diff --git a/qa/scenarios/runtime/gateway-client-transport-defaults.yaml b/qa/scenarios/runtime/gateway-client-transport-defaults.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..3ec66ad17a4a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/qa/scenarios/runtime/gateway-client-transport-defaults.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+title: Gateway client transport defaults
+
+scenario:
+  id: gateway-client-transport-defaults
+  surface: runtime
+  category: gateway.protocol-compatibility
+  coverage:
+    primary:
+      - gateway.client-transport-defaults
+  objective: Verify the public Gateway client applies its documented request, handshake, reconnect, and tick-watch defaults over a real WebSocket transport.
+  successCriteria:
+    - Requests without an override time out after 30 seconds.
+    - A connected socket that receives no challenge closes after the 15 second challenge watchdog.
+    - Consecutive transport failures reconnect after 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 seconds before capping at 30 seconds.
+    - The hello-ok tick interval replaces the pre-handshake watchdog basis.
+    - Missing ticks close the socket with code 4000 and the tick-timeout reason.
+    - Inbound ticks keep an unbounded request alive beyond the default request deadline.
+  docsRefs:
+    - docs/gateway/protocol.md
+    - docs/reference/test.md
+  codeRefs:
+    - packages/gateway-client/src/client.ts
+    - packages/gateway-client/src/protocol-client.ts
+    - packages/gateway-client/src/timeouts.ts
+    - test/e2e/qa-lab/runtime/gateway-client-transport-defaults.e2e.test.ts
+  execution:
+    kind: vitest
+    path: test/e2e/qa-lab/runtime/gateway-client-transport-defaults.e2e.test.ts
+    summary: Run the public GatewayClient against a real local WebSocketServer with deterministic post-connect timers for request, challenge, reconnect, and tick-watch defaults.
diff --git a/test/e2e/qa-lab/runtime/gateway-client-transport-defaults.e2e.test.ts b/test/e2e/qa-lab/runtime/gateway-client-transport-defaults.e2e.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..83f2749ce384
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/e2e/qa-lab/runtime/gateway-client-transport-defaults.e2e.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,368 @@
+import { setImmediate as waitForImmediate } from "node:timers/promises";
+import { PROTOCOL_VERSION } from "@openclaw/gateway-protocol/version";
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import { type RawData, type WebSocket, WebSocketServer } from "ws";
+import {
+  GatewayClient,
+  GatewayClientRequestTimeoutError,
+  type GatewayClientOptions,
+} from "../../../../packages/gateway-client/src/index.js";
+
+type RequestFrame = {
+  id: string;
+  method: string;
+  params?: unknown;
+  type: "req";
+};
+
+const clients: GatewayClient[] = [];
+let server: WebSocketServer | undefined;
+
+function rawDataToString(data: RawData): string {
+  if (Array.isArray(data)) {
+    return Buffer.concat(data).toString("utf8");
+  }
+  return Buffer.isBuffer(data)
+    ? data.toString("utf8")
+    : Buffer.from(new Uint8Array(data)).toString("utf8");
+}
+
+function parseRequest(data: RawData): RequestFrame {
+  return JSON.parse(rawDataToString(data)) as RequestFrame;
+}
+
+function createDeferred<T>(): {
+  promise: Promise<T>;
+  reject: (reason?: unknown) => void;
+  resolve: (value: T) => void;
+} {
+  let resolve!: (value: T) => void;
+  let reject!: (reason?: unknown) => void;
+  const promise = new Promise<T>((onResolve, onReject) => {
+    resolve = onResolve;
+    reject = onReject;
+  });
+  return { promise, reject, resolve };
+}
+
+function enableFakeTimeAfterSocketEstablishment(): void {
+  vi.useFakeTimers({
+    toFake: ["Date", "clearInterval", "clearTimeout", "setInterval", "setTimeout"],
+  });
+}
+
+async function flushSocketIo(turns = 2): Promise<void> {
+  for (let index = 0; index < turns; index += 1) {
+    await waitForImmediate();
+  }
+}
+
+async function waitForCondition(predicate: () => boolean, description: string): Promise<void> {
+  for (let attempt = 0; attempt < 100; attempt += 1) {
+    if (predicate()) {
+      return;
+    }
+    await flushSocketIo(1);
+  }
+  throw new Error(`timed out waiting for ${description}`);
+}
+
+async function listen(
+  onConnection: (socket: WebSocket, request: RequestFrame) => void,
+): Promise<string> {
+  server = new WebSocketServer({ host: "127.0.0.1", port: 0 });
+  server.on("connection", (socket) => {
+    socket.on("message", (data) => onConnection(socket, parseRequest(data)));
+  });
+  await new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+    server?.once("listening", resolve);
+  });
+  const address = server.address();
