diff --git a/docs/install/docker.md b/docs/install/docker.md
index 6ed1fec16ebe..ebdd2af9d2f6 100644
--- a/docs/install/docker.md
+++ b/docs/install/docker.md
@@ -230,10 +230,11 @@ OPENCLAW_DOCKER_BUILD_NODE_OPTIONS=--max-old-space-size=4096 OPENCLAW_DOCKER_BUI
 `OPENCLAW_EXTENSIONS` selects plugin manifest ids from the source checkout;
 existing source-directory names are also accepted when they differ. The Docker
 build resolves the selection to source directories once, installs production
-dependencies, and, when a selected plugin is published separately with
-`openclaw.build.bundledDist: false`, compiles its runtime into the root bundled
-dist. This Docker-only packaging does not change the plugin's npm or ClawHub
-artifact contract. Unknown, invalid, or ambiguous ids fail the image build.
+dependencies, and includes the selected plugin runtime in the image. Source
+checkouts also compile first-party plugins published separately with
+`openclaw.build.bundledDist: false`; that marker still preserves the plugin's
+external npm or ClawHub ownership and does not change either artifact contract.
+Unknown, invalid, or ambiguous ids fail the image build.
 Known dependency/source-only ids keep their existing source and dependency
 staging without gaining a compiled root dist entry. A selected plugin with
 unified build entries must compile successfully; unselected external plugin
diff --git a/scripts/build-all.mts b/scripts/build-all.mts
index 11e739592eef..5961f471609b 100644
--- a/scripts/build-all.mts
+++ b/scripts/build-all.mts
@@ -235,6 +235,7 @@ export const BUILD_ALL_STEPS: BuildAllStep[] = [
       },
     },
   },
+  tsxStep("external-plugins:local-dist", "scripts/build-external-plugin-local-dist.mts"),
   tsxStep("check-cli-bootstrap-imports", "scripts/check-cli-bootstrap-imports.mts"),
   {
     label: "plugins:assets:copy",
@@ -289,6 +290,7 @@ export const BUILD_ALL_PROFILES: Record<string, string[]> = {
     "tsdown-ai",
     "tsdown-packages",
     "tsdown-unified",
+    "external-plugins:local-dist",
     "check-cli-bootstrap-imports",
     "plugins:assets:copy",
     "runtime-postbuild",
@@ -304,6 +306,7 @@ export const BUILD_ALL_PROFILES: Record<string, string[]> = {
   ciArtifacts: [
     "plugins:assets:build",
     "tsdown",
+    "external-plugins:local-dist",
     "check-cli-bootstrap-imports",
     "plugins:assets:copy",
     "runtime-postbuild",
@@ -318,6 +321,7 @@ export const BUILD_ALL_PROFILES: Record<string, string[]> = {
   ],
   gatewayWatch: [
     "tsdown",
+    "external-plugins:local-dist",
     "check-cli-bootstrap-imports",
     "runtime-postbuild",
     "build-stamp",
@@ -326,6 +330,7 @@ export const BUILD_ALL_PROFILES: Record<string, string[]> = {
   qaRuntime: [
     "plugins:assets:build",
     "tsdown",
+    "external-plugins:local-dist",
     "check-cli-bootstrap-imports",
     "plugins:assets:copy",
     "runtime-postbuild",
@@ -335,6 +340,7 @@ export const BUILD_ALL_PROFILES: Record<string, string[]> = {
   sourcePerformance: [
     "plugins:assets:build",
     "tsdown",
+    "external-plugins:local-dist",
     "check-cli-bootstrap-imports",
     "plugins:assets:copy",
     "runtime-postbuild",
@@ -345,6 +351,7 @@ export const BUILD_ALL_PROFILES: Record<string, string[]> = {
   ],
   cliStartup: [
     "tsdown",
+    "external-plugins:local-dist",
     "check-cli-bootstrap-imports",
     "runtime-postbuild",
     "build-stamp",
diff --git a/scripts/build-external-plugin-local-dist.mts b/scripts/build-external-plugin-local-dist.mts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..66ecc9021551
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/build-external-plugin-local-dist.mts
@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+// Builds source-checkout runtime output for externally published first-party plugins.
