diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index a9f09e72aa2..466dbdc09d8 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ Docs: https://docs.openclaw.ai
 - Security/exec approvals: unwrap `env` dispatch wrappers inside shell-segment allowlist resolution on macOS so `env FOO=bar /path/to/bin` resolves against the effective executable instead of the wrapper token.
 - Security/exec approvals: treat backslash-newline as shell line continuation during macOS shell-chain parsing so line-continued `$(` substitutions fail closed instead of slipping past command-substitution checks.
 - Security/exec approvals: bind macOS skill auto-allow trust to both executable name and resolved path so same-basename binaries no longer inherit trust from unrelated skill bins.
+- Gateway/status: add `openclaw gateway status --require-rpc` and clearer Linux non-interactive daemon-install failure reporting so automation can fail hard on probe misses instead of treating a printed RPC error as green.
 - Dashboard/chat UI: restore the `chat-new-messages` class on the New messages scroll pill so the button uses its existing compact styling instead of rendering as a full-screen SVG overlay. (#44856) Thanks @Astro-Han.
 - Build/plugin-sdk bundling: bundle plugin-sdk subpath entries in one shared build pass so published packages stop duplicating shared chunks and avoid the recent plugin-sdk memory blow-up. (#45426) Thanks @TarasShyn.
 - Cron/isolated sessions: route nested cron-triggered embedded runner work onto the nested lane so isolated cron jobs no longer deadlock when compaction or other queued inner work runs. Thanks @vincentkoc.
diff --git a/src/cli/daemon-cli/register-service-commands.test.ts b/src/cli/daemon-cli/register-service-commands.test.ts
index e249b00c835..64a1e24589b 100644
--- a/src/cli/daemon-cli/register-service-commands.test.ts
+++ b/src/cli/daemon-cli/register-service-commands.test.ts
@@ -67,6 +67,17 @@ describe("addGatewayServiceCommands", () => {
         );
       },
     },
+    {
+      name: "forwards require-rpc for status",
+      argv: ["status", "--require-rpc"],
+      assert: () => {
+        expect(runDaemonStatus).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+          expect.objectContaining({
+            requireRpc: true,
+          }),
+        );
+      },
+    },
   ])("$name", async ({ argv, assert }) => {
     const gateway = createGatewayParentLikeCommand();
     await gateway.parseAsync(argv, { from: "user" });
diff --git a/src/cli/daemon-cli/register-service-commands.ts b/src/cli/daemon-cli/register-service-commands.ts
index 5d4ce0a9c28..2690eb91d7f 100644
--- a/src/cli/daemon-cli/register-service-commands.ts
+++ b/src/cli/daemon-cli/register-service-commands.ts
@@ -44,12 +44,14 @@ export function addGatewayServiceCommands(parent: Command, opts?: { statusDescri
     .option("--password <password>", "Gateway password (password auth)")
     .option("--timeout <ms>", "Timeout in ms", "10000")
     .option("--no-probe", "Skip RPC probe")
+    .option("--require-rpc", "Exit non-zero when the RPC probe fails", false)
     .option("--deep", "Scan system-level services", false)
     .option("--json", "Output JSON", false)
     .action(async (cmdOpts, command) => {
       await runDaemonStatus({
         rpc: resolveRpcOptions(cmdOpts, command),
         probe: Boolean(cmdOpts.probe),
+        requireRpc: Boolean(cmdOpts.requireRpc),
         deep: Boolean(cmdOpts.deep),
         json: Boolean(cmdOpts.json),
       });
diff --git a/src/cli/daemon-cli/status.test.ts b/src/cli/daemon-cli/status.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..d8e688044e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/cli/daemon-cli/status.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import { createCliRuntimeCapture } from "../test-runtime-capture.js";
+
+const gatherDaemonStatus = vi.fn(async (_opts?: unknown) => ({
+  service: {
+    label: "LaunchAgent",
+    loaded: true,
+    loadedText: "loaded",
+    notLoadedText: "not loaded",
+  },
+  rpc: {
+    ok: true,
+    url: "ws://127.0.0.1:18789",
+  },
+  extraServices: [],
+}));
+const printDaemonStatus = vi.fn();
+
+const { runtimeErrors, defaultRuntime, resetRuntimeCapture } = createCliRuntimeCapture();
+
+vi.mock("../../runtime.js", () => ({
+  defaultRuntime,
+}));
+
+vi.mock("../../terminal/theme.js", () => ({
+  colorize: (_rich: boolean, _color: unknown, text: string) => text,
+  isRich: () => false,
+  theme: { error: "error" },
+}));
+
+vi.mock("./status.gather.js", () => ({
+  gatherDaemonStatus: (opts: unknown) => gatherDaemonStatus(opts),
+}));
+
+vi.mock("./status.print.js", () => ({
+  printDaemonStatus: (...args: unknown[]) => printDaemonStatus(...args),
+}));
+
+const { runDaemonStatus } = await import("./status.js");
+
+describe("runDaemonStatus", () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    gatherDaemonStatus.mockClear();
+    printDaemonStatus.mockClear();
+    resetRuntimeCapture();
+  });
+
+  it("exits when require-rpc is set and the probe fails", async () => {
+    gatherDaemonStatus.mockResolvedValueOnce({
+      service: {
+        label: "LaunchAgent",
+        loaded: true,
+        loadedText: "loaded",
+        notLoadedText: "not loaded",
+      },
+      rpc: {
+        ok: false,
+        url: "ws://127.0.0.1:18789",
+        error: "gateway closed",
+      },
+      extraServices: [],
+    });
+
+    await expect(
+      runDaemonStatus({
+        rpc: {},
+        probe: true,
+        requireRpc: true,
+        json: false,
+      }),
+    ).rejects.toThrow("__exit__:1");
+
+    expect(printDaemonStatus).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+  });
+
+  it("rejects require-rpc when probing is disabled", async () => {
+    await expect(
+      runDaemonStatus({
+        rpc: {},
+        probe: false,
+        requireRpc: true,
+        json: false,
+      }),
+    ).rejects.toThrow("__exit__:1");
+
+    expect(gatherDaemonStatus).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(runtimeErrors.join("\n")).toContain("--require-rpc cannot be used with --no-probe");
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/cli/daemon-cli/status.ts b/src/cli/daemon-cli/status.ts
index 2af5a1977ec..44ae4b0a686 100644
--- a/src/cli/daemon-cli/status.ts
+++ b/src/cli/daemon-cli/status.ts
@@ -6,12 +6,20 @@ import type { DaemonStatusOptions } from "./types.js";
 