+  if (!address || typeof address === "string") {
+    throw new Error("gateway client defaults server did not get a TCP address");
+  }
+  return `ws://127.0.0.1:${address.port}`;
+}
+
+function sendChallenge(socket: WebSocket, sequence = 1): void {
+  socket.send(
+    JSON.stringify({
+      type: "event",
+      event: "connect.challenge",
+      seq: sequence,
+      payload: { nonce: `defaults-${sequence}`, ts: 1_777_777_777_000 },
+    }),
+  );
+}
+
+function sendHello(socket: WebSocket, requestId: string, tickIntervalMs: number): void {
+  socket.send(
+    JSON.stringify({
+      type: "res",
+      id: requestId,
+      ok: true,
+      payload: {
+        type: "hello-ok",
+        protocol: PROTOCOL_VERSION,
+        server: { version: "gateway-client-defaults", connId: "defaults-connection" },
+        features: { methods: ["chat.send", "status"], events: ["tick"] },
+        snapshot: {
+          presence: [],
+          health: {},
+          stateVersion: { presence: 1, health: 1 },
+          uptimeMs: 1,
+        },
+        auth: { role: "operator", scopes: ["operator.admin"] },
+        policy: {
+          maxPayload: 512 * 1024,
+          maxBufferedBytes: 1024 * 1024,
+          tickIntervalMs,
+        },
+      },
+    }),
+  );
+}
+
+async function connectWithFakeTime(params: {
+  clientOptions?: Omit<GatewayClientOptions, "onConnectError" | "onHelloOk" | "url">;
+  onRequest?: (socket: WebSocket, request: RequestFrame) => void;
+  tickIntervalMs: number;
+}): Promise<{ client: GatewayClient; socket: WebSocket }> {
+  const socketReady = createDeferred<WebSocket>();
+  const helloReady = createDeferred<void>();
+  const url = await listen((socket, request) => {
+    if (request.method === "connect") {
+      sendHello(socket, request.id, params.tickIntervalMs);
+      return;
+    }
+    params.onRequest?.(socket, request);
+  });
+  server?.once("connection", (socket) => {
+    // The real transport is established before timers become deterministic.
+    enableFakeTimeAfterSocketEstablishment();
+    socketReady.resolve(socket);
+  });
+  const client = new GatewayClient({
+    ...params.clientOptions,
+    url,
+    onHelloOk: () => helloReady.resolve(undefined),
+    onConnectError: (error) => helloReady.reject(error),
+  });
+  clients.push(client);
+  client.start();
+
+  const socket = await socketReady.promise;
+  await flushSocketIo();
+  sendChallenge(socket);
+  await helloReady.promise;
+  return { client, socket };
+}
+
+afterEach(async () => {
+  for (const client of clients.splice(0)) {
+    client.stop();
+  }
+  vi.useRealTimers();
+  if (server) {
+    for (const socket of server.clients) {
+      socket.terminate();
+    }
+    await new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+      server?.close(() => resolve());
+    });
+    server = undefined;
+  }
+});
+
+describe("GatewayClient transport defaults", () => {
+  it("uses a 30 second default request timeout", async () => {
+    const requestReady = createDeferred<void>();
+    const { client } = await connectWithFakeTime({
+      tickIntervalMs: 60_000,
+      onRequest: (_socket, request) => {
+        if (request.method === "status") {
+          requestReady.resolve(undefined);
+        }
+      },
+    });
+
+    let settled = false;
+    const outcome = client.request("status").then(
+      () => {
+        settled = true;
+        return undefined;
+      },
+      (error: unknown) => {
+        settled = true;
+        return error;
+      },
+    );
+    await requestReady.promise;
+
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(29_999);
+    expect(settled).toBe(false);
+
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(1);
+    const error = await outcome;
+    expect(error).toBeInstanceOf(GatewayClientRequestTimeoutError);
+    expect(error).toMatchObject({
+      message: "gateway request timeout for status",
+      method: "status",
+      requestSent: true,
+      timeoutMs: 30_000,
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("enforces the 15 second connect-challenge watchdog", async () => {
+    const socketReady = createDeferred<WebSocket>();
+    const errors: Error[] = [];
+    const url = await listen(() => {});
+    server?.once("connection", (socket) => {
+      enableFakeTimeAfterSocketEstablishment();
+      socketReady.resolve(socket);
+    });
+    const client = new GatewayClient({
+      url,
+      onConnectError: (error) => errors.push(error),
+    });
+    clients.push(client);
+    client.start();
+
+    const socket = await socketReady.promise;
+    const closed = new Promise<{ code: number; reason: string }>((resolve) => {
+      socket.once("close", (code: number, reason: Buffer) => {
+        resolve({ code, reason: reason.toString() });