+import fs from "node:fs";
+import path from "node:path";
+import { performance } from "node:perf_hooks";
+import { pathToFileURL } from "node:url";
+import { DOCKER_SELECTED_PLUGIN_BUILD_IDS_ENV } from "./lib/bundled-plugin-build-entries.mjs";
+import { shouldBuildBundledCluster } from "./lib/optional-bundled-clusters.mjs";
+import { assertRealOutputRoot } from "./lib/output-root-guard.mjs";
+import {
+  buildPluginNpmRuntime,
+  listPublishablePluginPackageDirs,
+  type PluginPackageJson,
+} from "./lib/plugin-npm-runtime-build.mts";
+
+type ExternalPluginLocalDistParams = {
+  repoRoot?: string;
+  env?: NodeJS.ProcessEnv;
+  logLevel?: "silent" | "warn";
+};
+
+function readPluginPackageJson(repoRoot: string, packageDir: string): PluginPackageJson {
+  return JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(path.join(repoRoot, packageDir, "package.json"), "utf8"));
+}
+
+/** Lists external first-party packages that need source-checkout dist output. */
+export function listExternalPluginLocalDistPackageDirs(
+  params: Pick<ExternalPluginLocalDistParams, "repoRoot" | "env"> = {},
+): string[] {
+  const repoRoot = path.resolve(params.repoRoot ?? ".");
+  const env = params.env ?? process.env;
+  if (env[DOCKER_SELECTED_PLUGIN_BUILD_IDS_ENV]?.trim()) {
+    return [];
+  }
+  return listPublishablePluginPackageDirs({ repoRoot }).filter((packageDir) => {
+    const packageJson = readPluginPackageJson(repoRoot, packageDir);
+    return (
+      packageJson.openclaw?.build?.bundledDist === false &&
+      shouldBuildBundledCluster(path.basename(packageDir), env, { packageJson })
+    );
+  });
+}
+
+/** Builds isolated plugin graphs, then stages every output below its excluded root dist path. */
+export async function buildExternalPluginLocalDist(
+  params: ExternalPluginLocalDistParams = {},
+): Promise<{ durationMs: number; pluginDirs: string[] }> {
+  const repoRoot = path.resolve(params.repoRoot ?? ".");
+  const packageDirs = listExternalPluginLocalDistPackageDirs({
+    repoRoot,
+    env: params.env,
+  });
+  const startedAt = performance.now();
+  const pluginDirs: string[] = [];
+
+  for (const packageDir of packageDirs) {
+    const result = await buildPluginNpmRuntime({
+      repoRoot,
+      packageDir,
+      // Standalone package validation owns its existing bundler warnings; this
+      // root build still surfaces errors and validates every emitted host import.
+      logLevel: params.logLevel ?? "error",
+    });
+    if (!result) {
+      throw new Error(`${packageDir} did not produce source-checkout runtime output`);
+    }
+    const targetDir = path.join(repoRoot, "dist", "extensions", result.pluginDir);
+    assertRealOutputRoot(targetDir);
+    fs.rmSync(targetDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    fs.mkdirSync(path.dirname(targetDir), { recursive: true });
+    fs.cpSync(result.outDir, targetDir, { recursive: true });
+    fs.rmSync(result.outDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    pluginDirs.push(result.pluginDir);
+  }
+
+  return {
+    durationMs: performance.now() - startedAt,
+    pluginDirs,
+  };
+}
+
+if (import.meta.url === pathToFileURL(process.argv[1] ?? "").href) {
+  try {
+    const result = await buildExternalPluginLocalDist();
+    console.log(
+      `[external-plugin-local-dist] built ${result.pluginDirs.length} plugins in ${Math.round(result.durationMs)}ms`,
+    );
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error(error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error));
+    process.exitCode = 1;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/scripts/copy-bundled-plugin-metadata.mts b/scripts/copy-bundled-plugin-metadata.mts
