diff --git a/TRACK_B1_BRIEF.md b/TRACK_B1_BRIEF.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..2207cacf2809
--- /dev/null
+++ b/TRACK_B1_BRIEF.md
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+# Track B1+B4+B5: truthful run liveness — delete fake evidence, honest recovery attribution, evidence-aged steer capture
+
+Design issue: https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/issues/101863 (Track B design comment). This branch is stacked on `fix/reply-run-terminal-release` (PR #101910, Track A) and uses its primitives: `ReplyOperation.lastActivityAtMs`, `recordActivity()`, `expireStaleReplyOperation()`, failure code `"run_stalled"`, constant `REPLY_RUN_STALE_TAKEOVER_MS` — all in `src/auto-reply/reply/reply-run-registry.ts`. This brief is authoritative for scope.
+
+## B1 — delete the CLI timer heartbeat; phase-aware tool-stall floor
+
+Problem (verified): `startClaudeLiveActiveToolHeartbeat` (`src/agents/cli-runner/claude-live-session.ts:551-566`) emits `cli_live:tool_running` on a 10s `setInterval` while a tool is merely _marked_ active (`turn.activeTools.size > 0`). That flows via `emitClaudeLiveProgress` → `run.progress` → `touchSessionActivity` (`src/logging/diagnostic-run-activity.ts:185`), resetting `lastProgressAt` with zero evidence the CLI child is alive. Consequence (#96168): the `blocked_tool_call` classifier branch (`src/logging/diagnostic-session-attention.ts:55-67`) — which correctly requires BOTH `activeToolAgeMs > staleMs` AND `lastProgressAgeMs > staleMs` — can never fire for a wedged CLI tool, and neither can any stuck-recovery abort gate keyed on `lastProgressAgeMs`.
+
+Fix:
+
+1. Delete the heartbeat entirely: `startClaudeLiveActiveToolHeartbeat`, `CLAUDE_LIVE_ACTIVE_TOOL_PROGRESS_MS` (`claude-live-session.ts:112`), the start call (~`:598`), the stop calls (~`:568`, `:654`), turn-cleanup clearing (~`:390`), and the `cli_live:tool_running` reason string. Real frames already stamp progress: tool start (`:597`), tool result (`:612`, `:653`), terminal result (`:711`), and any stdout frame via `noteClaudeLiveProgress` (`:705`, `:717`). Do NOT touch the byte-level no-output watchdog (`resetNoOutputTimer` `:720-738`) — it is evidence-based and correct.
+2. Deleting the fake stamp re-exposes the #88870 hazard: a legitimately quiet long tool would become abort-eligible at the default `stuckSessionAbortMs` (~6 min). Add a tool-phase abort floor in `src/logging/diagnostic.ts`:
+   - New constant next to the other thresholds (`diagnostic.ts:80-85`): `BLOCKED_TOOL_CALL_ABORT_FLOOR_MS = 15 * 60_000`, with a 2-3 line contract comment: quiet-but-alive tools are normal agent behavior; the CLI byte watchdog kills truly-silent children at ≤600s; this floor only governs diagnostic recovery aborts for chatty-but-stuck turns; too low re-creates #88870, removal re-creates #96168's motivation for fake heartbeats.
+   - Apply in `isBlockedToolCallRecoveryEligible` (`diagnostic.ts:514`): eligibility requires `lastProgressAgeMs >= Math.max(stuckSessionAbortMs, BLOCKED_TOOL_CALL_ABORT_FLOOR_MS)` (only for the tool_call kind — do not change model_call or embedded_run gates).
+   - The warn-level classification (`classifySessionAttention` blocked_tool_call branch) keeps current thresholds — early warning naming the tool is good UX and cheap.
+3. Delete tests asserting the removed heartbeat behavior (they protect a removed path); update wedged-tool tests so a stuck tool with no frames becomes stale → classified → recovery-eligible after the floor.
+
+## B4 — honest recovery attribution + stall-proof heartbeat math
+
+Problem 1 (verified): a diagnostic stuck-recovery abort of a reply-backed run routes `abortAndDrainEmbeddedAgentRun` → `abortReplyRunBySessionId` (`reply-run-registry.ts:856`) → `operation.abortByUser()` (`:664`) which stamps `abortedCode: "aborted_by_user"` (`:671`). Watchdog kills surface to the user as their own abort (#88870's misattribution).
+
+Fix: recovery is a staleness expiry, and Track A already built the primitive. In `src/logging/diagnostic-stuck-session-recovery.runtime.ts` (and the runs.ts abort leg it calls), when recovery decides to abort/force-clear a **reply-registry-owned** operation, route it through `expireStaleReplyOperation(operation, ...)` instead of `abortByUser()`/plain `fail("run_failed")`, so the terminal result is `{kind:"failed", code:"run_stalled"}` and the takeover log names the reason. Extend the `ReplyOperationStaleReason` union with `"stuck_recovery"` (closed union — check every consumer). For embedded (non-reply) runs, keep `abortAndDrainEmbeddedAgentRun` but ensure the abort reason threading does not produce a user-abort-shaped terminal outcome: check `resolveAgentRunAbortLifecycleFields` / terminal-outcome normalization (`src/agents/agent-run-terminal-outcome.ts`) and make the stuck-recovery abort distinguishable (a recovery-tagged abort error is acceptable; do not invent new lifecycle phases). Do not change the recovery module's detection logic beyond this routing.
+
+Problem 2 (verified, #101670): all staleness ages are raw `Date.now()` deltas; the 30s heartbeat (`diagnostic.ts:1211`) computes `ageMs = now - state.lastActivity` (`:1281`) after an event-loop stall and reads the stall as session staleness.
+
+Fix: the heartbeat records its own last tick timestamp. When a tick arrives later than ~3× the interval (>90s), that tick logs a warn (`liveness heartbeat delayed <n>ms; deferring recovery decisions`) and performs NO recovery/abort scheduling — classification/warn logging may still run. The next on-time tick proceeds normally. One module-local variable, one guard, one contract comment (a delayed tick means the process stalled, not the sessions; acting on inflated ages aborts healthy runs). Test with fake timers.
