diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index d070b3395f4..c3fbef6071d 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -101,6 +101,7 @@ Docs: https://docs.openclaw.ai
 - Plugins/diffs: stage bundled `@pierre/diffs` runtime dependencies during packaged updates so the bundled diff viewer keeps loading after global installs and updates. (#56077) Thanks @gumadeiras.
 - Plugins/diffs: load bundled Pierre themes without JSON module imports so diff rendering keeps working on newer Node builds. (#45869) thanks @NickHood1984.
 - Plugins/uninstall: remove owned `channels.<id>` config when uninstalling channel plugins, and keep the uninstall preview aligned with explicit channel ownership so built-in channels and shared keys stay intact. (#35915) Thanks @wbxl2000.
+- Plugins/Matrix: prefer explicit DM signals when choosing outbound direct rooms and routing unmapped verification summaries, so strict 2-person fallback rooms do not outrank the real DM. (#56076) thanks @gumadeiras
 
 ## 2026.3.24
 
diff --git a/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/direct-management.test.ts b/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/direct-management.test.ts
index 34407fef864..c3c6eb7c459 100644
--- a/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/direct-management.test.ts
+++ b/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/direct-management.test.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ function createClient(overrides: Partial<MatrixClient> = {}): MatrixClient {
     getAccountData: vi.fn(async () => undefined),
     getJoinedRooms: vi.fn(async () => [] as string[]),
     getJoinedRoomMembers: vi.fn(async () => [] as string[]),
+    getRoomStateEvent: vi.fn(async () => ({})),
     setAccountData: vi.fn(async () => undefined),
     createDirectRoom: vi.fn(async () => "!created:example.org"),
     ...overrides,
@@ -62,6 +63,27 @@ describe("inspectMatrixDirectRooms", () => {
     expect(result.activeRoomId).toBe("!fresh:example.org");
     expect(result.discoveredStrictRoomIds).toEqual(["!fresh:example.org"]);
   });
+
+  it("prefers discovered rooms marked direct in member state over plain strict rooms", async () => {
+    const client = createClient({
+      getJoinedRooms: vi.fn(async () => ["!fallback:example.org", "!explicit:example.org"]),
+      getJoinedRoomMembers: vi.fn(async () => ["@bot:example.org", "@alice:example.org"]),
+      getRoomStateEvent: vi.fn(async (roomId: string, _eventType: string, userId: string) => ({
+        is_direct: roomId === "!explicit:example.org" && userId === "@alice:example.org",
+      })),
+    });
+
+    const result = await inspectMatrixDirectRooms({
+      client,
+      remoteUserId: "@alice:example.org",
+    });
+
+    expect(result.activeRoomId).toBe("!explicit:example.org");
+    expect(result.discoveredStrictRoomIds).toEqual([
+      "!fallback:example.org",
+      "!explicit:example.org",
+    ]);
+  });
 });
 
 describe("repairMatrixDirectRooms", () => {
diff --git a/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/direct-management.ts b/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/direct-management.ts
index 2d27a68bf0f..2ed6c8366dd 100644
--- a/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/direct-management.ts
+++ b/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/direct-management.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,4 @@
-import {
-  isStrictDirectMembership,
-  isStrictDirectRoom,
-  readJoinedMatrixMembers,
-} from "./direct-room.js";
+import { inspectMatrixDirectRoomEvidence } from "./direct-room.js";
 import type { MatrixClient } from "./sdk.js";
 import { EventType, type MatrixDirectAccountData } from "./send/types.js";
 import { isMatrixQualifiedUserId } from "./target-ids.js";
@@ -11,6 +7,7 @@ export type MatrixDirectRoomCandidate = {
   roomId: string;
   joinedMembers: string[] | null;
   strict: boolean;
+  explicit: boolean;
   source: "account-data" | "joined";
 };
 