index d7dbcc3d46d8..e79aeadc5151 100644
--- a/scripts/copy-bundled-plugin-metadata.mts
+++ b/scripts/copy-bundled-plugin-metadata.mts
@@ -290,7 +290,15 @@ export function copyBundledPluginMetadata(params: CopyMetadataParams = {}): void
       : undefined;
     const packageJson = isRecord(parsedPackageJson) ? parsedPackageJson : undefined;
     const topLevelPublicSurfaceEntries = collectTopLevelPublicSurfaceEntries(pluginDir);
-    if (!shouldCopyBundledPluginMetadata(dirent.name, env, buildablePluginDirs)) {
+    const hasExternalLocalDist =
+      isRecord(packageJson?.openclaw) &&
+      isRecord(packageJson.openclaw.build) &&
+      packageJson.openclaw.build.bundledDist === false &&
+      fs.existsSync(distPluginDir);
+    if (
+      !hasExternalLocalDist &&
+      !shouldCopyBundledPluginMetadata(dirent.name, env, buildablePluginDirs)
+    ) {
       removePathIfExists(distPluginDir);
       continue;
     }
diff --git a/scripts/lib/plugin-npm-runtime-build.mts b/scripts/lib/plugin-npm-runtime-build.mts
index e2b76c2a9709..5379f5582794 100644
--- a/scripts/lib/plugin-npm-runtime-build.mts
+++ b/scripts/lib/plugin-npm-runtime-build.mts
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ export type PluginPackageJson = JsonRecord & {
   dependencies?: JsonRecord;
   openclaw?: {
     assetScripts?: { build?: unknown };
-    build?: { openclawVersion?: unknown; runtimeFormat?: unknown };
+    build?: { bundledDist?: unknown; openclawVersion?: unknown; runtimeFormat?: unknown };
     compat?: { pluginApi?: unknown };
     release?: {
       bundleRuntimeDependencies?: unknown;
diff --git a/scripts/test-built-plugin-singleton.mts b/scripts/test-built-plugin-singleton.mts
index daa20c90410d..bb7bf912c90c 100644
--- a/scripts/test-built-plugin-singleton.mts
+++ b/scripts/test-built-plugin-singleton.mts
@@ -14,12 +14,18 @@ const repoRoot = resolveRepoRoot(import.meta.url);
 const smokeEntryPath = path.join(repoRoot, "dist", "plugins", "build-smoke-entry.js");
 assert.ok(fs.existsSync(smokeEntryPath), `missing build output: ${smokeEntryPath}`);
 
-const { clearPluginCommands, getPluginCommandSpecs, loadOpenClawPlugins, matchPluginCommand } =
-  await import(pathToFileURL(smokeEntryPath).href);
+const {
+  clearPluginCommands,
+  getPluginCommandSpecs,
+  getPluginModuleLoaderStats,
+  loadOpenClawPlugins,
+  matchPluginCommand,
+} = await import(pathToFileURL(smokeEntryPath).href);
 
 assert.equal(typeof loadOpenClawPlugins, "function", "built loader export missing");
 assert.equal(typeof clearPluginCommands, "function", "clearPluginCommands missing");
 assert.equal(typeof getPluginCommandSpecs, "function", "getPluginCommandSpecs missing");
+assert.equal(typeof getPluginModuleLoaderStats, "function", "plugin loader stats missing");
 assert.equal(typeof matchPluginCommand, "function", "matchPluginCommand missing");
 
 const tempRoot = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "openclaw-build-smoke-"));
@@ -105,6 +111,12 @@ stageBundledPluginRuntime({ repoRoot });
 
 const runtimeEntryPath = path.join(runtimePluginDir, "index.js");
 assert.ok(fs.existsSync(runtimeEntryPath), "runtime overlay entry missing");
+const smsRuntimeEntryPath = path.join(repoRoot, "dist-runtime", "extensions", "sms", "index.js");
+assert.ok(fs.existsSync(smsRuntimeEntryPath), "compiled SMS runtime entry missing");
+assert.ok(
+  fs.existsSync(path.join(repoRoot, "dist-runtime", "extensions", "mxc", "mxc-spawn-launcher.mjs")),
+  "compiled MXC runtime asset missing",
+);
 assert.equal(
   fs.existsSync(path.join(repoRoot, "dist-runtime", "plugins", "commands.js")),
   false,
@@ -113,6 +125,54 @@ assert.equal(
 
 clearPluginCommands();
 