+
+## B5 — steer capture refuses evidence-stale runs
+
+Problem (proven live in PR #101910's E2E): steer acceptance checks only streaming/stopped state, so a wedged run swallows its own rescue messages before reply admission can evaluate Track A's stale takeover.
+
+Fix, two gates:
+
+1. `queueReplyRunMessage` (`reply-run-registry.ts:839-854`): refuse (return false) when `Date.now() - operation.lastActivityAtMs > REPLY_RUN_STALE_TAKEOVER_MS`. A refused caller already falls back to normal followup queueing → admission → Track A reclaim. Contract comment: steering into an evidence-dead run swallows the human message that would otherwise trigger stale takeover.
+2. `prepareEmbeddedAgentQueueMessage` (`src/agents/embedded-agent-runner/runs.ts:437-499`): after the injectable check, refuse when the session's diagnostic activity evidence is stale: use `getDiagnosticSessionActivitySnapshot` (`src/logging/diagnostic-run-activity.ts:572`) `lastProgressAgeMs` (when available) `>` a local `EMBEDDED_STEER_STALE_CAPTURE_MS = 10 * 60_000` constant (src/agents must not import src/auto-reply; duplicate the value with a comment naming `REPLY_RUN_STALE_TAKEOVER_MS` as the paired constant). New closed failure reason `"stale_run"` added to `EmbeddedAgentQueueFailureReason` (`runs.ts:56-62`) — check every consumer of that union handles it (sessions-send-tool.ts, subagent-announce-delivery.ts, etc.; they should treat it like `no_active_run`/`not_streaming` fall-through). If no diagnostic snapshot exists (diagnostics disabled), skip the gate (status quo).
+
+- Non-goal: draining already-captured steer entries from a dead handle (Track C durability).
+
+## Non-goals (do not touch)
+
+- Codex app-server watches (`extensions/codex`) — separate Track B2 PR.
+- `llm-idle-timeout.ts` / `timeout.ts` semantics — separate Track B3 PR.
+- No new config keys or env vars; constants only. `stuckSessionWarnMs`/`stuckSessionAbortMs` keep their meaning.
+- No changes to the CLI byte-level no-output watchdog or supervisor.
+- No user-visible message wording work beyond what attribution requires (Track D owns messaging).
+
+## Repo conventions
+
+- TS ESM strict, no `any`, closed unions/codes. Comments: 1-3 lines, contract + bad outcome if removed, at lifecycle/threshold/ownership points only.
+- Tests colocated, Vitest, fake timers cleaned up, `--isolate=false` safe. Delete tests of removed paths rather than porting them.
+- Keep LOC tight; B1 should be clearly net-negative (a whole heartbeat mechanism disappears).
+
+## Required tests
+
+1. CLI wedged-tool: tool started, no further frames → `lastProgressAgeMs` grows (no timer stamps exist anymore), `blocked_tool_call` classification fires, recovery becomes eligible only after `max(stuckSessionAbortMs, BLOCKED_TOOL_CALL_ABORT_FLOOR_MS)`.
+2. CLI active-tool with real frames (tool result / stream frames arriving) → never classified stalled.
+3. Recovery abort of a reply-owned stale run → operation result `{failed, run_stalled}`, NOT `aborted_by_user`; user-abort path still yields `aborted_by_user`.
+4. Delayed heartbeat tick (fake timers, simulate >90s gap) → no recovery scheduled that tick, warn logged, next tick recovers normally.
+5. `queueReplyRunMessage` refuses when `lastActivityAtMs` stale, accepts when fresh (recordActivity just called).
+6. `prepareEmbeddedAgentQueueMessage` returns `"stale_run"` when diagnostic evidence stale; accepts when fresh; skips gate when no snapshot.
+7. Consumers of `EmbeddedAgentQueueFailureReason` handle `"stale_run"` (compile-time exhaustiveness + behavior fall-through where tested).
+
+## Validation before you commit
+
+- `node scripts/run-vitest.mjs src/logging src/agents/cli-runner src/auto-reply/reply src/agents/embedded-agent-runner` relevant test files (start with the directly touched test files, then the import sweep below). Never bare `pnpm test`/`vitest`.
+- Import sweep: `rg -l 'claude-live-session|diagnostic-run-activity|diagnostic-session-attention|stuck-session-recovery|queueEmbeddedAgentMessage|queueReplyRunMessage|EmbeddedAgentQueueFailureReason' --glob '*.test.ts' src test` and run those files.
+- Typecheck: `node scripts/run-tsgo.mjs -p tsconfig.core.json --incremental --tsBuildInfoFile .artifacts/tsgo-cache/core.tsbuildinfo` and the core-test lane; check exit codes directly, no pipes.
+- Format touched files with `node_modules/.bin/oxfmt`; lint with `node scripts/run-oxlint.mjs <files>`.
+
+Commit on this branch with a conventional message (e.g. `fix(agents): replace fake CLI liveness with evidence-based stall detection`). Do not push. Do not open a PR. Write design decisions + test results to `TRACK_B1_NOTES.md` at the worktree root.
diff --git a/src/agents/cli-runner.spawn.test.ts b/src/agents/cli-runner.spawn.test.ts
index 36256b0e0c34..b3e7a1d6a180 100644
--- a/src/agents/cli-runner.spawn.test.ts
+++ b/src/agents/cli-runner.spawn.test.ts
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import { onAgentEvent, resetAgentEventsForTest } from "../infra/agent-events.js"
 import {
   onInternalDiagnosticEvent,
   onTrustedToolExecutionEvent,
+  setDiagnosticsEnabledForProcess,
   waitForDiagnosticEventsDrained,
 } from "../infra/diagnostic-events.js";
 import {
@@ -66,6 +67,7 @@ type ProcessSupervisor = ReturnType<typeof getProcessSupervisor>;
 type SupervisorSpawnFn = ProcessSupervisor["spawn"];
 