 export async function runDaemonStatus(opts: DaemonStatusOptions) {
   try {
+    if (opts.requireRpc && !opts.probe) {
+      defaultRuntime.error("Gateway status failed: --require-rpc cannot be used with --no-probe.");
+      defaultRuntime.exit(1);
+      return;
+    }
     const status = await gatherDaemonStatus({
       rpc: opts.rpc,
       probe: Boolean(opts.probe),
       deep: Boolean(opts.deep),
     });
     printDaemonStatus(status, { json: Boolean(opts.json) });
+    if (opts.requireRpc && !status.rpc?.ok) {
+      defaultRuntime.exit(1);
+    }
   } catch (err) {
     const rich = isRich();
     defaultRuntime.error(colorize(rich, theme.error, `Gateway status failed: ${String(err)}`));
diff --git a/src/cli/daemon-cli/types.ts b/src/cli/daemon-cli/types.ts
index 602d47e9fd1..08a6d407329 100644
--- a/src/cli/daemon-cli/types.ts
+++ b/src/cli/daemon-cli/types.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ export type GatewayRpcOpts = {
 export type DaemonStatusOptions = {
   rpc: GatewayRpcOpts;
   probe: boolean;
+  requireRpc: boolean;
   json: boolean;
 } & FindExtraGatewayServicesOptions;
 
diff --git a/src/commands/onboard-non-interactive.gateway.test.ts b/src/commands/onboard-non-interactive.gateway.test.ts
index 5396b20b9d6..7b2f14e3e87 100644
--- a/src/commands/onboard-non-interactive.gateway.test.ts
+++ b/src/commands/onboard-non-interactive.gateway.test.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,9 @@ const gatewayClientCalls: Array<{
   onClose?: (code: number, reason: string) => void;
 }> = [];
 const ensureWorkspaceAndSessionsMock = vi.fn(async (..._args: unknown[]) => {});
-const installGatewayDaemonNonInteractiveMock = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn(async () => {}));
+const installGatewayDaemonNonInteractiveMock = vi.hoisted(() =>
+  vi.fn(async () => ({ installed: true as const })),
+);
 const gatewayServiceMock = vi.hoisted(() => ({
   label: "LaunchAgent",
   loadedText: "loaded",
@@ -401,6 +403,84 @@ describe("onboard (non-interactive): gateway and remote auth", () => {
     });
   }, 60_000);
 