@@ -86,17 +83,17 @@ async function classifyDirectRoomCandidate(params: {
   selfUserId: string | null;
   source: "account-data" | "joined";
 }): Promise<MatrixDirectRoomCandidate> {
-  const joinedMembers = await readJoinedMatrixMembers(params.client, params.roomId);
+  const evidence = await inspectMatrixDirectRoomEvidence({
+    client: params.client,
+    roomId: params.roomId,
+    remoteUserId: params.remoteUserId,
+    selfUserId: params.selfUserId,
+  });
   return {
     roomId: params.roomId,
-    joinedMembers,
-    strict:
-      joinedMembers !== null &&
-      isStrictDirectMembership({
-        selfUserId: params.selfUserId,
-        remoteUserId: params.remoteUserId,
-        joinedMembers,
-      }),
+    joinedMembers: evidence.joinedMembers,
+    strict: evidence.strict,
+    explicit: evidence.strict && (params.source === "account-data" || evidence.viaMemberState),
     source: params.source,
   };
 }
@@ -167,22 +164,24 @@ export async function inspectMatrixDirectRooms(params: {
       joinedRooms = [];
     }
   }
-  const discoveredStrictRoomIds: string[] = [];
+  const discoveredStrictRooms: MatrixDirectRoomCandidate[] = [];
   for (const roomId of normalizeRoomIdList(joinedRooms)) {
     if (mappedRoomIds.includes(roomId)) {
       continue;
     }
-    if (
-      await isStrictDirectRoom({
-        client: params.client,
-        roomId,
-        remoteUserId,
-        selfUserId,
-      })
-    ) {
-      discoveredStrictRoomIds.push(roomId);
+    const candidate = await classifyDirectRoomCandidate({
+      client: params.client,
+      roomId,
+      remoteUserId,
+      selfUserId,
+      source: "joined",
+    });
+    if (candidate.strict) {
+      discoveredStrictRooms.push(candidate);
     }
   }
+  const discoveredStrictRoomIds = discoveredStrictRooms.map((room) => room.roomId);
+  const discoveredExplicit = discoveredStrictRooms.find((room) => room.explicit);
 
   return {
     selfUserId,
@@ -190,7 +189,8 @@ export async function inspectMatrixDirectRooms(params: {
     mappedRoomIds,
     mappedRooms,
     discoveredStrictRoomIds,
-    activeRoomId: mappedStrict?.roomId ?? discoveredStrictRoomIds[0] ?? null,
+    activeRoomId:
+      mappedStrict?.roomId ?? discoveredExplicit?.roomId ?? discoveredStrictRoomIds[0] ?? null,
   };
 }
 
diff --git a/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/direct-room.test.ts b/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/direct-room.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..dfc482bcc48
--- /dev/null
+++ b/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/direct-room.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+import { describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import { inspectMatrixDirectRoomEvidence } from "./direct-room.js";
+import type { MatrixClient } from "./sdk.js";
+
+function createClient(overrides: Partial<MatrixClient> = {}): MatrixClient {
+  return {
+    getUserId: vi.fn(async () => "@bot:example.org"),
+    getJoinedRoomMembers: vi.fn(async () => ["@bot:example.org", "@alice:example.org"]),
+    getRoomStateEvent: vi.fn(async () => ({})),
+    ...overrides,
+  } as unknown as MatrixClient;
+}
+
+describe("inspectMatrixDirectRoomEvidence", () => {
+  it("does not retry getUserId when callers explicitly pass a missing self user", async () => {
+    const getUserId = vi.fn(async () => "@bot:example.org");
+    const client = createClient({ getUserId });
+
+    const result = await inspectMatrixDirectRoomEvidence({
+      client,
+      roomId: "!dm:example.org",
+      remoteUserId: "@alice:example.org",
+      selfUserId: null,
+    });
+
+    expect(getUserId).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(result.strict).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("resolves selfUserId when callers leave it undefined", async () => {
+    const getUserId = vi.fn(async () => "@bot:example.org");
+    const client = createClient({ getUserId });
+
+    const result = await inspectMatrixDirectRoomEvidence({
+      client,
+      roomId: "!dm:example.org",
+      remoteUserId: "@alice:example.org",
+    });
+
+    expect(getUserId).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(result.strict).toBe(true);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/direct-room.ts b/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/direct-room.ts
index 8060e6fa994..cc11671c162 100644
--- a/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/direct-room.ts
+++ b/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/direct-room.ts
@@ -62,22 +62,56 @@ export async function hasDirectMatrixMemberFlag(
   }
 }
 