+const smsStatsBefore = getPluginModuleLoaderStats();
+const smsRegistry = loadOpenClawPlugins({
+  cache: false,
+  preferBuiltPluginArtifacts: true,
+  workspaceDir: tempRoot,
+  env: {
+    ...process.env,
+    OPENCLAW_BUNDLED_PLUGINS_DIR: path.join(repoRoot, "dist-runtime", "extensions"),
+  },
+  config: {
+    plugins: {
+      enabled: true,
+      allow: ["sms"],
+      entries: {
+        sms: { enabled: true },
+      },
+    },
+  },
+});
+const smsRecord = smsRegistry.plugins.find((entry: { id: string }) => entry.id === "sms");
+assert.ok(smsRecord, "SMS plugin missing from registry");
+assert.equal(smsRecord.status, "loaded", smsRecord.error ?? "SMS plugin failed to load");
+const smsStatsAfter = getPluginModuleLoaderStats();
+assert.ok(
+  smsStatsAfter.nativeHits > smsStatsBefore.nativeHits,
+  "compiled SMS runtime did not use native loading",
+);
+for (const counter of [
+  "nativeMisses",
+  "sourceTransformForced",
+  "sourceTransformFallbacks",
+] as const) {
+  assert.equal(
+    smsStatsAfter[counter],
+    smsStatsBefore[counter],
+    `compiled SMS runtime changed ${counter}`,
+  );
+}
+assert.equal(
+  smsStatsAfter.topSourceTransformTargets.some(({ target }: { target: string }) =>
+    target.replaceAll("\\", "/").includes("/extensions/sms/"),
+  ),
+  false,
+  "compiled SMS runtime reached the source transformer",
+);
+
+clearPluginCommands();
+
 const registry = loadOpenClawPlugins({
   cache: false,
   workspaceDir: tempRoot,
diff --git a/src/plugins/build-smoke-entry.ts b/src/plugins/build-smoke-entry.ts
index 1f7ac4108337..348c7db77128 100644
--- a/src/plugins/build-smoke-entry.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/build-smoke-entry.ts
@@ -2,3 +2,4 @@
 export { clearPluginCommands, executePluginCommand, matchPluginCommand } from "./commands.js";
 export { getPluginCommandSpecs } from "./command-specs.js";
 export { loadOpenClawPlugins, loadPluginRegistryHandle } from "./loader.js";
+export { getPluginModuleLoaderStats } from "./plugin-module-loader-cache.js";
diff --git a/src/plugins/copy-bundled-plugin-metadata.test.ts b/src/plugins/copy-bundled-plugin-metadata.test.ts
index 03c264993a89..af427cc0c069 100644
--- a/src/plugins/copy-bundled-plugin-metadata.test.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/copy-bundled-plugin-metadata.test.ts
@@ -445,6 +445,28 @@ describe("copyBundledPluginMetadata", () => {
     expect(fs.existsSync(staleDistDir)).toBe(false);
   });
 
+  it("preserves isolated source-checkout output for an external plugin", () => {
+    const repoRoot = makeRepoRoot("openclaw-external-plugin-local-dist-meta-");
+    createPlugin(repoRoot, {
+      id: "sms",
+      packageName: "@openclaw/sms",
+      packageOpenClaw: {
+        extensions: ["./index.ts"],
+        build: { bundledDist: false },
+        release: { publishToNpm: true },
+      },
+    });
+    const distPluginDir = path.join(repoRoot, "dist", "extensions", "sms");
+    fs.mkdirSync(distPluginDir, { recursive: true });
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(distPluginDir, "index.js"), "export default {};\n", "utf8");
+
+    copyBundledPluginMetadata({ repoRoot });
+
+    expect(fs.existsSync(path.join(distPluginDir, "index.js"))).toBe(true);
+    expect(fs.existsSync(path.join(distPluginDir, "openclaw.plugin.json"))).toBe(true);
+    expect(readBundledPackageJson(repoRoot, "sms").openclaw?.extensions).toEqual(["./index.js"]);
+  });
+
   it("preserves manifest-less runtime support package outputs and copies package metadata", () => {
     const repoRoot = makeRepoRoot("openclaw-bundled-runtime-support-");
     const pluginDir = path.join(repoRoot, "extensions", "image-generation-core");