 beforeEach(() => {
+  setDiagnosticsEnabledForProcess(true);
   resetAgentEventsForTest();
   resetDiagnosticRunActivityForTest();
   resetClaudeLiveSessionsForTest();
@@ -2142,7 +2144,7 @@ ${JSON.stringify({
     expect(parsed.response.response.updatedInput).toEqual({ command: "ls" });
   });
 
-  it("reports Claude live stream progress and keeps native tools fresh while they are running", async () => {
+  it("reports Claude live stream progress without timer heartbeats", async () => {
     vi.useFakeTimers({
       toFake: ["Date", "setTimeout", "clearTimeout", "setInterval", "clearInterval"],
     });
@@ -2250,11 +2252,11 @@ ${JSON.stringify({
       expect(
         getDiagnosticSessionActivitySnapshot({ sessionKey: "agent:main:diagnostics" })
           .lastProgressReason,
-      ).toBe("cli_live:tool_running");
+      ).toBe("cli_live:tool_started");
       expect(
         getDiagnosticSessionActivitySnapshot({ sessionKey: "agent:main:diagnostics" })
           .lastProgressAgeMs,
-      ).toBeLessThan(100);
+      ).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(10_000);
 
       stdoutListener?.(
         [
diff --git a/src/agents/cli-runner/claude-live-session.ts b/src/agents/cli-runner/claude-live-session.ts
index 2b47e25e9ade..f0c7cc1acb10 100644
--- a/src/agents/cli-runner/claude-live-session.ts
+++ b/src/agents/cli-runner/claude-live-session.ts
@@ -58,7 +58,6 @@ type ClaudeLiveTurn = {
   sessionId?: string;
   noOutputTimer: NodeJS.Timeout | null;
   timeoutTimer: NodeJS.Timeout | null;
-  activeToolTimer: NodeJS.Timeout | null;
   activeTools: Map<string, ClaudeLiveActiveTool>;
   observedStdout: boolean;
   completedToolCallIds: Set<string>;
@@ -109,7 +108,6 @@ type ClaudeLiveToolTerminalOutcome =
   | { outcome: "blocked"; deniedReason: string; reason?: string }
   | { outcome: "cancelled" | "failed" | "timed_out" | "unknown" };
 const CLAUDE_LIVE_IDLE_TIMEOUT_MS = 10 * 60 * 1_000;
-const CLAUDE_LIVE_ACTIVE_TOOL_PROGRESS_MS = 10_000;
 const CLAUDE_LIVE_MAX_SESSIONS = 16;
 const CLAUDE_LIVE_MAX_STDERR_CHARS = 64 * 1024;
 const CLAUDE_LIVE_CLOSE_WAIT_TIMEOUT_MS = 5_000;
@@ -386,10 +384,6 @@ function clearTurnTimers(turn: ClaudeLiveTurn): void {
     clearTimeout(turn.timeoutTimer);
     turn.timeoutTimer = null;
   }
-  if (turn.activeToolTimer) {
-    clearInterval(turn.activeToolTimer);
-    turn.activeToolTimer = null;
-  }
 }
 
 function finishTurn(session: ClaudeLiveSession, output: CliOutput): void {
@@ -548,31 +542,6 @@ function summarizeClaudeLiveToolInput(input: unknown): DiagnosticToolParamsSumma
   }
 }
 