+export type MatrixDirectRoomEvidence = {
+  joinedMembers: string[] | null;
+  strict: boolean;
+  viaMemberState: boolean;
+};
+
+export async function inspectMatrixDirectRoomEvidence(params: {
+  client: MatrixClient;
+  roomId: string;
+  remoteUserId: string;
+  selfUserId?: string | null;
+}): Promise<MatrixDirectRoomEvidence> {
+  const selfUserId =
+    params.selfUserId !== undefined
+      ? trimMaybeString(params.selfUserId)
+      : trimMaybeString(await params.client.getUserId().catch(() => null));
+  const joinedMembers = await readJoinedMatrixMembers(params.client, params.roomId);
+  const strict = isStrictDirectMembership({
+    selfUserId,
+    remoteUserId: params.remoteUserId,
+    joinedMembers,
+  });
+  if (!strict) {
+    return {
+      joinedMembers,
+      strict: false,
+      viaMemberState: false,
+    };
+  }
+  return {
+    joinedMembers,
+    strict,
+    viaMemberState:
+      (await hasDirectMatrixMemberFlag(params.client, params.roomId, params.remoteUserId)) ||
+      (await hasDirectMatrixMemberFlag(params.client, params.roomId, selfUserId)),
+  };
+}
+
 export async function isStrictDirectRoom(params: {
   client: MatrixClient;
   roomId: string;
   remoteUserId: string;
   selfUserId?: string | null;
 }): Promise<boolean> {
-  const selfUserId =
-    trimMaybeString(params.selfUserId) ??
-    trimMaybeString(await params.client.getUserId().catch(() => null));
-  if (!selfUserId) {
-    return false;
-  }
-  const joinedMembers = await readJoinedMatrixMembers(params.client, params.roomId);
-  return isStrictDirectMembership({
-    selfUserId,
-    remoteUserId: params.remoteUserId,
-    joinedMembers,
-  });
+  return (
+    await inspectMatrixDirectRoomEvidence({
+      client: params.client,
+      roomId: params.roomId,
+      remoteUserId: params.remoteUserId,
+      selfUserId: params.selfUserId,
+    })
+  ).strict;
 }
diff --git a/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/monitor/events.test.ts b/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/monitor/events.test.ts
index 9cfdd40cfa2..17696597042 100644
--- a/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/monitor/events.test.ts
+++ b/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/monitor/events.test.ts
@@ -28,7 +28,9 @@ function createHarness(params?: {
   dmEnabled?: boolean;
   dmPolicy?: "open" | "pairing" | "allowlist" | "disabled";
   storeAllowFrom?: string[];
+  accountDataByType?: Record<string, unknown>;
   joinedMembersByRoom?: Record<string, string[]>;
+  memberStateByRoomUser?: Record<string, Record<string, { is_direct?: boolean }>>;
   verifications?: Array<{
     id: string;
     transactionId?: string;
@@ -88,7 +90,20 @@ function createHarness(params?: {
       async (roomId: string) =>
         params?.joinedMembersByRoom?.[roomId] ?? ["@bot:example.org", "@alice:example.org"],
     ),
-    getJoinedRooms: vi.fn(async () => Object.keys(params?.joinedMembersByRoom ?? {})),
+    getJoinedRooms: vi.fn(async () =>
+      Object.keys(params?.joinedMembersByRoom ?? {}).length > 0
+        ? Object.keys(params?.joinedMembersByRoom ?? {})
+        : ["!room:example.org"],
+    ),
+    getAccountData: vi.fn(
+      async (eventType: string) =>
+        (params?.accountDataByType?.[eventType] as Record<string, unknown> | undefined) ??
+        undefined,
+    ),
+    getRoomStateEvent: vi.fn(
+      async (roomId: string, _eventType: string, stateKey: string) =>
+        params?.memberStateByRoomUser?.[roomId]?.[stateKey] ?? {},
+    ),
     ...(params?.cryptoAvailable === false
       ? {}
       : {
@@ -683,7 +698,7 @@ describe("registerMatrixMonitorEvents verification routing", () => {
     expect(body).toContain("SAS decimal: 4321 8765 2109");
   });
 