diff --git a/src/plugins/loader.hooks-and-runtime.test-utils.ts b/src/plugins/loader.hooks-and-runtime.test-utils.ts
index 754be9a0a548..fdce26afe987 100644
--- a/src/plugins/loader.hooks-and-runtime.test-utils.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/loader.hooks-and-runtime.test-utils.ts
@@ -200,6 +200,75 @@ function loadBuiltArtifactScenario(scenario: BuiltArtifactScenario) {
   return registry.plugins.find((entry) => entry.id === scenario.id)?.status;
 }
 
+function loadSourceExternalArtifactScenario(params: {
+  sourceBody: string;
+  packageLocalBody: string;
+  rootBuildBody?: string;
+  runtimeOverlayBody?: string;
+}) {
+  const id = "source-external-artifact-test";
+  const repoRoot = makePluginLoaderTempDir();
+  const sourceDir = path.join(repoRoot, "extensions", id);
+  const rootBuildDir = path.join(repoRoot, "dist", "extensions", id);
+  mkdirSafe(path.join(repoRoot, ".git"));
+  mkdirSafe(path.join(repoRoot, "src"));
+  writeFixtureText(repoRoot, "pnpm-workspace.yaml", "packages: []\n");
+  writeFixtureJson(sourceDir, "openclaw.plugin.json", pluginManifest(id));
+  writeFixtureJson(sourceDir, "package.json", {
+    openclaw: {
+      extensions: ["./index.ts"],
+      build: { bundledDist: false },
+    },
+  });
+  writeFixtureText(sourceDir, "index.ts", params.sourceBody);
+  writeFixtureText(sourceDir, "dist/index.js", params.packageLocalBody);
+  if (params.rootBuildBody) {
+    mkdirSafe(rootBuildDir);
+    fs.copyFileSync(
+      path.join(sourceDir, "openclaw.plugin.json"),
+      path.join(rootBuildDir, "openclaw.plugin.json"),
+    );
+    writeFixtureJson(rootBuildDir, "package.json", {
+      openclaw: { extensions: ["./index.js"] },
+    });
+    writeFixtureText(rootBuildDir, "index.js", params.rootBuildBody);
+  }
+  if (params.runtimeOverlayBody) {
+    writeFixtureText(
+      repoRoot,
+      path.join("dist-runtime", "extensions", id, "index.js"),
+      params.runtimeOverlayBody,
+    );
+  }
+
+  const config = {
+    plugins: {
+      allow: [id],
+      entries: { [id]: { enabled: true } },
+    },
+  };
+  const registry = withEnv(
+    {
+      OPENCLAW_BUNDLED_PLUGINS_DIR: params.rootBuildBody
+        ? path.join(repoRoot, "dist", "extensions")
+        : path.join(repoRoot, "extensions"),
+      OPENCLAW_TEST_TRUST_BUNDLED_PLUGINS_DIR: "1",
+      OPENCLAW_DISABLE_BUNDLED_PLUGINS: undefined,
+    },
+    () => {
+      const manifestRegistry = loadPluginManifestRegistryCore({ config });
+      return loadOpenClawPlugins({
+        cache: false,
+        preferBuiltPluginArtifacts: true,
+        onlyPluginIds: [id],
+        config,
+        manifestRegistry,
+      });
+    },
+  );
+  return registry.plugins.find((entry) => entry.id === id)?.status;
+}
+
 describe("loadOpenClawPlugins", () => {
   it("setup-loads a trusted global channel plugin when the caller scopes to it", () => {
     useNoBundledPlugins();
@@ -863,80 +932,25 @@ ${channelPluginSource({
     ).toBe("loaded");
   });
 
-  it("ignores built artifacts when the bundled source plugin opts out of core dist", () => {
-    const repoRoot = makePluginLoaderTempDir();
-    const sourceDir = path.join(repoRoot, "extensions", "source-only-artifact-test");
-    const builtPluginDir = path.join(repoRoot, "dist", "extensions", "source-only-artifact-test");
-    mkdirSafe(path.join(repoRoot, ".git"));
-    mkdirSafe(path.join(repoRoot, "src"));
-    writeFixtureText(repoRoot, "pnpm-workspace.yaml", "packages: []\n");
-    writeFixtureJson(
-      sourceDir,
-      "openclaw.plugin.json",
-      pluginManifest("source-only-artifact-test"),
-    );
-    writeFixtureJson(sourceDir, "package.json", {