-function startClaudeLiveActiveToolHeartbeat(turn: ClaudeLiveTurn): void {
-  if (turn.activeToolTimer || turn.activeTools.size === 0) {
-    return;
-  }
-  turn.activeToolTimer = setInterval(() => {
-    if (turn.activeTools.size === 0) {
-      if (turn.activeToolTimer) {
-        clearInterval(turn.activeToolTimer);
-        turn.activeToolTimer = null;
-      }
-      return;
-    }
-    emitClaudeLiveProgress(turn, "cli_live:tool_running");
-  }, CLAUDE_LIVE_ACTIVE_TOOL_PROGRESS_MS);
-  turn.activeToolTimer.unref?.();
-}
-
-function stopClaudeLiveActiveToolHeartbeatIfIdle(turn: ClaudeLiveTurn): void {
-  if (turn.activeTools.size > 0 || !turn.activeToolTimer) {
-    return;
-  }
-  clearInterval(turn.activeToolTimer);
-  turn.activeToolTimer = null;
-}
-
 function markClaudeLiveToolStarted(turn: ClaudeLiveTurn, tool: CliToolUseStartDelta): void {
   if (turn.completedToolCallIds.has(tool.toolCallId) || turn.activeTools.has(tool.toolCallId)) {
     return;
@@ -595,7 +564,6 @@ function markClaudeLiveToolStarted(turn: ClaudeLiveTurn, tool: CliToolUseStartDe
     paramsSummary: summarizeClaudeLiveToolInput(tool.args),
   });
   emitClaudeLiveProgress(turn, "cli_live:tool_started");
-  startClaudeLiveActiveToolHeartbeat(turn);
 }
 
 function markClaudeLiveToolCompleted(
@@ -651,7 +619,6 @@ function markClaudeLiveToolCompleted(
     });
   }
   emitClaudeLiveProgress(turn, "cli_live:tool_result");
-  stopClaudeLiveActiveToolHeartbeatIfIdle(turn);
 }
 
 function markClaudeLiveToolDenied(turn: ClaudeLiveTurn, tool: CliToolUseStartDelta): void {
@@ -1170,7 +1137,6 @@ function createTurn(params: {
     rawChars: 0,
     noOutputTimer: null,
     timeoutTimer: null,
-    activeToolTimer: null,
     activeTools: new Map(),
     observedStdout: false,
     completedToolCallIds: new Set(),
diff --git a/src/agents/embedded-agent-runner/runs.test.ts b/src/agents/embedded-agent-runner/runs.test.ts
index c0129d54a197..8e29d3f6f6fb 100644
--- a/src/agents/embedded-agent-runner/runs.test.ts
+++ b/src/agents/embedded-agent-runner/runs.test.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import {
   isReplyRunActiveForSessionId,
 } from "../../auto-reply/reply/reply-run-registry.js";
 import { setDiagnosticsEnabledForProcess } from "../../infra/diagnostic-events.js";
+import { resetDiagnosticRunActivityForTest } from "../../logging/diagnostic-run-activity.js";
 import {
   getDiagnosticSessionState,
   resetDiagnosticSessionStateForTest,
@@ -236,6 +237,32 @@ describe("embedded-agent runner run registry", () => {
     expect(abort).toHaveBeenCalledWith("restart");
   });
 
+  it("expires reply-owned stuck recovery as run_stalled instead of user abort", async () => {
+    const cancel = vi.fn();
+    const operation = createReplyOperation({
+      sessionKey: "agent:main:reply-stuck",
+      sessionId: "session-reply-stuck",
+      resetTriggered: false,
+    });
+    operation.attachBackend({
+      kind: "embedded",
+      cancel,
+      isStreaming: () => true,
+    });
+    operation.setPhase("running");
+
+    const result = await abortAndDrainEmbeddedAgentRun({
+      sessionId: "session-reply-stuck",
+      sessionKey: "agent:main:reply-stuck",
+      reason: "stuck_recovery",
+      forceClear: true,
+    });
+
+    expect(result).toEqual({ aborted: true, drained: true, forceCleared: false });
+    expect(operation.result).toEqual({ kind: "failed", code: "run_stalled" });
+    expect(cancel).toHaveBeenCalledWith("superseded");
+  });
+
   it("claims shared restart ownership before invoking an attached handle", () => {
     const abort = vi.fn();
     const handle = createRunHandle({ abort });
@@ -458,6 +485,53 @@ describe("embedded-agent runner run registry", () => {
     expect(queueMessage).toHaveBeenCalledWith("continue", { steeringMode: "all" });
   });
 
