fix(gateway): retain settled cleanup failures

docs/gateway/clients.md

@@ -136,6 +136,10 @@ snapshot, so re-read them on every reconnect.
 
 ### Present system-agent QR codes
 
+System-agent setup is administrative. Request `operator.admin` when pairing the
+device; every `openclaw.chat` call in this flow, including setup, polling,
+cancellation, and reset, requires that scope.
+
 Advertise `GATEWAY_CLIENT_CAPS.SYSTEM_AGENT_QR_CODE` only when the client can
 render a QR image. A capable `openclaw.chat` session can then receive a QR
 `step` through the same wizard-step contract used for other setup controls:

src/gateway/server-methods/system-agent-session-lifecycle.test.ts

@@ -216,4 +216,31 @@ describe("system-agent session lifecycle", () => {
     await retirementSettlement;
     expect(sessions.size).toBe(0);
   });
+
+  it("retains a settled initialization cleanup failure until retirement reports it once", async () => {
+    const requestError = new Error("request failed before retirement");
+    const cleanupError = new Error("cleanup failed before retirement");
+    const sessions = new Map() as Sessions;
+    const wizardSessions = new Map() as GatewayRequestContext["wizardSessions"];
+    const initialization = initializeSystemAgentSession(
+      sessions,
+      "failed-session",
+      async ({ ownEngine }) => {
+        ownEngine(
+          session("device:one", async () => {
+            throw cleanupError;
+          }).engine,
+        );
+        throw requestError;
+      },
+    );
+
+    await expect(initialization).rejects.toBe(requestError);
+    await expect(
+      retireAndDisposeSystemAgentSessions({ sessions, wizardSessions }),
+    ).rejects.toMatchObject({ errors: [cleanupError] });
+    await expect(
+      retireAndDisposeSystemAgentSessions({ sessions, wizardSessions }),
+    ).resolves.toBeUndefined();
+  });
 });

src/gateway/server-methods/system-agent-session-lifecycle.ts

@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ type ApprovalManager = NonNullable<GatewayRequestContext["systemAgentApprovalMan
 
 const retiredStores = new WeakSet<SystemAgentSessions>();
 const pendingSessionSettlements = new WeakMap<SystemAgentSessions, Set<Promise<void>>>();
+const settledInitializationCleanupFailures = new WeakMap<SystemAgentSessions, Error[]>();
 const retiredWizardStores = new WeakSet<WizardSessions>();
 const pendingWizardAdmissions = new WeakMap<
   WizardSessions,
@@ -77,8 +78,14 @@ export function initializeSystemAgentSession(
         await uncommittedEngine?.dispose();
         settlement.resolve();
       } catch (error) {
-        // Cleanup belongs to the retiring owner, while the request keeps its original outcome.
-        settlement.reject(error);
+        const cleanupError = toErrorObject(error, "Unknown system-agent cleanup failure");
+        if (!retiredStores.has(sessions)) {
+          const failures = settledInitializationCleanupFailures.get(sessions) ?? [];
+          failures.push(cleanupError);
+          settledInitializationCleanupFailures.set(sessions, failures);
+        }
+        // Retirement already snapshots an in-flight lease; only earlier failures need escrow.
+        settlement.reject(cleanupError);
       }
     }
   })();
@@ -209,8 +216,12 @@ export function retireAndDisposeSystemAgentSessions(params: {
 }): Promise<void> {
   retiredStores.add(params.sessions);
   retiredWizardStores.add(params.wizardSessions);
+  const settledInitializationFailures =
+    settledInitializationCleanupFailures.get(params.sessions) ?? [];
+  settledInitializationCleanupFailures.delete(params.sessions);
   const disposals: Promise<unknown>[] = [
     ...(pendingSessionSettlements.get(params.sessions) ?? []),
+    ...settledInitializationFailures.map((error) => Promise.reject(error)),
     ...(pendingWizardAdmissions.get(params.wizardSessions) ?? []),
   ];
   for (const [sessionId, session] of params.sessions) {