diff --git a/scripts/e2e/doctor-install-switch-docker.sh b/scripts/e2e/doctor-install-switch-docker.sh
index 55427958fa1..12a30fb7938 100755
--- a/scripts/e2e/doctor-install-switch-docker.sh
+++ b/scripts/e2e/doctor-install-switch-docker.sh
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ docker run --rm -e COREPACK_ENABLE_DOWNLOAD_PROMPT=0 "$IMAGE_NAME" bash -lc '
   export npm_config_loglevel=error
   export npm_config_fund=false
   export npm_config_audit=false
+  export OPENCLAW_DISABLE_BUNDLED_PLUGINS=1
 
   # Stub systemd/loginctl so doctor + daemon flows work in Docker.
   export PATH="/tmp/openclaw-bin:$PATH"
@@ -130,13 +131,14 @@ LOGINCTL
     local doctor_expected="$5"
     local install_log="/tmp/openclaw-doctor-switch-${name}-install.log"
     local doctor_log="/tmp/openclaw-doctor-switch-${name}-doctor.log"
+    local command_timeout="${OPENCLAW_DOCKER_DOCTOR_SWITCH_COMMAND_TIMEOUT:-300s}"
 
     echo "== Flow: $name =="
     home_dir=$(mktemp -d "/tmp/openclaw-switch-${name}.XXXXXX")
     export HOME="$home_dir"
     export USER="testuser"
 
-    if ! eval "$install_cmd" >"$install_log" 2>&1; then
+    if ! timeout "$command_timeout" bash -c "$install_cmd" >"$install_log" 2>&1; then
       cat "$install_log"
       exit 1
     fi
@@ -150,7 +152,7 @@ LOGINCTL
     fi
     assert_entrypoint "$unit_path" "$install_expected"
 
-    if ! eval "$doctor_cmd" >"$doctor_log" 2>&1; then
+    if ! timeout "$command_timeout" bash -c "$doctor_cmd" >"$doctor_log" 2>&1; then
       cat "$doctor_log"
       exit 1
     fi
diff --git a/scripts/e2e/mcp-channels-docker.sh b/scripts/e2e/mcp-channels-docker.sh
index e52f20cd10e..a0b73fceba2 100644
--- a/scripts/e2e/mcp-channels-docker.sh
+++ b/scripts/e2e/mcp-channels-docker.sh
@@ -35,12 +35,25 @@ docker run --rm \
   bash -lc "set -euo pipefail
     entry=dist/index.mjs
     [ -f \"\$entry\" ] || entry=dist/index.js
+    mock_port=44081
+    export OPENCLAW_DOCKER_OPENAI_BASE_URL=\"http://127.0.0.1:\$mock_port/v1\"
+    MOCK_PORT=\"\$mock_port\" node scripts/e2e/mock-openai-server.mjs >/tmp/mcp-channels-mock-openai.log 2>&1 &
+    mock_pid=\$!
+    for _ in \$(seq 1 80); do
+      if node -e \"fetch('http://127.0.0.1:' + process.argv[1] + '/health').then(r=>process.exit(r.ok?0:1)).catch(()=>process.exit(1))\" \"\$mock_port\"; then
+        break
+      fi
+      sleep 0.1
+    done
+    node -e \"fetch('http://127.0.0.1:' + process.argv[1] + '/health').then(r=>process.exit(r.ok?0:1)).catch(()=>process.exit(1))\" \"\$mock_port\"
     node --import tsx scripts/e2e/mcp-channels-seed.ts >/tmp/mcp-channels-seed.log
     node \"\$entry\" gateway --port $PORT --bind loopback --allow-unconfigured >/tmp/mcp-channels-gateway.log 2>&1 &
     gateway_pid=\$!
     cleanup_inner() {
       kill \"\$gateway_pid\" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
       wait \"\$gateway_pid\" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+      kill \"\$mock_pid\" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+      wait \"\$mock_pid\" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
     }
     dump_gateway_log_on_error() {
       status=\$?
diff --git a/scripts/lib/live-docker-stage.sh b/scripts/lib/live-docker-stage.sh
index 18d98850ef9..74bb8a71472 100644
--- a/scripts/lib/live-docker-stage.sh
+++ b/scripts/lib/live-docker-stage.sh
@@ -2,6 +2,25 @@
 
 openclaw_live_stage_source_tree() {
   local dest_dir="${1:?destination directory required}"
+  local stage_mode="${OPENCLAW_LIVE_DOCKER_SOURCE_STAGE_MODE:-copy}"
+
+  if [ "$stage_mode" = "symlink" ]; then
+    mkdir -p "$dest_dir"
+    local entry
+    while IFS= read -r -d "" entry; do
+      entry="${entry#./}"
+      case "$entry" in
+        .git | node_modules | dist | .pnpm-store | .tmp | .tmp-precommit-venv | .worktrees | __openclaw_vitest__ | relay.sock)
+          continue
+          ;;
+        *.sock)
+          continue
+          ;;
+      esac
+      ln -s "/src/$entry" "$dest_dir/$entry"
+    done < <(cd /src && find . -mindepth 1 -maxdepth 1 -print0)
+    return 0
+  fi
 
