diff --git a/docs/plugins/sdk-setup.md b/docs/plugins/sdk-setup.md
index 5f3bb621a773..d28a8bc37759 100644
--- a/docs/plugins/sdk-setup.md
+++ b/docs/plugins/sdk-setup.md
@@ -560,9 +560,14 @@ const setupWizard: ChannelSetupWizard = {
     Setup code that already owns a QR-backed operation can pass its raw QR text and completion promise through `WizardPrompter.qrCode`. OpenClaw renders and transports a bounded image; the plugin remains the authority for success, failure, and cancellation.
 
     ```typescript
-    const link = startDeviceLink();
+    if (!prompter.qrCode) {
+      throw new Error(
+        "This setup host cannot present QR credentials. Use the plugin's native setup flow.",
+      );
+    }
 
-    if (prompter.qrCode) {
+    const link = startDeviceLink();
+    try {
       await prompter.qrCode({
         title: "Link a device",
         message: "Scan the code and approve the device.",
@@ -570,21 +575,13 @@ const setupWizard: ChannelSetupWizard = {
         expiresAtMs: link.expiresAtMs,
         dismissed: link.finished,
       });
-    } else {
-      try {
-        await prompter.note(
-          `Open this device-link URI with your non-QR setup flow:\n${link.uri}`,
-          "Link a device",
-        );
-        await link.finished;
-      } catch (error) {
-        link.cancel();
-        throw error;
-      }
+    } catch (error) {
+      link.cancel();
+      throw error;
     }
     ```
 
-    `dismissed` is required and must settle with the producer operation. `qrCode(...)` returns `Promise<void>` only after that promise settles; there is no separate user Continue acknowledgement. Provide a non-QR fallback when `prompter.qrCode` is unavailable.
+    `dismissed` is required and must settle with the producer operation. `qrCode(...)` returns `Promise<void>` only after that promise settles; there is no separate user Continue acknowledgement. Check capability before starting a credential-bearing operation. When `prompter.qrCode` is unavailable, route the operator to a plugin-native setup flow instead of putting the raw link URI in prompt text.
 
   </Accordion>
   <Accordion title="Shared allowFrom prompts">
diff --git a/src/system-agent/chat-engine.ts b/src/system-agent/chat-engine.ts
index 038be9df5c2f..4dcc8d2507c1 100644
--- a/src/system-agent/chat-engine.ts
+++ b/src/system-agent/chat-engine.ts
@@ -331,7 +331,9 @@ export class SystemAgentChatEngine {
     this.router.clearForInferenceLoss();
     delete this.agentSession.cliSession;
     if (cancelWizard) {
-      void this.wizard.dispose();
+      // Inference loss terminates the conversation. Start the aggregate owner
+      // disposal now so later Gateway/TUI cleanup joins the producer settlement.
+      void this.dispose().catch(() => undefined);
     }
     this.history.splice(0);
     throw new SystemAgentInferenceUnavailableError("conversation", failures);
diff --git a/src/system-agent/chat-wizard-host.test.ts b/src/system-agent/chat-wizard-host.test.ts
index 2d2a44e72b4b..03947d056e25 100644
--- a/src/system-agent/chat-wizard-host.test.ts
+++ b/src/system-agent/chat-wizard-host.test.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import {
   CANCEL_HINT,
   countCancelHints,
   expectDefined,
+  SystemAgentInferenceUnavailableError,
   SystemAgentWizardAnswerError,
   type OpenClawConfig,
   type WizardPrompter,
@@ -319,6 +320,81 @@ describe("SystemAgentChatEngine wizard", () => {
     expect(disposed).toBe(true);
   });
 
+  it("retains QR cleanup after inference loss clears the active bridge", async () => {
+    const baseConfig = {
+      agents: { defaults: { model: "openai/gpt-5.5" } },
+      models: {
+        providers: {
+          openai: {
+            baseUrl: "https://api.openai.com/v1",
+            apiKey: "test-key",
+            auth: "api-key",
+            models: [],
+          },
+        },
+      },
+    } satisfies OpenClawConfig;
+    const changedConfig = {
+      agents: { defaults: { model: "anthropic/claude-opus-4-8" } },
+    } satisfies OpenClawConfig;
+    const verifiedInference = await createAmbientVerifiedBinding(baseConfig);
+    let currentConfig: OpenClawConfig = baseConfig;
+    let cleanupStarted = false;
+    let releaseCleanup!: () => void;
+    const cleanup = new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+      releaseCleanup = resolve;
+    });
+    const engine = new SystemAgentChatEngine({
+      surface: "gateway",
+      supportsQrCode: true,
+      verifiedInference,
+      runAgentTurn: async () => null,
+      planWithAssistant: async () => null,
+      deps: {
+        readConfigFileSnapshot: vi.fn(async () => configSnapshot(currentConfig)) as never,
+        loadOverview: fakeOverviewLoader(),
+      },
+      runChannelSetupWizard: async (_channel, prompter, _beforePersistentApply, signal) => {
+        const owner = new Promise<void>((_resolve, reject) => {
+          signal.addEventListener(
+            "abort",
+            () => reject(new Error("QR owner aborted", { cause: signal.reason })),
+            { once: true },
+          );
+        });
+        try {
+          await prompter.qrCode?.({
+            title: "Link a device",
+            message: "Scan this QR code and approve the device.",
+            text: QR_TEXT,
+            dismissed: owner,
+          });
+        } finally {
+          cleanupStarted = true;
+          await cleanup;
+        }
+      },
+    });
+
+    await engine.handle("connect telegram");
+    currentConfig = changedConfig;
+    await expect(engine.handle("status")).rejects.toBeInstanceOf(
+      SystemAgentInferenceUnavailableError,
+    );
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(cleanupStarted).toBe(true));
+
+    let disposed = false;
+    const disposal = engine.dispose().then(() => {
+      disposed = true;
+    });
+    await Promise.resolve();
+    expect(disposed).toBe(false);
+
+    releaseCleanup();
+    await disposal;
+    expect(disposed).toBe(true);
+  });
+
   it("scrubs an expired QR while its owner remains cancellable", async () => {
     vi.useFakeTimers();
     vi.setSystemTime(1_800_000_000_000);