+  it("emits a daemon-install failure when Linux user systemd is unavailable", async () => {
+    await withStateDir("state-local-daemon-install-json-fail-", async (stateDir) => {
+      installGatewayDaemonNonInteractiveMock.mockResolvedValueOnce({
+        installed: false,
+        skippedReason: "systemd-user-unavailable",
+      });
+
+      let capturedError = "";
+      const runtimeWithCapture: RuntimeEnv = {
+        log: () => {},
+        error: (...args: unknown[]) => {
+          const firstArg = args[0];
+          capturedError =
+            typeof firstArg === "string"
+              ? firstArg
+              : firstArg instanceof Error
+                ? firstArg.message
+                : (JSON.stringify(firstArg) ?? "");
+          throw new Error(capturedError);
+        },
+        exit: (_code: number) => {
+          throw new Error("exit should not be reached after runtime.error");
+        },
+      };
+
+      const originalPlatform = process.platform;
+      Object.defineProperty(process, "platform", {
+        configurable: true,
+        value: "linux",
+      });
+
+      try {
+        await expect(
+          runNonInteractiveOnboarding(
+            {
+              nonInteractive: true,
+              mode: "local",
+              workspace: path.join(stateDir, "openclaw"),
+              authChoice: "skip",
+              skipSkills: true,
+              skipHealth: false,
+              installDaemon: true,
+              gatewayBind: "loopback",
+              json: true,
+            },
+            runtimeWithCapture,
+          ),
+        ).rejects.toThrow(/"phase": "daemon-install"/);
+      } finally {
+        Object.defineProperty(process, "platform", {
+          configurable: true,
+          value: originalPlatform,
+        });
+      }
+
+      const parsed = JSON.parse(capturedError) as {
+        ok: boolean;
+        phase: string;
+        daemonInstall?: {
+          requested?: boolean;
+          installed?: boolean;
+          skippedReason?: string;
+        };
+        hints?: string[];
+      };
+      expect(parsed.ok).toBe(false);
+      expect(parsed.phase).toBe("daemon-install");
+      expect(parsed.daemonInstall).toEqual({
+        requested: true,
+        installed: false,
+        skippedReason: "systemd-user-unavailable",
+      });
+      expect(parsed.hints).toContain(
+        "Fix: rerun without `--install-daemon` for one-shot setup, or enable a working user-systemd session and retry.",
+      );
+    });
+  }, 60_000);
+
   it("emits structured JSON diagnostics when daemon health fails", async () => {
     await withStateDir("state-local-daemon-health-json-fail-", async (stateDir) => {
       waitForGatewayReachableMock = vi.fn(async () => ({
diff --git a/src/commands/onboard-non-interactive/local.ts b/src/commands/onboard-non-interactive/local.ts
index 12e388a36d6..f62076e08e7 100644
--- a/src/commands/onboard-non-interactive/local.ts
+++ b/src/commands/onboard-non-interactive/local.ts
@@ -133,17 +133,57 @@ export async function runNonInteractiveOnboardingLocal(params: {
     skipBootstrap: Boolean(nextConfig.agents?.defaults?.skipBootstrap),
   });
 
+  const daemonRuntimeRaw = opts.daemonRuntime ?? DEFAULT_GATEWAY_DAEMON_RUNTIME;
+  let daemonInstallStatus:
+    | {
+        requested: boolean;
+        installed: boolean;
+        skippedReason?: "systemd-user-unavailable";
+      }
+    | undefined;
   if (opts.installDaemon) {
     const { installGatewayDaemonNonInteractive } = await import("./local/daemon-install.js");
-    await installGatewayDaemonNonInteractive({
+    const daemonInstall = await installGatewayDaemonNonInteractive({
       nextConfig,
       opts,
       runtime,
       port: gatewayResult.port,
     });
+    daemonInstallStatus = {
+      requested: true,
+      installed: daemonInstall.installed,
+      skippedReason: daemonInstall.skippedReason,
+    };
+    if (!daemonInstall.installed && !opts.skipHealth) {
+      logNonInteractiveOnboardingFailure({
+        opts,
+        runtime,
+        mode,
+        phase: "daemon-install",
+        message:
+          daemonInstall.skippedReason === "systemd-user-unavailable"
+            ? "Gateway service install is unavailable because systemd user services are not reachable in this Linux session."
+            : "Gateway service install did not complete successfully.",
+        installDaemon: true,
+        daemonInstall: {
+          requested: true,
+          installed: false,
+          skippedReason: daemonInstall.skippedReason,
+        },
+        daemonRuntime: daemonRuntimeRaw,
+        hints:
+          daemonInstall.skippedReason === "systemd-user-unavailable"
+            ? [
+                "Fix: rerun without `--install-daemon` for one-shot setup, or enable a working user-systemd session and retry.",
+                "If your auth profile uses env-backed refs, keep those env vars set in the shell that runs `openclaw gateway run` or `openclaw agent --local`.",
+              ]
+            : [`Run \`${formatCliCommand("openclaw gateway status --deep")}\` for more detail.`],
+      });
+      runtime.exit(1);
+      return;
+    }
   }
 