-  it("prefers the most recent verification DM over the canonical active DM for unmapped SAS summaries", async () => {
+  it("prefers the canonical active DM over the most recent verification room for unmapped SAS summaries", async () => {
     const { sendMessage, roomEventListener, verificationSummaryListener } = createHarness({
       joinedMembersByRoom: {
         "!dm-active:example.org": ["@alice:example.org", "@bot:example.org"],
@@ -748,7 +763,7 @@ describe("registerMatrixMonitorEvents verification routing", () => {
         "SAS decimal: 2468 1357 9753",
       ),
     );
-    expect((sasCall?.[0] ?? "") as string).toBe("!dm-current:example.org");
+    expect((sasCall?.[0] ?? "") as string).toBe("!dm-active:example.org");
   });
 
   it("retries SAS notice lookup when start arrives before SAS payload is available", async () => {
@@ -851,6 +866,115 @@ describe("registerMatrixMonitorEvents verification routing", () => {
     });
   });
 
+  it("routes unmapped verification summaries to the room marked direct in member state", async () => {
+    const { sendMessage, verificationSummaryListener } = createHarness({
+      joinedMembersByRoom: {
+        "!fallback:example.org": ["@alice:example.org", "@bot:example.org"],
+        "!dm:example.org": ["@alice:example.org", "@bot:example.org"],
+      },
+      memberStateByRoomUser: {
+        "!dm:example.org": {
+          "@alice:example.org": { is_direct: true },
+        },
+      },
+    });
+    if (!verificationSummaryListener) {
+      throw new Error("verification.summary listener was not registered");
+    }
+
+    verificationSummaryListener({
+      id: "verification-explicit-room",
+      otherUserId: "@alice:example.org",
+      isSelfVerification: false,
+      initiatedByMe: false,
+      phase: 3,
+      phaseName: "started",
+      pending: true,
+      methods: ["m.sas.v1"],
+      canAccept: false,
+      hasSas: true,
+      sas: {
+        decimal: [6158, 1986, 3513],
+        emoji: [
+          ["🎁", "Gift"],
+          ["🌍", "Globe"],
+          ["🐴", "Horse"],
+        ],
+      },
+      hasReciprocateQr: false,
+      completed: false,
+      createdAt: new Date("2026-02-25T21:42:54.000Z").toISOString(),
+      updatedAt: new Date("2026-02-25T21:42:55.000Z").toISOString(),
+    });
+
+    await vi.waitFor(() => {
+      expect(sendMessage).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    });
+    expect((sendMessage.mock.calls as unknown[][])[0]?.[0]).toBe("!dm:example.org");
+  });
+
+  it("prefers the active direct room over a stale remembered strict room for unmapped summaries", async () => {
+    const { sendMessage, roomEventListener, verificationSummaryListener } = createHarness({
+      joinedMembersByRoom: {
+        "!fallback:example.org": ["@alice:example.org", "@bot:example.org"],
+        "!dm:example.org": ["@alice:example.org", "@bot:example.org"],
+      },
+      memberStateByRoomUser: {
+        "!dm:example.org": {
+          "@alice:example.org": { is_direct: true },
+        },
+      },
+    });
+    if (!verificationSummaryListener) {
+      throw new Error("verification.summary listener was not registered");
+    }
+
+    roomEventListener("!fallback:example.org", {
+      event_id: "$start-fallback",
+      sender: "@alice:example.org",
+      type: "m.key.verification.start",
+      origin_server_ts: Date.now(),
+      content: {
+        "m.relates_to": { event_id: "$req-fallback" },
+      },
+    });
+
+    await vi.waitFor(() => {
+      expect(sendMessage).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    });
+    sendMessage.mockClear();
+
+    verificationSummaryListener({
+      id: "verification-stale-room",
+      otherUserId: "@alice:example.org",
+      isSelfVerification: false,
+      initiatedByMe: false,
+      phase: 3,
+      phaseName: "started",
+      pending: true,
+      methods: ["m.sas.v1"],
+      canAccept: false,
+      hasSas: true,
+      sas: {
+        decimal: [6158, 1986, 3513],
+        emoji: [
+          ["🎁", "Gift"],
+          ["🌍", "Globe"],
+          ["🐴", "Horse"],
+        ],
+      },
+      hasReciprocateQr: false,
+      completed: false,
+      createdAt: new Date("2026-02-25T21:42:54.000Z").toISOString(),
+      updatedAt: new Date("2026-02-25T21:42:55.000Z").toISOString(),
+    });
+
+    await vi.waitFor(() => {
+      expect(sendMessage).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    });
+    expect((sendMessage.mock.calls as unknown[][])[0]?.[0]).toBe("!dm:example.org");
+  });
+
   it("does not emit duplicate SAS notices for the same verification payload", async () => {
     const { sendMessage, roomEventListener, listVerifications } = createHarness({
       verifications: [
diff --git a/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/monitor/verification-events.ts b/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/monitor/verification-events.ts
index 2eac41eb7ee..b905d71a120 100644
--- a/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/monitor/verification-events.ts
+++ b/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/monitor/verification-events.ts
@@ -219,13 +219,11 @@ async function resolveVerificationSummaryForSignal(
   // Only fall back by user inside the active DM with that user. Otherwise a
   // spoofed verification event in an unrelated room can leak the current SAS
   // prompt into that room.
-  if (
-    !(await isStrictDirectRoom({
-      client,
-      roomId: params.roomId,
-      remoteUserId: params.senderId,
-    }))
-  ) {
+  const inspection = await inspectMatrixDirectRooms({
+    client,
+    remoteUserId: params.senderId,
+  }).catch(() => null);
+  if (trimMaybeString(inspection?.activeRoomId) !== params.roomId) {
     return null;
   }
 
