Bug type

Regression (worked before, now fails)

Summary

After updating a host npm install to OpenClaw 2026.5.4 (325df3e), the built-in Matrix channel no longer starts. The gateway itself stays healthy and the Control UI can connect, but Matrix accounts crash-loop because the published package cannot resolve matrix-js-sdk from the OpenClaw install root.

Steps to reproduce

1. Run OpenClaw as a host npm install on macOS with Matrix channel configured and working.
2. Run openclaw update.
3. Restart or let the managed gateway restart.
4. Check gateway logs.
5. Matrix messages are no longer received.

Expected behavior

Matrix channel starts after update and logs in normally.

Actual behavior

Both configured Matrix accounts repeatedly exit before login:

plugin CLI register failed (matrix): Error [ERR_MODULE_NOT_FOUND]: Cannot find package 'matrix-js-sdk' imported from /Users/jacob/.local/lib/node_modules/openclaw/dist/logging-4Lig_RGM.js
[memo] channel exited: Cannot find package 'matrix-js-sdk' imported from /Users/jacob/.local/lib/node_modules/openclaw/dist/logging-4Lig_RGM.js
[openclaw] channel exited: Cannot find package 'matrix-js-sdk' imported from /Users/jacob/.local/lib/node_modules/openclaw/dist/logging-4Lig_RGM.js

The gateway remains otherwise healthy:

curl -fsS http://127.0.0.1:18789/healthz
{"ok":true,"status":"live"}

openclaw gateway status --deep
Connectivity probe: ok

Environment

• OpenClaw: 2026.5.4 (325df3e)
• OS: macOS
• Node: v24.14.0
• Install method: host npm install managed by OpenClaw installer/update
• Install path: /Users/jacob/.local/lib/node_modules/openclaw
• Gateway command: /Users/jacob/.local/opt/node/v24.14.0/bin/node /Users/jacob/.local/lib/node_modules/openclaw/dist/index.js gateway --port 18789
• Matrix homeserver: self-hosted Matrix server

Diagnostic evidence

Immediately after update, these cannot resolve from the OpenClaw package root:

MISSING matrix-js-sdk/lib/logger.js Cannot find module 'matrix-js-sdk/lib/logger.js'
MISSING @matrix-org/matrix-sdk-crypto-nodejs Cannot find module '@matrix-org/matrix-sdk-crypto-nodejs'
MISSING @matrix-org/matrix-sdk-crypto-wasm Cannot find module '@matrix-org/matrix-sdk-crypto-wasm'

The local workaround is to reinstall the missing runtime deps into the OpenClaw package root and restart:

cd /Users/jacob/.local/lib/node_modules/openclaw
NPM_CONFIG_CACHE=/tmp/npm-cache-openclaw-repair npm install --omit=dev --package-lock=false --silent
NPM_CONFIG_CACHE=/tmp/npm-cache-openclaw-repair npm install --no-save --package-lock=false --silent matrix-js-sdk@41.4.0 @matrix-org/matrix-sdk-crypto-nodejs@0.4.0 @matrix-org/matrix-sdk-crypto-wasm@18.2.0
openclaw gateway restart

After the workaround, the Matrix accounts log in again and encrypted rooms become ready:

matrix: logged in as @openclaw:<private-homeserver>
matrix: logged in as @memo:<private-homeserver>
matrix: device is verified by its owner and ready for encrypted rooms

Related issues

This appears related to previous Matrix packaging/update dependency regressions, but it is not the same exact failure:

• openclaw update removes matrix extension plugin npm dependencies #28370: older openclaw update removed Matrix extension dependencies.
• Update 2026.2.26: Matrix plugin broken — missing dependency + duplicate plugin conflict #31231: older bundled Matrix extension missing @vector-im/matrix-bot-sdk plus duplicate local plugin conflict.
• [Bug]: Matrix channel cannot start after updated into 2026.04.15 #67936: Docker 2026.04.15 Matrix channel failed resolving package openclaw from bundled Matrix files.

This report is specifically about OpenClaw 2026.5.4 host npm install failing to resolve matrix-js-sdk from the main OpenClaw package after openclaw update.