+  it("refuses embedded steering when diagnostic evidence is stale", () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers();
+    try {
+      const queueMessage = vi.fn(async () => {});
+      setActiveEmbeddedRun("session-stale-steer", createRunHandle({ queueMessage }));
+
+      vi.advanceTimersByTime(10 * 60_000 + 1);
+
+      const outcome = queueEmbeddedAgentMessageWithOutcome("session-stale-steer", "continue");
+
+      expect(outcome).toEqual({
+        queued: false,
+        sessionId: "session-stale-steer",
+        reason: "stale_run",
+        gatewayHealth: "live",
+      });
+      expect(queueMessage).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    } finally {
+      vi.useRealTimers();
+    }
+  });
+
+  it("accepts embedded steering with fresh or missing diagnostic evidence", () => {
+    const freshQueueMessage = vi.fn(async () => {});
+    setActiveEmbeddedRun(
+      "session-fresh-steer",
+      createRunHandle({ queueMessage: freshQueueMessage }),
+    );
+
+    expect(queueEmbeddedAgentMessageWithOutcome("session-fresh-steer", "continue").queued).toBe(
+      true,
+    );
+    expect(freshQueueMessage).toHaveBeenCalledWith("continue", { steeringMode: "all" });
+
+    const missingSnapshotQueueMessage = vi.fn(async () => {});
+    setActiveEmbeddedRun(
+      "session-no-diagnostic-snapshot",
+      createRunHandle({ queueMessage: missingSnapshotQueueMessage }),
+    );
+    resetDiagnosticRunActivityForTest();
+
+    expect(
+      queueEmbeddedAgentMessageWithOutcome("session-no-diagnostic-snapshot", "continue").queued,
+    ).toBe(true);
+    expect(missingSnapshotQueueMessage).toHaveBeenCalledWith("continue", { steeringMode: "all" });
+  });
+
   it("does not queue into stopped handles", () => {
     const queueMessage = vi.fn(async () => {});
     setActiveEmbeddedRun(
diff --git a/src/agents/embedded-agent-runner/runs.ts b/src/agents/embedded-agent-runner/runs.ts
index 96b3d4ec06a9..fb421f3834ee 100644
--- a/src/agents/embedded-agent-runner/runs.ts
+++ b/src/agents/embedded-agent-runner/runs.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 import {
   abortActiveReplyRuns,
   abortReplyRunBySessionId,
+  expireStaleReplyRunBySessionId,
   forceClearReplyRunBySessionId,
   isReplyRunActiveForSessionId,
   isReplyRunAbortableForCompaction,
@@ -13,6 +14,7 @@ import {
   waitForReplyRunEndBySessionId,
 } from "../../auto-reply/reply/reply-run-registry.js";
 import {
+  getDiagnosticSessionActivitySnapshot,
   markDiagnosticEmbeddedRunEnded,
   markDiagnosticEmbeddedRunStarted,
 } from "../../logging/diagnostic-run-activity.js";
@@ -56,6 +58,7 @@ export {
 export type EmbeddedAgentQueueFailureReason =
   | "no_active_run"
   | "not_streaming"
+  | "stale_run"
   | "compacting"
   | "source_reply_delivery_mode_mismatch"
   | "transcript_commit_wait_unsupported"
@@ -88,6 +91,10 @@ type PreparedEmbeddedAgentQueueMessage =
       handle: EmbeddedAgentQueueHandle;
     };
 
+// Paired with REPLY_RUN_STALE_TAKEOVER_MS in the reply registry; src/agents
+// keeps its own constant to avoid importing auto-reply policy into this owner.
+const EMBEDDED_STEER_STALE_CAPTURE_MS = 10 * 60_000;
+
 function createQueueFailureOutcome(
   sessionId: string,
   reason: EmbeddedAgentQueueFailureReason,
@@ -471,6 +478,14 @@ function prepareEmbeddedAgentQueueMessage(
     diag.debug(`queue message failed: sessionId=${sessionId} reason=not_streaming`);
     return { kind: "complete", outcome: createQueueFailureOutcome(sessionId, "not_streaming") };
   }
+  const activity = getDiagnosticSessionActivitySnapshot({ sessionId });
+  if (
+    typeof activity.lastProgressAgeMs === "number" &&
+    activity.lastProgressAgeMs > EMBEDDED_STEER_STALE_CAPTURE_MS
+  ) {
+    diag.debug(`queue message failed: sessionId=${sessionId} reason=stale_run`);
+    return { kind: "complete", outcome: createQueueFailureOutcome(sessionId, "stale_run") };
+  }
   if (handle.isCompacting()) {
     diag.debug(`queue message failed: sessionId=${sessionId} reason=compacting`);
     return { kind: "complete", outcome: createQueueFailureOutcome(sessionId, "compacting") };
@@ -755,6 +770,19 @@ export async function abortAndDrainEmbeddedAgentRun(params: {
   reason?: string;
 }): Promise<AbortAndDrainEmbeddedAgentRunResult> {
   const settleMs = params.settleMs ?? 15_000;
+  if (
+    params.reason === "stuck_recovery" &&
+    !ACTIVE_EMBEDDED_RUNS.has(params.sessionId) &&
+    expireStaleReplyRunBySessionId(params.sessionId, "stuck_recovery")
+  ) {
+    // Reply expiry aborts synchronously and clears registry ownership. Let the
+    // command lane observe that abort before recovery decides whether to reset it.
+    await new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+      setImmediate(resolve);
+    });
+    const drained = await waitForEmbeddedAgentRunEnd(params.sessionId, settleMs);
+    return { aborted: true, drained, forceCleared: false };
+  }
   const aborted = abortEmbeddedAgentRun(params.sessionId);
   const drained = aborted ? await waitForEmbeddedAgentRunEnd(params.sessionId, settleMs) : false;
   const forceCleared =
diff --git a/src/agents/tools/sessions-send-tool.ts b/src/agents/tools/sessions-send-tool.ts
index 1f9ba2ae6b94..279b13f719aa 100644
--- a/src/agents/tools/sessions-send-tool.ts
+++ b/src/agents/tools/sessions-send-tool.ts
@@ -235,7 +235,10 @@ function shouldFallbackCronRunScopedActiveDelivery(
   outcome: EmbeddedAgentQueueMessageOutcome,
 ): boolean {
   return (
-    !outcome.queued && (outcome.reason === "not_streaming" || outcome.reason === "no_active_run")
+    !outcome.queued &&
+    (outcome.reason === "not_streaming" ||
+      outcome.reason === "no_active_run" ||
+      outcome.reason === "stale_run")
   );
 }
 
