diff --git a/docs/cli/doctor.md b/docs/cli/doctor.md
index b5c36ca0987..d4d82a06161 100644
--- a/docs/cli/doctor.md
+++ b/docs/cli/doctor.md
@@ -203,7 +203,13 @@ the container normally.
 the canonical shared state database at
 `<state-dir>/state/openclaw.sqlite`. It does not accept an arbitrary database
 path, is never invoked by normal Gateway operation, and is not part of
-`openclaw doctor --fix`.
+`openclaw doctor --fix`. The command acquires the same state ownership lock as
+Gateway startup and holds it through validation, checkpointing, `VACUUM`, and
+the final integrity checks. It refuses to run while a Gateway or another
+SQLite maintenance command owns that lock. The state lock remains active when
+`OPENCLAW_ALLOW_MULTI_GATEWAY=1` skips the per-config Gateway singleton, so an
+operator shell does not need to inherit the Gateway service's environment for
+maintenance to detect it.
 
 Stop the Gateway and create a verified backup first:
 
@@ -293,8 +299,16 @@ transcripts, run `openclaw doctor --session-sqlite compact --session-sqlite-all-
 to checkpoint WAL files, run `VACUUM`, and report before/after database and WAL
 sizes. Compaction requires a regular file with the current agent schema, the
 selected agent's durable owner metadata, and no open handle in the doctor
-process. This is explicit offline maintenance: stop the Gateway first so normal
-writes cannot race the checkpoint or `VACUUM`.
+process. The destructive `import`, `compact`, `recover`, and `restore` modes
+hold the same state ownership lock as Gateway startup for their full operation;
+`inspect`, `dry-run`, and `validate` remain read-only and do not take it. Stop
+the Gateway first. Destructive modes fail instead of racing live writes or
+racing another maintenance command. A destructive `--session-sqlite-store`
+target must be inside the active state directory; set `OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR` to
+the store's owning state directory before maintaining another installation.
+Existing hard-linked targets are rejected because another path can share the
+same database inode outside the locked state directory. The same ownership
+checks cover SQLite WAL, shared-memory, and rollback-journal sidecars.
 
 Each import writes a manifest under
 `~/.openclaw/session-sqlite-migration-runs/` before moving transcript artifacts
diff --git a/docs/gateway/gateway-lock.md b/docs/gateway/gateway-lock.md
index e6586d71df6..40b7dedfcc5 100644
--- a/docs/gateway/gateway-lock.md
+++ b/docs/gateway/gateway-lock.md
@@ -8,23 +8,26 @@ title: "Gateway lock"
 
 ## Why
 
-- Only one gateway process should own a given config + port on a host; run additional gateways with isolated profiles and unique ports.
+- Only one gateway process should own a state directory; run additional gateways with isolated profiles, state directories, configs, and ports.
 - Survive crashes/SIGKILL without leaving stale lock files behind.
 - Fail fast with a clear error when another gateway already owns the port.
 
-## Two layers
+## Three layers
 
-Startup enforces single-instance ownership in two independent steps, in order:
+Startup enforces ownership in three steps, in order:
 
-1. **File lock** acquires a per-config lock file under the state lock directory. As part of acquiring it, startup probes the configured port for a live listener to detect a stale (crashed) lock owner.
-2. **Socket bind** binds the HTTP/WebSocket listener (default `ws://127.0.0.1:18789`) as an exclusive TCP listener.
+1. **State ownership lock** acquires a lock keyed by the canonical state directory. Every Gateway participates, including Gateways started with `OPENCLAW_ALLOW_MULTI_GATEWAY=1`, so destructive SQLite maintenance cannot race a live owner.
+2. **Config lock** acquires the historical per-config lock and records the runtime port. Multi-Gateway mode skips this config singleton but retains the state ownership lock.
+3. **Socket bind** binds the HTTP/WebSocket listener (default `ws://127.0.0.1:18789`) as an exclusive TCP listener.
 
 Each layer can fail independently and throws its own `GatewayLockError`.
 
-### File lock
+### State and config locks
 
-- If the lock file is missing, the recorded owner process is gone, or the owner's port probe shows no live listener, startup reclaims the lock and continues.
-- If the lock is actively held and none of the above apply, startup retries for up to 5 seconds (default) before giving up:
+- Lock liveness comes from the recorded PID, platform process start identity when available, and Gateway process identity. A verified owner remains authoritative during startup before its port begins listening.
+- A dedicated SQLite coordinator serializes metadata inspection, stale-owner reclamation, and lock replacement. Its exclusive transaction is released automatically if the owning process crashes.
+- If a lock file is missing or the recorded owner process is gone, startup reclaims the lock and continues.
+- If either lock is actively held, startup retries for up to 5 seconds (default) before giving up:
 
   ```text
   GatewayLockError("gateway already running (pid <pid>); lock timeout after <ms>ms")
@@ -45,11 +48,13 @@ Each layer can fail independently and throws its own `GatewayLockError`.
   GatewayLockError("failed to bind gateway socket on ws://127.0.0.1:<port>: <cause>")
   ```
 
-On shutdown, the gateway closes the HTTP/WebSocket server and removes the lock file.
+On shutdown, the gateway closes the HTTP/WebSocket server and removes its state
+and config lock files.
 
