diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 54a67b8a5a8..0e61358e91e 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ Docs: https://docs.openclaw.ai
 
 - Browser/existing-session: accept text-only `list_pages` and `new_page` responses from Chrome DevTools MCP so live-session tab discovery and new-tab open flows keep working when the server omits structured page metadata.
 - Ollama/reasoning visibility: stop promoting native `thinking` and `reasoning` fields into final assistant text so local reasoning models no longer leak internal thoughts in normal replies. (#45330) Thanks @xi7ang.
+- Cron/isolated sessions: route nested cron-triggered embedded runner work onto the nested lane so isolated cron jobs no longer deadlock when compaction or other queued inner work runs. Thanks @vincentkoc.
 - Windows/gateway install: bound `schtasks` calls and fall back to the Startup-folder login item when task creation hangs, so native `openclaw gateway install` fails fast instead of wedging forever on broken Scheduled Task setups.
 - Windows/gateway auth: stop attaching device identity on local loopback shared-token and password gateway calls, so native Windows agent replies no longer log stale `device signature expired` fallback noise before succeeding.
 - Telegram/media downloads: thread the same direct or proxy transport policy into SSRF-guarded file fetches so inbound attachments keep working when Telegram falls back between env-proxy and direct networking. (#44639) Thanks @obviyus.
diff --git a/src/agents/pi-embedded-runner/lanes.test.ts b/src/agents/pi-embedded-runner/lanes.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..f3625ddc6ec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/agents/pi-embedded-runner/lanes.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import { CommandLane } from "../../process/lanes.js";
+import { resolveGlobalLane, resolveSessionLane } from "./lanes.js";
+
+describe("resolveGlobalLane", () => {
+  it("defaults to main lane when no lane is provided", () => {
+    expect(resolveGlobalLane()).toBe(CommandLane.Main);
+    expect(resolveGlobalLane("")).toBe(CommandLane.Main);
+    expect(resolveGlobalLane("  ")).toBe(CommandLane.Main);
+  });
+
+  it("maps cron lane to nested lane to prevent deadlocks", () => {
+    // When cron jobs trigger nested agent runs, the outer execution holds
+    // the cron lane slot. Inner work must use a separate lane to avoid
+    // deadlock. See: https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/issues/44805
+    expect(resolveGlobalLane("cron")).toBe(CommandLane.Nested);
+    expect(resolveGlobalLane("  cron  ")).toBe(CommandLane.Nested);
+  });
+
+  it("preserves other lanes as-is", () => {
+    expect(resolveGlobalLane("main")).toBe(CommandLane.Main);
+    expect(resolveGlobalLane("subagent")).toBe(CommandLane.Subagent);
+    expect(resolveGlobalLane("nested")).toBe(CommandLane.Nested);
+    expect(resolveGlobalLane("custom-lane")).toBe("custom-lane");
+    expect(resolveGlobalLane(" custom ")).toBe("custom");
+  });
+});
+
+describe("resolveSessionLane", () => {
+  it("defaults to main lane and prefixes with session:", () => {
+    expect(resolveSessionLane("")).toBe("session:main");
+    expect(resolveSessionLane("  ")).toBe("session:main");
+  });
+
+  it("adds session: prefix if not present", () => {
+    expect(resolveSessionLane("abc123")).toBe("session:abc123");
+    expect(resolveSessionLane(" xyz ")).toBe("session:xyz");
+  });
+
+  it("preserves existing session: prefix", () => {
+    expect(resolveSessionLane("session:abc")).toBe("session:abc");
+    expect(resolveSessionLane("session:main")).toBe("session:main");
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/agents/pi-embedded-runner/lanes.ts b/src/agents/pi-embedded-runner/lanes.ts
index 81b742ded9f..57ffd1b4255 100644
--- a/src/agents/pi-embedded-runner/lanes.ts
+++ b/src/agents/pi-embedded-runner/lanes.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@ export function resolveSessionLane(key: string) {
 
 export function resolveGlobalLane(lane?: string) {
   const cleaned = lane?.trim();
+  // Cron jobs hold the cron lane slot; inner operations must use nested to avoid deadlock.
+  if (cleaned === CommandLane.Cron) {
+    return CommandLane.Nested;
+  }
   return cleaned ? cleaned : CommandLane.Main;
 }