diff --git a/src/auto-reply/reply/reply-run-registry.test.ts b/src/auto-reply/reply/reply-run-registry.test.ts
index 50e25fd873e1..09c7beb222ef 100644
--- a/src/auto-reply/reply/reply-run-registry.test.ts
+++ b/src/auto-reply/reply/reply-run-registry.test.ts
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import {
   isReplyRunAbortableForSignal,
   queueReplyRunMessage,
   REPLY_RUN_IDLE_SETTLE_TIMEOUT_MS,
+  REPLY_RUN_STALE_TAKEOVER_MS,
   REPLY_RUN_TERMINAL_SETTLE_TIMEOUT_MS,
   replyRunRegistry,
   runAfterReplyOperationClear,
@@ -849,6 +850,37 @@ describe("reply run registry", () => {
     expect(queueMessage).toHaveBeenCalledWith("hello");
   });
 
+  it("refuses stale reply-run steering until real activity resumes", () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers();
+    try {
+      const queueMessage = vi.fn(async () => {});
+      const operation = createReplyOperation({
+        sessionKey: "agent:main:main",
+        sessionId: "session-running",
+        resetTriggered: false,
+      });
+      operation.attachBackend({
+        kind: "embedded",
+        cancel: vi.fn(),
+        isStreaming: () => true,
+        queueMessage,
+      });
+      operation.setPhase("running");
+
+      vi.advanceTimersByTime(REPLY_RUN_STALE_TAKEOVER_MS + 1);
+
+      expect(queueReplyRunMessage("session-running", "stale")).toBe(false);
+      expect(queueMessage).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+      operation.recordActivity();
+
+      expect(queueReplyRunMessage("session-running", "fresh")).toBe(true);
+      expect(queueMessage).toHaveBeenCalledWith("fresh");
+    } finally {
+      vi.useRealTimers();
+    }
+  });
+
   it("does not queue messages through stopped backends", () => {
     const queueMessage = vi.fn(async () => {});
     const operation = createReplyOperation({
diff --git a/src/auto-reply/reply/reply-run-registry.ts b/src/auto-reply/reply/reply-run-registry.ts
index 54c57a09e492..5a464bac0815 100644
--- a/src/auto-reply/reply/reply-run-registry.ts
+++ b/src/auto-reply/reply/reply-run-registry.ts
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ export const REPLY_RUN_TERMINAL_SETTLE_TIMEOUT_MS = 60_000;
 // Timers and user-message injection never refresh activity; agent events do.
 export const REPLY_RUN_STALE_TAKEOVER_MS = 10 * 60_000;
 
-export type ReplyOperationStaleReason = "terminal_unreleased" | "no_activity";
+export type ReplyOperationStaleReason = "terminal_unreleased" | "no_activity" | "stuck_recovery";
 
 export class ReplyRunAlreadyActiveError extends Error {
   constructor(sessionKey: string) {
@@ -843,6 +843,14 @@ export function expireStaleReplyOperation(
   return expireReplyOperationByOperation.get(operation)?.(reason) ?? false;
 }
 
+export function expireStaleReplyRunBySessionId(
+  sessionId: string,
+  reason: ReplyOperationStaleReason,
+): boolean {
+  const operation = resolveReplyRunForCurrentSessionId(sessionId);
+  return operation ? expireStaleReplyOperation(operation, reason) : false;
+}
+
 export const replyRunRegistry: ReplyRunRegistry = {
   begin(params) {
     return createReplyOperation(params);
@@ -969,6 +977,11 @@ export function queueReplyRunMessage(
   if (!operation || operation.phase !== "running" || !backend?.queueMessage) {
     return false;
   }
+  // Steering into an evidence-dead run swallows the human message that would
+  // otherwise trigger stale takeover through normal reply admission.
+  if (Date.now() - operation.lastActivityAtMs > REPLY_RUN_STALE_TAKEOVER_MS) {
+    return false;
+  }
   if (!isReplyBackendMessageInjectable(backend)) {
     return false;
   }
diff --git a/src/logging/diagnostic.test.ts b/src/logging/diagnostic.test.ts
index 6eca92ab6ba1..64121d973aa7 100644
--- a/src/logging/diagnostic.test.ts
+++ b/src/logging/diagnostic.test.ts
@@ -423,6 +423,37 @@ describe("stuck session diagnostics threshold", () => {
     );
   });
 