-      openclaw: {
-        extensions: ["./index.ts"],
-        build: { bundledDist: false },
-      },
-    });
-    writeFixtureText(
-      sourceDir,
-      "index.ts",
-      'export default { id: "source-only-artifact-test", register() {} };\n',
-    );
-    writeFixtureText(
-      sourceDir,
-      "dist/index.js",
-      'throw new Error("stale package-local dist should not load");\n',
-    );
-    mkdirSafe(builtPluginDir);
-    fs.copyFileSync(
-      path.join(sourceDir, "openclaw.plugin.json"),
-      path.join(builtPluginDir, "openclaw.plugin.json"),
-    );
-    writeFixtureJson(builtPluginDir, "package.json", {
-      openclaw: { extensions: ["./index.js"] },
-    });
-    writeFixtureText(
-      builtPluginDir,
-      "index.js",
-      'throw new Error("stale discovered core dist should not load");\n',
-    );
-    writeFixtureText(
-      repoRoot,
-      "dist-runtime/extensions/source-only-artifact-test/index.js",
-      'throw new Error("stale core dist should not load");\n',
-    );
+  it("ignores package-local dist when a bundled source plugin opts out of core dist", () => {
+    expect(
+      loadSourceExternalArtifactScenario({
+        sourceBody: 'export default { id: "source-external-artifact-test", register() {} };\n',
+        packageLocalBody: 'throw new Error("stale package-local dist should not load");\n',
+      }),
+    ).toBe("loaded");
+  });
 
-    const config = {
-      plugins: {
-        allow: ["source-only-artifact-test"],
-        entries: { "source-only-artifact-test": { enabled: true } },
-      },
-    };
-    const registry = withEnv(
-      {
-        OPENCLAW_BUNDLED_PLUGINS_DIR: path.join(repoRoot, "dist", "extensions"),
-        OPENCLAW_TEST_TRUST_BUNDLED_PLUGINS_DIR: "1",
-        OPENCLAW_DISABLE_BUNDLED_PLUGINS: undefined,
-      },
-      () => {
-        const manifestRegistry = loadPluginManifestRegistryCore({ config });
-        return loadOpenClawPlugins({
-          cache: false,
-          preferBuiltPluginArtifacts: true,
-          onlyPluginIds: ["source-only-artifact-test"],
-          config,
-          manifestRegistry,
-        });
-      },
-    );
-
-    expect(registry.plugins.find((entry) => entry.id === "source-only-artifact-test")?.status).toBe(
-      "loaded",
-    );
+  it("prefers the root build when a bundled source plugin opts out of core dist", () => {
+    expect(
+      loadSourceExternalArtifactScenario({
+        sourceBody: 'throw new Error("source should not load when root build exists");\n',
+        packageLocalBody: 'throw new Error("stale package-local dist should not load");\n',
+        rootBuildBody: 'module.exports = { id: "source-external-artifact-test", register() {} };\n',
+        runtimeOverlayBody:
+          'throw new Error("staged runtime should canonicalize to the root build");\n',
+      }),
+    ).toBe("loaded");
   });
 
   it("prefers package-local dist artifacts over workspace source TS when requested", () => {
diff --git a/src/plugins/plugin-runtime-artifact-resolution.test.ts b/src/plugins/plugin-runtime-artifact-resolution.test.ts
index d7abbad9753c..f775357d4bf6 100644
--- a/src/plugins/plugin-runtime-artifact-resolution.test.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/plugin-runtime-artifact-resolution.test.ts
@@ -87,6 +87,26 @@ describe("resolvePluginRuntimeArtifact", () => {
     },
   );
 
+  it("prefers the root build for source-external plugins without using package-local output", () => {
+    const fixture = createBundledPluginFixture();
+    const packageLocalSource = path.join(fixture.rootDir, "dist", "index.js");
+    fs.mkdirSync(path.dirname(packageLocalSource), { recursive: true });
