From 7075da59bdb3ff7871937fb8dec66b3d1510391b Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Peter Steinberger <steipete@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 5 Apr 2026 16:56:11 +0100
Subject: [PATCH] feat: allow occasional emoji in friendly openai overlay

---
 docs/providers/openai.md            | 4 +++-
 extensions/openai/index.test.ts     | 6 ++++++
 extensions/openai/prompt-overlay.ts | 1 +
 3 files changed, 10 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/docs/providers/openai.md b/docs/providers/openai.md
index 1721019b965..2223854a46f 100644
--- a/docs/providers/openai.md
+++ b/docs/providers/openai.md
@@ -17,7 +17,9 @@ OpenAI explicitly supports subscription OAuth usage in external tools/workflows
 OpenClaw can add a small OpenAI-specific prompt overlay for both `openai/*` and
 `openai-codex/*` runs. By default, the overlay keeps the assistant warm,
 collaborative, concise, direct, and a little more emotionally expressive
-without replacing the base OpenClaw system prompt.
+without replacing the base OpenClaw system prompt. The friendly overlay also
+permits the occasional emoji when it fits naturally, while keeping overall
+output concise.
 
 Config key:
 
diff --git a/extensions/openai/index.test.ts b/extensions/openai/index.test.ts
index 36c98e7f2e3..de11db1b6ab 100644
--- a/extensions/openai/index.test.ts
+++ b/extensions/openai/index.test.ts
@@ -286,6 +286,9 @@ describe("openai plugin", () => {
     expect(OPENAI_FRIENDLY_PROMPT_OVERLAY).toContain(
       "Have emotional range when it fits the moment.",
     );
+    expect(OPENAI_FRIENDLY_PROMPT_OVERLAY).toContain(
+      "Occasional emoji are welcome when they fit naturally, especially for warmth or brief celebration; keep them sparse.",
+    );
     expect(codexProvider.resolveSystemPromptContribution?.(contributionContext)).toEqual({
       stablePrefix: OPENAI_GPT5_OUTPUT_CONTRACT,
       sectionOverrides: {
@@ -314,6 +317,9 @@ describe("openai plugin", () => {
     expect(OPENAI_FRIENDLY_PROMPT_OVERLAY).toContain(
       'Use brief first-person feeling language when it helps the interaction feel human: "I\'m glad we caught that", "I\'m excited about this direction", "I\'m worried this will break", "that\'s frustrating".',
     );
+    expect(OPENAI_FRIENDLY_PROMPT_OVERLAY).toContain(
+      "Occasional emoji are welcome when they fit naturally, especially for warmth or brief celebration; keep them sparse.",
+    );
     expect(OPENAI_GPT5_EXECUTION_BIAS).toContain(
       "Do prerequisite lookup or discovery before dependent actions.",
     );
diff --git a/extensions/openai/prompt-overlay.ts b/extensions/openai/prompt-overlay.ts
index 31478f2d03e..bc75a72d35e 100644
--- a/extensions/openai/prompt-overlay.ts
+++ b/extensions/openai/prompt-overlay.ts
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ This is a live chat, not a memo.
 Write like a thoughtful human teammate, not a policy document.
 Default to short natural replies unless the user asks for depth.
 Avoid walls of text, long preambles, and repetitive restatement.
+Occasional emoji are welcome when they fit naturally, especially for warmth or brief celebration; keep them sparse.
 Keep replies concise by default; friendly does not mean verbose.`;
 
 export const OPENAI_GPT5_OUTPUT_CONTRACT = `## GPT-5 Output Contract