+  it("defers recovery on delayed heartbeat ticks and recovers on the next on-time tick", () => {
+    const recoverStuckSession = vi.fn();
+    const warnSpy = vi.spyOn(diagnosticLogger, "warn").mockImplementation(() => undefined);
+
+    vi.setSystemTime(0);
+    startDiagnosticHeartbeat(
+      {
+        diagnostics: {
+          enabled: true,
+          stuckSessionWarnMs: 30_000,
+        },
+      },
+      { recoverStuckSession },
+    );
+    logSessionStateChange({ sessionId: "s1", sessionKey: "main", state: "processing" });
+
+    vi.setSystemTime(120_001);
+    vi.advanceTimersByTime(30_000);
+
+    expectLoggerMessageContaining(warnSpy, "liveness heartbeat delayed");
+    expect(recoverStuckSession).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+    vi.advanceTimersByTime(30_000);
+
+    expectRecoveryCall(
+      recoverStuckSession,
+      { sessionId: "s1", sessionKey: "main", queueDepth: 0 },
+      ["ageMs", "stateGeneration"],
+    );
+  });
+
   it("does not warn while a processing session continues reporting progress", () => {
     const events: DiagnosticEventPayload[] = [];
     const unsubscribe = onDiagnosticEvent((event) => {
@@ -747,10 +778,10 @@ describe("stuck session diagnostics threshold", () => {
         toolCallId: "cmd-1",
       });
 
-      vi.advanceTimersByTime(stuckSessionAbortMs - 30_000);
+      vi.advanceTimersByTime(stuckSessionAbortMs);
       expect(recoverStuckSession).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
 
-      vi.advanceTimersByTime(30_000);
+      vi.advanceTimersByTime(15 * 60_000 - stuckSessionAbortMs);
     } finally {
       unsubscribe();
     }
@@ -775,6 +806,51 @@ describe("stuck session diagnostics threshold", () => {
     );
   });
 
+  it("does not classify active tool calls stalled while real progress frames arrive", () => {
+    const events: DiagnosticEventPayload[] = [];
+    const recoverStuckSession = vi.fn();
+    const unsubscribe = onDiagnosticEvent((event) => {
+      events.push(event);
+    });
+    try {
+      startDiagnosticHeartbeat(
+        {
+          diagnostics: {
+            enabled: true,
+            stuckSessionWarnMs: 30_000,
+            stuckSessionAbortMs: 60_000,
+          },
+        },
+        { recoverStuckSession },
+      );
+      logSessionStateChange({ sessionId: "s1", sessionKey: "main", state: "processing" });
+      markDiagnosticEmbeddedRunStarted({ sessionId: "s1", sessionKey: "main" });
+      markDiagnosticToolStartedForTest({
+        sessionId: "s1",
+        sessionKey: "main",
+        runId: "run-1",
+        toolName: "bash",
+        toolCallId: "cmd-1",
+      });
+
+      for (let i = 0; i < 20; i += 1) {
+        vi.advanceTimersByTime(29_000);
+        markDiagnosticRunProgressForTest({
+          sessionId: "s1",
+          sessionKey: "main",
+          runId: "run-1",
+          reason: "cli_live:stream_progress",
+        });
+        vi.advanceTimersByTime(1_000);
+      }
+    } finally {
+      unsubscribe();
+    }
+
+    expect(events.some((event) => event.type === "session.stalled")).toBe(false);
+    expect(recoverStuckSession).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
   it("recovers stale model calls through the active embedded-run abort path", async () => {
     const events: DiagnosticEventPayload[] = [];
     const recoverStuckSession = vi.fn();
@@ -1070,6 +1146,9 @@ describe("stuck session diagnostics threshold", () => {
     expect(recoverStuckSession).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
 