+    fs.writeFileSync(packageLocalSource, 'module.exports = { id: "stale" };\n');
+
+    const resolved = resolvePluginRuntimeArtifact({
+      pluginId: "fixture",
+      entryKind: "runtime",
+      rootDir: fixture.rootDir,
+      source: fixture.source,
+      origin: "bundled",
+      preferBuiltPluginArtifacts: true,
+      packageManifest: { build: { bundledDist: false } },
+    });
+
+    expect(resolved.source).toBe(fixture.builtSource);
+    expect(resolved.source).not.toBe(fs.realpathSync(packageLocalSource));
+  });
+
   it("aliases different physical inputs for the same logical runtime entry", () => {
     const fixture = createBundledPluginFixture();
     const first = resolveFixture({
diff --git a/src/plugins/plugin-runtime-artifact-resolution.ts b/src/plugins/plugin-runtime-artifact-resolution.ts
index 2c8ffd9283b5..9bbe0f2977f9 100644
--- a/src/plugins/plugin-runtime-artifact-resolution.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/plugin-runtime-artifact-resolution.ts
@@ -117,10 +117,13 @@ function resolvePreferredBuiltRuntimeArtifact(params: {
     }
     return { source, rootDir };
   }
-  if (params.packageManifest?.build?.bundledDist === false) {
-    return { source, rootDir };
-  }
-  const packageLocalArtifactSource = resolvePackageLocalDistRuntimeArtifact({ source, rootDir });
+  // Source-external plugins can leave package-local npm build output behind.
+  // Keep source authoritative over that output, but allow the lifecycle-owned root
+  // build to provide the fresh JavaScript artifact used by source checkouts.
+  const packageLocalArtifactSource =
+    params.packageManifest?.build?.bundledDist === false
+      ? null
+      : resolvePackageLocalDistRuntimeArtifact({ source, rootDir });
   if (packageLocalArtifactSource) {
     return { source: packageLocalArtifactSource, rootDir };
   }
@@ -137,6 +140,8 @@ function resolvePreferredBuiltRuntimeArtifact(params: {
     return { source, rootDir };
   }
   const artifactRelativePath = rewriteBundledRuntimeArtifactRelativePath(relativeSource);
+  // The runtime overlay is a staging fallback. Final canonicalization maps it
+  // to the matching root build when both exist, so one build owns execution.
   for (const artifactRootName of ["dist-runtime", "dist"] as const) {
     const artifactRoot = path.join(
       packageRoot,
diff --git a/test/scripts/build-all.test.ts b/test/scripts/build-all.test.ts
index db4e35b00864..0a12982563d6 100644
--- a/test/scripts/build-all.test.ts
+++ b/test/scripts/build-all.test.ts
@@ -362,6 +362,7 @@ describe("resolveBuildAllSteps", () => {
       "tsdown-ai",
       "tsdown-packages",
       "tsdown-unified",
+      "external-plugins:local-dist",
       "check-cli-bootstrap-imports",
       "plugins:assets:copy",
       "runtime-postbuild",
@@ -436,6 +437,7 @@ describe("resolveBuildAllSteps", () => {
     expect(resolveBuildAllSteps("ciArtifacts").map((step) => step.label)).toEqual([
       "plugins:assets:build",
       "tsdown",
+      "external-plugins:local-dist",
       "check-cli-bootstrap-imports",
       "plugins:assets:copy",
       "runtime-postbuild",
@@ -568,6 +570,7 @@ describe("resolveBuildAllSteps", () => {
   it("uses a minimal built runtime profile for gateway watch regression", () => {
     expect(resolveBuildAllSteps("gatewayWatch").map((step) => step.label)).toEqual([
       "tsdown",
+      "external-plugins:local-dist",
       "check-cli-bootstrap-imports",
       "runtime-postbuild",
       "build-stamp",
@@ -579,6 +582,7 @@ describe("resolveBuildAllSteps", () => {
     expect(resolveBuildAllSteps("qaRuntime").map((step) => step.label)).toEqual([
       "plugins:assets:build",
       "tsdown",