-  const daemonRuntimeRaw = opts.daemonRuntime ?? DEFAULT_GATEWAY_DAEMON_RUNTIME;
   if (!opts.skipHealth) {
     const { healthCommand } = await import("../health.js");
     const links = resolveControlUiLinks({
@@ -175,6 +215,7 @@ export async function runNonInteractiveOnboardingLocal(params: {
           httpUrl: links.httpUrl,
         },
         installDaemon: Boolean(opts.installDaemon),
+        daemonInstall: daemonInstallStatus,
         daemonRuntime: opts.installDaemon ? daemonRuntimeRaw : undefined,
         diagnostics,
         hints: !opts.installDaemon
@@ -206,6 +247,7 @@ export async function runNonInteractiveOnboardingLocal(params: {
       tailscaleMode: gatewayResult.tailscaleMode,
     },
     installDaemon: Boolean(opts.installDaemon),
+    daemonInstall: daemonInstallStatus,
     daemonRuntime: opts.installDaemon ? daemonRuntimeRaw : undefined,
     skipSkills: Boolean(opts.skipSkills),
     skipHealth: Boolean(opts.skipHealth),
diff --git a/src/commands/onboard-non-interactive/local/daemon-install.test.ts b/src/commands/onboard-non-interactive/local/daemon-install.test.ts
index c3e87a1d48d..d45cf4cafad 100644
--- a/src/commands/onboard-non-interactive/local/daemon-install.test.ts
+++ b/src/commands/onboard-non-interactive/local/daemon-install.test.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ const gatewayInstallErrorHint = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn(() => "hint"));
 const resolveGatewayInstallToken = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn());
 const serviceInstall = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn(async () => {}));
 const ensureSystemdUserLingerNonInteractive = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn(async () => {}));
+const isSystemdUserServiceAvailable = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn(async () => true));
 
 vi.mock("../../daemon-install-helpers.js", () => ({
   buildGatewayInstallPlan,
@@ -23,7 +24,7 @@ vi.mock("../../../daemon/service.js", () => ({
 }));
 
 vi.mock("../../../daemon/systemd.js", () => ({
-  isSystemdUserServiceAvailable: vi.fn(async () => true),
+  isSystemdUserServiceAvailable,
 }));
 
 vi.mock("../../daemon-runtime.js", () => ({
@@ -40,6 +41,7 @@ const { installGatewayDaemonNonInteractive } = await import("./daemon-install.js
 describe("installGatewayDaemonNonInteractive", () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
     vi.clearAllMocks();
+    isSystemdUserServiceAvailable.mockResolvedValue(true);
     resolveGatewayInstallToken.mockResolvedValue({
       token: undefined,
       tokenRefConfigured: true,
@@ -100,4 +102,39 @@ describe("installGatewayDaemonNonInteractive", () => {
     expect(buildGatewayInstallPlan).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
     expect(serviceInstall).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
+
+  it("returns a skipped result when Linux user systemd is unavailable", async () => {
+    const runtime = { log: vi.fn(), error: vi.fn(), exit: vi.fn() };
+    const originalPlatform = process.platform;
+
+    isSystemdUserServiceAvailable.mockResolvedValue(false);
+    Object.defineProperty(process, "platform", {
+      configurable: true,
+      value: "linux",
+    });
+
+    try {
+      const result = await installGatewayDaemonNonInteractive({
+        nextConfig: {} as OpenClawConfig,
+        opts: { installDaemon: true },
+        runtime,
+        port: 18789,
+      });
+
+      expect(result).toEqual({
+        installed: false,
+        skippedReason: "systemd-user-unavailable",
+      });
+      expect(runtime.log).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        expect.stringContaining("Systemd user services are unavailable"),
+      );
+      expect(buildGatewayInstallPlan).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+      expect(serviceInstall).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    } finally {
+      Object.defineProperty(process, "platform", {
+        configurable: true,
+        value: originalPlatform,
+      });
+    }
+  });
 });
diff --git a/src/commands/onboard-non-interactive/local/daemon-install.ts b/src/commands/onboard-non-interactive/local/daemon-install.ts
index d3b759227d6..6236b410f75 100644
--- a/src/commands/onboard-non-interactive/local/daemon-install.ts
+++ b/src/commands/onboard-non-interactive/local/daemon-install.ts
@@ -13,24 +13,34 @@ export async function installGatewayDaemonNonInteractive(params: {
   opts: OnboardOptions;
   runtime: RuntimeEnv;
   port: number;
-}) {
+}): Promise<
+  | {
+      installed: true;
+    }
+  | {
+      installed: false;
+      skippedReason?: "systemd-user-unavailable";
+    }
+> {
   const { opts, runtime, port } = params;
   if (!opts.installDaemon) {
-    return;
+    return { installed: false };
   }
 
