Summary

In version 2026.2.23, the openclaw memory search command fails to recognize the --query flag. This flag is explicitly listed in the command's own help documentation and usage examples, but the CLI parser rejects it as an unknown option.

Steps to reproduce

Update to OpenClaw version 2026.2.23.

Run openclaw memory to view the CLI's suggested examples.

Observation: The documentation lists openclaw memory search --query "query text".

Execute the command:

Bash
openclaw memory search --query "deployment notes"

Expected behavior

The CLI should execute the search using the provided query string.

Actual behavior

The command fails with:
error: unknown option '--query'

OpenClaw version

2026.2.23 (b817600)

Operating system

Windows 11 WSL2 / Linux

Install method

No response

Logs, screenshots, and evidence

Impact and severity

sebtardif@RTX:~/.openclaw/workspace$ openclaw memory

🦞 OpenClaw 2026.2.23 (b817600) — iMessage green bubble energy, but for everyone.

Usage: openclaw memory [options] [command]

Search, inspect, and reindex memory files

Options:
-h, --help Display help for command

Commands:
help Display help for command
index Reindex memory files
search Search memory files
status Show memory search index status

Examples:
openclaw memory status
Show index and provider status.
openclaw memory index --force
Force a full reindex.
openclaw memory search --query "deployment notes"
Search indexed memory entries.
openclaw memory status --json
Output machine-readable JSON.

Docs: docs.openclaw.ai/cli/memory

sebtardif@RTX:~/.openclaw/workspace$ openclaw memory search --query "deployment notes"
error: unknown option '--query'
sebtardif@RTX:~/.openclaw/workspace$ openclaw memory search "deployment notes"

🦞 OpenClaw 2026.2.23 (b817600) — Think different. Actually think.

No matches.

Additional information

Workaround: openclaw memory search "deployment notes"