+      "external-plugins:local-dist",
       "check-cli-bootstrap-imports",
       "plugins:assets:copy",
       "runtime-postbuild",
@@ -591,6 +595,7 @@ describe("resolveBuildAllSteps", () => {
     expect(resolveBuildAllSteps("sourcePerformance").map((step) => step.label)).toEqual([
       "plugins:assets:build",
       "tsdown",
+      "external-plugins:local-dist",
       "check-cli-bootstrap-imports",
       "plugins:assets:copy",
       "runtime-postbuild",
@@ -604,6 +609,7 @@ describe("resolveBuildAllSteps", () => {
   it("uses a CLI startup profile without generated plugin assets", () => {
     expect(resolveBuildAllSteps("cliStartup").map((step) => step.label)).toEqual([
       "tsdown",
+      "external-plugins:local-dist",
       "check-cli-bootstrap-imports",
       "runtime-postbuild",
       "build-stamp",
@@ -676,6 +682,19 @@ describe("resolveBuildAllSteps", () => {
     }
   });
 
+  it("builds isolated external plugin output after tsdown and before runtime postbuild", () => {
+    for (const profile of Object.keys(BUILD_ALL_PROFILES)) {
+      const labels = resolveBuildAllSteps(profile).map((step) => step.label);
+      const lastTsdown = profile === "full" ? "tsdown-unified" : "tsdown";
+      expect(labels.indexOf("external-plugins:local-dist")).toBeGreaterThan(
+        labels.indexOf(lastTsdown),
+      );
+      expect(labels.indexOf("external-plugins:local-dist")).toBeLessThan(
+        labels.indexOf("runtime-postbuild"),
+      );
+    }
+  });
+
   it("writes the runtime postbuild stamp after the build stamp", () => {
     const labels = resolveBuildAllSteps("full").map((step) => step.label);
     expect(labels).toContain("runtime-postbuild");
diff --git a/test/scripts/build-external-plugin-local-dist.test.ts b/test/scripts/build-external-plugin-local-dist.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..4f0bfc2aa575
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/scripts/build-external-plugin-local-dist.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import {
+  buildExternalPluginLocalDist,
+  listExternalPluginLocalDistPackageDirs,
+} from "../../scripts/build-external-plugin-local-dist.mts";
+import {
+  collectRootPackageExcludedExtensionDirs,
+  DOCKER_SELECTED_PLUGIN_BUILD_IDS_ENV,
+} from "../../scripts/lib/bundled-plugin-build-entries.mjs";
+
+describe("external plugin local dist build", () => {
+  it("selects every externalized first-party plugin behind a package exclusion", () => {
+    const packageDirs = listExternalPluginLocalDistPackageDirs();
+    const excludedPluginIds = collectRootPackageExcludedExtensionDirs();
+
+    expect(packageDirs).toHaveLength(61);
+    expect(packageDirs).toEqual(
+      expect.arrayContaining(["extensions/slack", "extensions/sms", "extensions/mxc"]),
+    );
+    expect(packageDirs).not.toContain("extensions/whatsapp");
+    expect(
+      packageDirs.every((packageDir) => excludedPluginIds.has(packageDir.split("/").at(-1) ?? "")),
+    ).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("leaves Docker-selected external plugin compilation on the unified build path", () => {
+    expect(
+      listExternalPluginLocalDistPackageDirs({
+        env: {
+          ...process.env,
+          [DOCKER_SELECTED_PLUGIN_BUILD_IDS_ENV]: "slack",
+        },
+      }),
+    ).toEqual([]);
+  });
+
+  it("performs no writes when Docker owns the selected build", async () => {
+    await expect(
+      buildExternalPluginLocalDist({
+        env: {
+          ...process.env,
+          [DOCKER_SELECTED_PLUGIN_BUILD_IDS_ENV]: "slack",
+        },
+        logLevel: "silent",
+      }),
+    ).resolves.toMatchObject({ pluginDirs: [] });
+  });
+});