reason}`);
-              await startGatewayChannelFromActiveRegistry(params, channel, accountId);
-              accountIds.delete(accountId);
-            } catch (err) {
-              failures.push(`${channel}[${accountId}]`);
-              params.logChannels.error(
-                `failed to restart ${channel} account ${accountId} after ${reason}: ${formatErrorMessage(err)}`,
-              );
-            }
-          }
-          if (accountIds.size === 0) {
-            accountsStoppedBeforePluginReload.delete(channel);
-          }
-        }
-        return failures;
-      };
-      const restartStoppedPluginChannels = async (reason: string) =>
-        await collectChannelOperationFailures({
-          channels: [...channelsStoppedBeforePluginReload],
-          run: async (channel) => {
-            params.logChannels.info(`restarting ${channel} channel after ${reason}`);
-            await startGatewayChannelFromActiveRegistry(params, channel);
-            channelsStoppedBeforePluginReload.delete(channel);
-          },
-          onFailure: (channel, err) => {
-            params.logChannels.error(
-              `failed to restart ${channel} channel after ${reason}: ${formatErrorMessage(err)}`,
-            );
-          },
-        });
-      const rollbackStoppedPluginTargets = async (reason: string): Promise<string[]> => [
-        ...(await restartStoppedPluginAccounts(reason)),
-        ...(await restartStoppedPluginChannels(reason)),
-      ];
+      const rollbackStoppedPluginTargets = (reason: string) =>
+        rollbackStoppedGatewayChannels(
+          params,
+          channelsStoppedBeforePluginReload,
+          accountsStoppedBeforePluginReload,
+          reason,
+        );
       const failPluginChannelRollback = (reason: string, failures: string[]): never => {
         const error = new Error(
           `plugin reload cancellation rollback failed for: ${failures.join(", ")}`,
@@ -590,7 +557,12 @@ export function createGatewayReloadHandlers(params: GatewayReloadHandlerParams)
     // Plugin replacement can admit new agent work while an account monitor stays live.
     // Recheck that work here; durable ingress replay remains owned by the fresh monitor drain.
     if (!pluginReloadAborted && hasLiveChannelTargets && !shouldSkipChannelRestart) {
-      pluginReloadAborted = await waitForActiveWorkBeforeChannelReload(channelTargets, isCurrent);
+      const waitCancelled = await waitForActiveWorkBeforeChannelReload(channelTargets, isCurrent);
+      // A committed owner must finish its model/channel tail before the next config runs.
+      // Supersession ends this wait: a newer writer may itself be awaiting that next reload.
+      pluginReloadAborted =
+        waitCancelled &&
+        (!runtimeCommitted || isRestartRetryStopped() || isLifecycleReloadAborted());
     }
     if (pluginReloadAborted) {
       // Only an uncommitted reload can transfer its receipt to the watcher. After
@@ -690,7 +662,6 @@ export function createGatewayReloadHandlers(params: GatewayReloadHandlerParams)
       shouldSkipChannelRestart,
       skipChannelRestartLogMessage:
         "skipping channel reload (OPENCLAW_SKIP_CHANNELS=1 or OPENCLAW_SKIP_PROVIDERS=1)",
-      pluginReloadAborted,
       isLifecycleReloadAborted,
       getChannelAutostartSuppression,
       channelReloadTargets,
diff --git a/src/gateway/server-reload-managed.ts b/src/gateway/server-reload-managed.ts
index ac96c8198756..64fadc0bcb33 100644
--- a/src/gateway/server-reload-managed.ts
+++ b/src/gateway/server-reload-managed.ts
@@ -133,6 +133,7 @@ export function startManagedGatewayConfigReloader(
     applyHotReload,
     acceptRestartConfig,
     beginGatewayRestartLifecycle,
+    hasOutstandingGatewayRestart,
     pauseGatewayRestartForConfigCandidate,
     publishAppliedConfigHash,
     publishAcceptedRestartTarget,
@@ -489,6 +490,7 @@ export function startManagedGatewayConfigReloader(
       params.commitTerminalConfig(nextConfig);
     },
     onConfigRevisionApplied: publishAppliedConfigHash,
+    hasOutstandingGatewayRestart,
     onEffectiveConfigUnchanged,
     onNoopConfigCommit: async (plan, nextConfig, ownership, sourceConfig) => {
       // Cleared per transaction so a rebuild can never inherit a config committed