+      });
+    });
+    await flushSocketIo();
+
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(14_999);
+    expect(errors).toEqual([]);
+
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(1);
+    expect(errors).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(errors[0]?.message).toContain(
+      "gateway connect challenge timeout (waited 15000ms, limit 15000ms)",
+    );
+    await expect(closed).resolves.toEqual({
+      code: 1008,
+      reason: "connect challenge timeout",
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("reconnects after 1/2/4 second delays capped at 30 seconds", async () => {
+    const sockets: WebSocket[] = [];
+    const closeEvents: Array<{ code: number; reason: string }> = [];
+    const firstSocket = createDeferred<WebSocket>();
+    const url = await listen(() => {});
+    server?.on("connection", (socket) => {
+      sockets.push(socket);
+      if (sockets.length === 1) {
+        enableFakeTimeAfterSocketEstablishment();
+        firstSocket.resolve(socket);
+        return;
+      }
+      waitForImmediate().then(() => socket.close(1012, "retry"));
+    });
+    const client = new GatewayClient({
+      url,
+      onClose: (code, reason) => closeEvents.push({ code, reason }),
+    });
+    clients.push(client);
+    client.start();
+
+    const initialSocket = await firstSocket.promise;
+    await flushSocketIo();
+    initialSocket.close(1012, "retry");
+
+    const expectedDelays = [1_000, 2_000, 4_000, 8_000, 16_000, 30_000, 30_000];
+    for (const [index, delayMs] of expectedDelays.entries()) {
+      await waitForCondition(() => closeEvents.length >= index + 1, `close event ${index + 1}`);
+      const connectionCount = sockets.length;
+
+      await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(delayMs - 1);
+      await flushSocketIo();
+      expect(sockets).toHaveLength(connectionCount);
+
+      await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(1);
+      await waitForCondition(
+        () => sockets.length === connectionCount + 1,
+        `reconnect ${index + 1}`,
+      );
+    }
+
+    expect(closeEvents).toHaveLength(expectedDelays.length);
+    expect(closeEvents).toEqual(expectedDelays.map(() => ({ code: 1012, reason: "retry" })));
+  });
+
+  it("uses the server tick interval and closes missing ticks with code 4000", async () => {
+    const closeEvents: Array<{ code: number; reason: string }> = [];
+    const { socket } = await connectWithFakeTime({
+      tickIntervalMs: 50,
+      clientOptions: {
+        tickWatchMinIntervalMs: 1,
+        onClose: (code, reason) => closeEvents.push({ code, reason }),
+      },
+    });
+    const serverClose = new Promise<{ code: number; reason: string }>((resolve) => {
+      socket.once("close", (code: number, reason: Buffer) => {
+        resolve({ code, reason: reason.toString() });
+      });
+    });
+
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(100);
+    expect(closeEvents).toEqual([]);
+
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(50);
+    await expect(serverClose).resolves.toEqual({ code: 4000, reason: "tick timeout" });
+    await waitForCondition(() => closeEvents.length === 1, "client tick-timeout close callback");
+    expect(closeEvents[0]).toEqual({ code: 4000, reason: "tick timeout" });
+  });
+
+  it("keeps an unbounded request alive while inbound ticks continue", async () => {
+    const requestReady = createDeferred<RequestFrame>();
+    const closeEvents: Array<{ code: number; reason: string }> = [];
+    const { client, socket } = await connectWithFakeTime({
+      tickIntervalMs: 5_000,
+      clientOptions: {
+        tickWatchMinIntervalMs: 1,
+        onClose: (code, reason) => closeEvents.push({ code, reason }),
+      },
+      onRequest: (_socket, request) => {
+        if (request.method === "chat.send") {
+          requestReady.resolve(request);
+        }
+      },
+    });
+    const request = client.request<{ status: string }>(
+      "chat.send",
+      { message: "defaults" },
+      { timeoutMs: null },
+    );
+    const requestFrame = await requestReady.promise;
+
+    for (let sequence = 1; sequence <= 8; sequence += 1) {
+      await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(4_000);
+      socket.send(
+        JSON.stringify({
+          type: "event",
+          event: "tick",
+          seq: sequence,
+          payload: { ts: Date.now() },
+        }),
+      );
+      await flushSocketIo();
+    }
+
+    expect(closeEvents).toEqual([]);
+    socket.send(
+      JSON.stringify({
+        type: "res",
+        id: requestFrame.id,
+        ok: true,
+        payload: { status: "ok" },
+      }),
+    );
+    await expect(request).resolves.toEqual({ status: "ok" });
+  });
+});