   set +e
   tar -C /src \
diff --git a/scripts/test-docker-all.mjs b/scripts/test-docker-all.mjs
index 07fd49a21a9..d53d810da48 100644
--- a/scripts/test-docker-all.mjs
+++ b/scripts/test-docker-all.mjs
@@ -43,15 +43,21 @@ const bundledScenarioLanes = [
 ];
 
 const lanes = [
-  ["live-models", "OPENCLAW_SKIP_DOCKER_BUILD=1 pnpm test:docker:live-models"],
-  ["live-gateway", "OPENCLAW_SKIP_DOCKER_BUILD=1 pnpm test:docker:live-gateway"],
+  [
+    "live-models",
+    "OPENCLAW_SKIP_DOCKER_BUILD=1 OPENCLAW_LIVE_DOCKER_SOURCE_STAGE_MODE=symlink pnpm test:docker:live-models",
+  ],
+  [
+    "live-gateway",
+    "OPENCLAW_SKIP_DOCKER_BUILD=1 OPENCLAW_LIVE_DOCKER_SOURCE_STAGE_MODE=symlink pnpm test:docker:live-gateway",
+  ],
   [
     "live-cli-backend-claude",
-    "OPENCLAW_SKIP_DOCKER_BUILD=1 pnpm test:docker:live-cli-backend:claude",
+    "OPENCLAW_SKIP_DOCKER_BUILD=1 OPENCLAW_LIVE_DOCKER_SOURCE_STAGE_MODE=symlink pnpm test:docker:live-cli-backend:claude",
   ],
   [
     "live-cli-backend-gemini",
-    "OPENCLAW_SKIP_DOCKER_BUILD=1 pnpm test:docker:live-cli-backend:gemini",
+    "OPENCLAW_SKIP_DOCKER_BUILD=1 OPENCLAW_LIVE_DOCKER_SOURCE_STAGE_MODE=symlink pnpm test:docker:live-cli-backend:gemini",
   ],
   ["openwebui", "OPENCLAW_SKIP_DOCKER_BUILD=1 pnpm test:docker:openwebui"],
   ["onboard", "OPENCLAW_SKIP_DOCKER_BUILD=1 pnpm test:docker:onboard"],
@@ -77,15 +83,30 @@ const exclusiveLanes = [
     "openai-web-search-minimal",
     "OPENCLAW_SKIP_DOCKER_BUILD=1 pnpm test:docker:openai-web-search-minimal",
   ],
-  ["live-codex-harness", "OPENCLAW_SKIP_DOCKER_BUILD=1 pnpm test:docker:live-codex-harness"],
-  ["live-codex-bind", "OPENCLAW_SKIP_DOCKER_BUILD=1 pnpm test:docker:live-codex-bind"],
+  [
+    "live-codex-harness",
+    "OPENCLAW_SKIP_DOCKER_BUILD=1 OPENCLAW_LIVE_DOCKER_SOURCE_STAGE_MODE=symlink pnpm test:docker:live-codex-harness",
+  ],
+  [
+    "live-codex-bind",
+    "OPENCLAW_SKIP_DOCKER_BUILD=1 OPENCLAW_LIVE_DOCKER_SOURCE_STAGE_MODE=symlink pnpm test:docker:live-codex-bind",
+  ],
   [
     "live-cli-backend-codex",
-    "OPENCLAW_SKIP_DOCKER_BUILD=1 pnpm test:docker:live-cli-backend:codex",
+    "OPENCLAW_SKIP_DOCKER_BUILD=1 OPENCLAW_LIVE_DOCKER_SOURCE_STAGE_MODE=symlink pnpm test:docker:live-cli-backend:codex",
+  ],
+  [
+    "live-acp-bind-claude",
+    "OPENCLAW_SKIP_DOCKER_BUILD=1 OPENCLAW_LIVE_DOCKER_SOURCE_STAGE_MODE=symlink pnpm test:docker:live-acp-bind:claude",
+  ],
+  [
+    "live-acp-bind-codex",
+    "OPENCLAW_SKIP_DOCKER_BUILD=1 OPENCLAW_LIVE_DOCKER_SOURCE_STAGE_MODE=symlink pnpm test:docker:live-acp-bind:codex",
+  ],
+  [
+    "live-acp-bind-gemini",
+    "OPENCLAW_SKIP_DOCKER_BUILD=1 OPENCLAW_LIVE_DOCKER_SOURCE_STAGE_MODE=symlink pnpm test:docker:live-acp-bind:gemini",
   ],
-  ["live-acp-bind-claude", "OPENCLAW_SKIP_DOCKER_BUILD=1 pnpm test:docker:live-acp-bind:claude"],
-  ["live-acp-bind-codex", "OPENCLAW_SKIP_DOCKER_BUILD=1 pnpm test:docker:live-acp-bind:codex"],
-  ["live-acp-bind-gemini", "OPENCLAW_SKIP_DOCKER_BUILD=1 pnpm test:docker:live-acp-bind:gemini"],
 ];
 
 const tailLanes = exclusiveLanes;