test(update): cover restart gating

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ Docs: https://docs.openclaw.ai
 - CLI/Doctor: ensure `openclaw doctor --fix --non-interactive --yes` exits promptly after completion so one-shot automation no longer hangs. (#18502)
 - CLI/Doctor: auto-repair `dmPolicy="open"` configs missing wildcard allowlists and write channel-correct repair paths (including `channels.googlechat.dm.allowFrom`) so `openclaw doctor --fix` no longer leaves Google Chat configs invalid after attempted repair. (#18544)
 - CLI/Doctor: detect gateway service token drift when the gateway token is only provided via environment variables, keeping service repairs aligned after token rotation.
+- Gateway/Update: prevent restart crash loops after failed self-updates by restarting only on successful updates, stopping early on failed install/build steps, and running `openclaw doctor --fix` during updates to sanitize config. (#18131) Thanks @RamiNoodle733.
 - CLI/Update: run a standalone restart helper after updates, honoring service-name overrides and reporting restart initiation separately from confirmed restarts. (#18050)
 - CLI/Daemon: warn when a gateway restart sees a stale service token so users can reinstall with `openclaw gateway install --force`, and skip drift warnings for non-gateway service restarts. (#18018)
 - CLI/Status: fix `openclaw status --all` token summaries for bot-token-only channels so Mattermost/Zalo no longer show a bot+app warning. (#18527) Thanks @echo931.

src/gateway/server-methods/update.test.ts

@@ -1,9 +1,14 @@
-import { describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
 import type { RestartSentinelPayload } from "../../infra/restart-sentinel.js";
+import type { UpdateRunResult } from "../../infra/update-runner.js";
 
 // Capture the sentinel payload written during update.run
 let capturedPayload: RestartSentinelPayload | undefined;
 
+const runGatewayUpdateMock = vi.fn<() => Promise<UpdateRunResult>>();
+
+const scheduleGatewaySigusr1RestartMock = vi.fn(() => ({ scheduled: true }));
+
 vi.mock("../../config/config.js", () => ({
   loadConfig: () => ({ update: {} }),
 }));
@@ -43,7 +48,7 @@ vi.mock("../../infra/restart-sentinel.js", async (importOriginal) => {
 });
 
 vi.mock("../../infra/restart.js", () => ({
-  scheduleGatewaySigusr1Restart: () => ({ scheduled: true }),
+  scheduleGatewaySigusr1Restart: scheduleGatewaySigusr1RestartMock,
 }));
 
 vi.mock("../../infra/update-channels.js", () => ({
@@ -51,12 +56,7 @@ vi.mock("../../infra/update-channels.js", () => ({
 }));
 
 vi.mock("../../infra/update-runner.js", () => ({
-  runGatewayUpdate: async () => ({
-    status: "ok",
-    mode: "npm",
-    steps: [],
-    durationMs: 100,
-  }),
+  runGatewayUpdate: runGatewayUpdateMock,
 }));
 
 vi.mock("../protocol/index.js", () => ({
@@ -75,6 +75,19 @@ vi.mock("./validation.js", () => ({
   assertValidParams: () => true,
 }));
 
+beforeEach(() => {
+  capturedPayload = undefined;
+  runGatewayUpdateMock.mockReset();
+  runGatewayUpdateMock.mockResolvedValue({
+    status: "ok",
+    mode: "npm",
+    steps: [],
+    durationMs: 100,
+  });
+  scheduleGatewaySigusr1RestartMock.mockReset();
+  scheduleGatewaySigusr1RestartMock.mockReturnValue({ scheduled: true });
+});
+
 describe("update.run sentinel deliveryContext", () => {
   it("includes deliveryContext in sentinel payload when sessionKey is provided", async () => {
     capturedPayload = undefined;
@@ -132,3 +145,47 @@ describe("update.run sentinel deliveryContext", () => {
     expect(capturedPayload!.threadId).toBe("1234567890.123456");
   });
 });
+
+describe("update.run restart scheduling", () => {
+  it("schedules restart when update succeeds", async () => {
+    const { updateHandlers } = await import("./update.js");
+    const handler = updateHandlers["update.run"];
+    let payload: { ok: boolean; restart: unknown } | undefined;
+
+    await handler({
+      params: {},
+      respond: (_ok: boolean, response: { ok: boolean; restart: unknown }) => {
+        payload = response;
+      },
+    } as never);
+
+    expect(scheduleGatewaySigusr1RestartMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(payload?.ok).toBe(true);
+    expect(payload?.restart).toEqual({ scheduled: true });
+  });
+
+  it("skips restart when update fails", async () => {
+    runGatewayUpdateMock.mockResolvedValueOnce({
+      status: "error",
+      mode: "git",
+      reason: "build-failed",
+      steps: [],
+      durationMs: 100,
+    });
+
+    const { updateHandlers } = await import("./update.js");
+    const handler = updateHandlers["update.run"];
+    let payload: { ok: boolean; restart: unknown } | undefined;
+
+    await handler({
+      params: {},
+      respond: (_ok: boolean, response: { ok: boolean; restart: unknown }) => {
+        payload = response;
+      },
+    } as never);
+
+    expect(scheduleGatewaySigusr1RestartMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(payload?.ok).toBe(false);
+    expect(payload?.restart).toBeNull();
+  });
+});