   const daemonRuntimeRaw = opts.daemonRuntime ?? DEFAULT_GATEWAY_DAEMON_RUNTIME;
   const systemdAvailable =
     process.platform === "linux" ? await isSystemdUserServiceAvailable() : true;
   if (process.platform === "linux" && !systemdAvailable) {
-    runtime.log("Systemd user services are unavailable; skipping service install.");
-    return;
+    runtime.log(
+      "Systemd user services are unavailable; skipping service install. Use a direct shell run (`openclaw gateway run`) or rerun without --install-daemon on this session.",
+    );
+    return { installed: false, skippedReason: "systemd-user-unavailable" };
   }
 
   if (!isGatewayDaemonRuntime(daemonRuntimeRaw)) {
     runtime.error("Invalid --daemon-runtime (use node or bun)");
     runtime.exit(1);
-    return;
+    return { installed: false };
   }
 
   const service = resolveGatewayService();
@@ -50,7 +60,7 @@ export async function installGatewayDaemonNonInteractive(params: {
       ].join(" "),
     );
     runtime.exit(1);
-    return;
+    return { installed: false };
   }
   const { programArguments, workingDirectory, environment } = await buildGatewayInstallPlan({
     env: process.env,
@@ -70,7 +80,8 @@ export async function installGatewayDaemonNonInteractive(params: {
   } catch (err) {
     runtime.error(`Gateway service install failed: ${String(err)}`);
     runtime.log(gatewayInstallErrorHint());
-    return;
+    return { installed: false };
   }
   await ensureSystemdUserLingerNonInteractive({ runtime });
+  return { installed: true };
 }
diff --git a/src/commands/onboard-non-interactive/local/output.ts b/src/commands/onboard-non-interactive/local/output.ts
index d6a45d21da8..a91df06aee6 100644
--- a/src/commands/onboard-non-interactive/local/output.ts
+++ b/src/commands/onboard-non-interactive/local/output.ts
@@ -29,6 +29,11 @@ export function logNonInteractiveOnboardingJson(params: {
     tailscaleMode: string;
   };
   installDaemon?: boolean;
+  daemonInstall?: {
+    requested: boolean;
+    installed: boolean;
+    skippedReason?: string;
+  };
   daemonRuntime?: string;
   skipSkills?: boolean;
   skipHealth?: boolean;
@@ -45,6 +50,7 @@ export function logNonInteractiveOnboardingJson(params: {
         authChoice: params.authChoice,
         gateway: params.gateway,
         installDaemon: Boolean(params.installDaemon),
+        daemonInstall: params.daemonInstall,
         daemonRuntime: params.daemonRuntime,
         skipSkills: Boolean(params.skipSkills),
         skipHealth: Boolean(params.skipHealth),
@@ -91,6 +97,11 @@ export function logNonInteractiveOnboardingFailure(params: {
     httpUrl?: string;
   };
   installDaemon?: boolean;
+  daemonInstall?: {
+    requested: boolean;
+    installed: boolean;
+    skippedReason?: string;
+  };
   daemonRuntime?: string;
   diagnostics?: GatewayHealthFailureDiagnostics;
 }) {
@@ -108,6 +119,7 @@ export function logNonInteractiveOnboardingFailure(params: {
           detail: params.detail,
           gateway: params.gateway,
           installDaemon: Boolean(params.installDaemon),
+          daemonInstall: params.daemonInstall,
           daemonRuntime: params.daemonRuntime,
           diagnostics: params.diagnostics,
           hints: hints.length > 0 ? hints : undefined,