Bug Description

On Windows (OpenClaw 2026.4.21), running openclaw hooks enable self-improvement hangs and is killed by SIGKILL after ~60 seconds.

All CLI commands except --help and --version hang for 60+ seconds. This is consistent with issue #64306 (CLI commands hang in ensureCliPluginRegistryLoaded).

Environment

• OpenClaw: 2026.4.21
• Node.js: v24.13.0
• OS: Windows_NT 10.0.26200
• Gateway: running on port 18789

Symptoms

• openclaw hooks enable self-improvement → times out, SIGKILL
• openclaw hooks list → times out, SIGKILL
• openclaw hooks --help → same
• openclaw status → times out, SIGKILL
• Only openclaw --version and openclaw --help work

Attempted Workaround

Copied hook handler manually to ~/.openclaw/hooks/self-improvement-handler.js (Node module, exports a handler function).

The handler itself works when tested - it exports a valid function.

Root Cause

Consistent with #64306: CLI hangs in ensureCliPluginRegistryLoaded() during bootstrap, which deadlocks on Windows.

Questions

1. Is there a config-only way to register hooks without using the CLI?
2. Is there a direct API endpoint to manage hook registration?
3. Any ETA on the fix for [Bug]: CLI commands hang (status/health/doctor) - timeout in ensureCliPluginRegistryLoaded #64306?