     vi.advanceTimersByTime(30_000);
+    expect(recoverStuckSession).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+    vi.advanceTimersByTime(15 * 60_000 - stuckSessionAbortMs);
     expectRecoveryCall(
       recoverStuckSession,
       { sessionId: "s1", sessionKey: "main", queueDepth: 0, allowActiveAbort: true },
diff --git a/src/logging/diagnostic.ts b/src/logging/diagnostic.ts
index e301e363106b..59a0816d422f 100644
--- a/src/logging/diagnostic.ts
+++ b/src/logging/diagnostic.ts
@@ -82,11 +82,17 @@ const MIN_STUCK_SESSION_WARN_MS = 1_000;
 const MAX_STUCK_SESSION_WARN_MS = 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000;
 const MIN_STALLED_EMBEDDED_RUN_ABORT_MS = 5 * 60_000;
 const STALLED_EMBEDDED_RUN_ABORT_WARN_MULTIPLIER = 3;
+// Quiet-but-alive tools are normal agent behavior; the CLI byte watchdog kills
+// truly silent children within its own deadline. This floor only bounds
+// diagnostic recovery aborts; lowering it reopens #88870, removing it reopens #96168.
+const BLOCKED_TOOL_CALL_ABORT_FLOOR_MS = 15 * 60_000;
 const RECENT_DIAGNOSTIC_ACTIVITY_MS = 120_000;
 const DEFAULT_LIVENESS_EVENT_LOOP_DELAY_WARN_MS = 1_000;
 const DEFAULT_LIVENESS_EVENT_LOOP_UTILIZATION_WARN = 0.95;
 const DEFAULT_LIVENESS_CPU_CORE_RATIO_WARN = 0.9;
 const DEFAULT_LIVENESS_WARN_COOLDOWN_MS = 120_000;
+const DIAGNOSTIC_HEARTBEAT_INTERVAL_MS = 30_000;
+const DIAGNOSTIC_HEARTBEAT_DELAY_RECOVERY_SKIP_MS = 3 * DIAGNOSTIC_HEARTBEAT_INTERVAL_MS;
 const loadStuckSessionRecoveryRuntime = createLazyRuntimeModule(
   () => import("./diagnostic-stuck-session-recovery.runtime.js"),
 );
@@ -528,14 +534,15 @@ function isBlockedToolCallRecoveryEligible(params: {
 }): boolean {
   const toolAgeMs = params.activity?.activeToolAgeMs;
   const lastProgressAgeMs = params.activity?.lastProgressAgeMs;
+  const abortMs = Math.max(params.stuckSessionAbortMs, BLOCKED_TOOL_CALL_ABORT_FLOOR_MS);
   return (
     params.classification?.eventType === "session.stalled" &&
     params.classification.classification === "blocked_tool_call" &&
     params.classification.activeWorkKind === "tool_call" &&
     typeof toolAgeMs === "number" &&
     typeof lastProgressAgeMs === "number" &&
-    toolAgeMs >= params.stuckSessionAbortMs &&
-    lastProgressAgeMs >= params.stuckSessionAbortMs
+    toolAgeMs >= abortMs &&
+    lastProgressAgeMs >= abortMs
   );
 }
 
@@ -1202,6 +1209,7 @@ export function logActiveRuns() {
 }
 
 let heartbeatInterval: NodeJS.Timeout | null = null;
+let lastDiagnosticHeartbeatTickAt: number | undefined;
 
 export function startDiagnosticHeartbeat(
   config?: OpenClawConfig,
@@ -1218,6 +1226,7 @@ export function startDiagnosticHeartbeat(
   startDiagnosticLivenessSampler();
   const livenessGraceUntil =
     opts?.startupGraceMs != null && opts.startupGraceMs > 0 ? Date.now() + opts.startupGraceMs : 0;
+  lastDiagnosticHeartbeatTickAt = Date.now();
   heartbeatInterval = setInterval(() => {
     let heartbeatConfig = config;
     if (!heartbeatConfig) {
@@ -1231,6 +1240,17 @@ export function startDiagnosticHeartbeat(
     const stuckSessionAbortMs = resolveStuckSessionAbortMs(heartbeatConfig, stuckSessionWarnMs);
     const compactionSafetyTimeoutMs = resolveCompactionTimeoutMs(heartbeatConfig);
     const now = Date.now();
+    const tickDelayMs =
+      lastDiagnosticHeartbeatTickAt === undefined ? 0 : now - lastDiagnosticHeartbeatTickAt;
+    lastDiagnosticHeartbeatTickAt = now;
+    // A late interval tick means the process was stalled, not the sessions.
+    // Acting on inflated ages here can abort healthy runs; the next on-time tick decides.
+    const skipRecoveryThisTick = tickDelayMs > DIAGNOSTIC_HEARTBEAT_DELAY_RECOVERY_SKIP_MS;
+    if (skipRecoveryThisTick) {
+      diag.warn(
+        `liveness heartbeat delayed ${Math.round(tickDelayMs)}ms; deferring recovery decisions`,
+      );
+    }
     pruneDiagnosticSessionStates(now, true);
     const work = getDiagnosticWorkSnapshot(now);
     const inStartupGrace = livenessGraceUntil > 0 && now < livenessGraceUntil;
@@ -1313,7 +1333,7 @@ export function startDiagnosticHeartbeat(
           thresholdMs: stuckSessionWarnMs,
           abortThresholdMs: stuckSessionAbortMs,
         });
-        if (classification?.recoveryEligible) {
+        if (classification?.recoveryEligible && !skipRecoveryThisTick) {
           requestStuckSessionRecovery({
             recover: opts?.recoverStuckSession ?? recoverStuckSession,
             classification,
@@ -1331,6 +1351,7 @@ export function startDiagnosticHeartbeat(
           });
         } else if (
           classification &&
+          !skipRecoveryThisTick &&
           isActiveAbortRecoveryEligible({
             classification,
             activity,
@@ -1355,7 +1376,7 @@ export function startDiagnosticHeartbeat(
         }
       }
     }
-  }, 30_000);
+  }, DIAGNOSTIC_HEARTBEAT_INTERVAL_MS);
   heartbeatInterval.unref?.();
 }
 
@@ -1364,6 +1385,7 @@ export function stopDiagnosticHeartbeat() {
     clearInterval(heartbeatInterval);
     heartbeatInterval = null;
   }
+  lastDiagnosticHeartbeatTickAt = undefined;
   stopDiagnosticLivenessSampler();
   stopDiagnosticStabilityRecorder();
   uninstallDiagnosticStabilityFatalHook();