@@ -364,6 +362,14 @@ export function createMatrixVerificationEventRouter(params: {
   const verificationFlowRooms = new Map<string, string>();
   const verificationUserRooms = new Map<string, string>();
 
+  async function resolveActiveDirectRoomId(remoteUserId: string): Promise<string | null> {
+    const inspection = await inspectMatrixDirectRooms({
+      client: params.client,
+      remoteUserId,
+    }).catch(() => null);
+    return trimMaybeString(inspection?.activeRoomId);
+  }
+
   function shouldEmitVerificationEventNotice(event: MatrixRawEvent): boolean {
     const eventTs =
       typeof event.origin_server_ts === "number" && Number.isFinite(event.origin_server_ts)
@@ -421,6 +427,13 @@ export function createMatrixVerificationEventRouter(params: {
       return null;
     }
     const recentRoomId = trimMaybeString(verificationUserRooms.get(remoteUserId));
+    const activeRoomId = await resolveActiveDirectRoomId(remoteUserId);
+    if (recentRoomId && activeRoomId && recentRoomId === activeRoomId) {
+      return recentRoomId;
+    }
+    if (activeRoomId) {
+      return activeRoomId;
+    }
     if (
       recentRoomId &&
       (await isStrictDirectRoom({
@@ -431,11 +444,7 @@ export function createMatrixVerificationEventRouter(params: {
     ) {
       return recentRoomId;
     }
-    const inspection = await inspectMatrixDirectRooms({
-      client: params.client,
-      remoteUserId,
-    }).catch(() => null);
-    return trimMaybeString(inspection?.activeRoomId);
+    return null;
   }
 
   async function routeVerificationSummary(summary: MatrixVerificationSummaryLike): Promise<void> {
diff --git a/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/send/targets.test.ts b/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/send/targets.test.ts
index 16ccc9b05f0..1308dec7619 100644
--- a/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/send/targets.test.ts
+++ b/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/send/targets.test.ts
@@ -51,6 +51,30 @@ describe("resolveMatrixRoomId", () => {
     );
   });
 
+  it("prefers joined rooms marked direct in member state over plain strict rooms", async () => {
+    const userId = "@fallback:example.org";
+    const client = {
+      getAccountData: vi.fn().mockRejectedValue(new Error("nope")),
+      getUserId: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue("@bot:example.org"),
+      getJoinedRooms: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(["!fallback:example.org", "!explicit:example.org"]),
+      getJoinedRoomMembers: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(["@bot:example.org", userId]),
+      getRoomStateEvent: vi
+        .fn()
+        .mockImplementation(async (roomId: string, _eventType: string, stateKey: string) => ({
+          is_direct: roomId === "!explicit:example.org" && stateKey === userId,
+        })),
+      setAccountData: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
+    } as unknown as MatrixClient;
+
+    const resolved = await resolveMatrixRoomId(client, userId);
+
+    expect(resolved).toBe("!explicit:example.org");
+    expect(client.setAccountData).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      EventType.Direct,
+      expect.objectContaining({ [userId]: ["!explicit:example.org"] }),
+    );
+  });
+
   it("continues when a room member lookup fails", async () => {
     const userId = "@continue:example.org";
     const roomId = "!good:example.org";