 ## Operational notes
 
 - If the port is occupied by a different, non-gateway process, the error is the same; free the port or choose another with `openclaw gateway --port <port>`.
+- `OPENCLAW_ALLOW_MULTI_GATEWAY=1` permits multiple config/runtime instances, not shared mutable state. Each instance still needs a unique `OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR`.
 - Under a service supervisor, a new gateway process that hits either error above first probes `/healthz` on the existing process. If that process is healthy, the new process leaves it in control instead of failing. On systemd, it exits with code `78`; the unit's `RestartPreventExitStatus=78` stops `Restart=always` from looping on a lock or `EADDRINUSE` conflict. If the existing process never becomes healthy, the health-probe retry is time-bounded and startup then fails with the lock error above instead of looping forever.
 - The macOS app keeps its own lightweight PID guard before spawning the gateway; the file lock and socket bind above are the actual runtime enforcement.
 
diff --git a/docs/gateway/multiple-gateways.md b/docs/gateway/multiple-gateways.md
index a63229692b3..274b259d685 100644
--- a/docs/gateway/multiple-gateways.md
+++ b/docs/gateway/multiple-gateways.md
@@ -91,7 +91,9 @@ Keep these unique per Gateway instance:
 | `gateway.port` (or `--port`) | Unique per instance                  |
 | Derived browser/CDP ports    | See below                            |
 
-Sharing any of these causes config races and port conflicts.
+Sharing any of these causes config, state, or port conflicts. Gateway startup
+enforces unique state-directory ownership even when
+`OPENCLAW_ALLOW_MULTI_GATEWAY=1` skips the per-config singleton.
 
 ## Port mapping (derived)
 
diff --git a/docs/install/fly.md b/docs/install/fly.md
index b53c1261634..667305a0ca6 100644
--- a/docs/install/fly.md
+++ b/docs/install/fly.md
@@ -275,7 +275,13 @@ fly machine update <machine-id> --vm-memory 2048 -y
 
 Gateway refuses to start with "already running" errors after a container restart.
 
-The single-instance lock file lives at `<tmpdir>/openclaw-<uid>/gateway.<hash>.lock` (Linux: `/tmp/openclaw-<uid>/gateway.<hash>.lock`), not on the persistent `/data` volume, so a full container restart normally clears it along with the rest of the container filesystem. If the lock survives (for example a `fly machine restart` that preserves the container filesystem) and blocks startup, remove it manually:
+The runtime lock files live at `<tmpdir>/openclaw-<uid>/gateway.<hash>.lock`
+and `gateway.state.<hash>.lock` (Linux:
+`/tmp/openclaw-<uid>/gateway.*.lock`), not on the persistent `/data` volume, so
+a full container restart normally clears them along with the rest of the
+container filesystem. If a lock survives (for example a `fly machine restart`
+that preserves the container filesystem) and blocks startup, remove it
+manually:
 
 ```bash
 fly ssh console --command "rm -f /tmp/openclaw-*/gateway.*.lock"
diff --git a/src/cli/command-catalog.ts b/src/cli/command-catalog.ts
index ff145dd1047..5455cc7c011 100644
--- a/src/cli/command-catalog.ts
+++ b/src/cli/command-catalog.ts
@@ -52,6 +52,18 @@ export type CliCommandCatalogEntry = {
   };
 };
 
+function hasCliOption(argv: readonly string[], name: string): boolean {
+  for (const arg of argv.slice(2)) {
+    if (arg === "--") {
+      return false;
+    }
+    if (arg === name || arg.startsWith(`${name}=`)) {
+      return true;
+    }
+  }
+  return false;
+}
+
 /** Command path registry used before Commander registration has loaded all plugins. */
 export const cliCommandCatalog: readonly CliCommandCatalogEntry[] = [
   {
@@ -285,6 +297,9 @@ export const cliCommandCatalog: readonly CliCommandCatalogEntry[] = [
     policy: {
       bypassConfigGuard: true,
       loadPlugins: "never",
+      // Shared-state maintenance must acquire exclusive ownership before any
+      // config-health observation can open the canonical SQLite database.
+      networkProxy: ({ argv }) => (hasCliOption(argv, "--state-sqlite") ? "bypass" : "default"),
     },
   },
   { commandPath: ["exec-approvals"], policy: { networkProxy: "bypass" } },
diff --git a/src/cli/command-path-policy.test.ts b/src/cli/command-path-policy.test.ts
index d7e3aa93caf..0d35d7b38db 100644
--- a/src/cli/command-path-policy.test.ts
+++ b/src/cli/command-path-policy.test.ts
@@ -206,10 +206,24 @@ describe("command-path-policy", () => {
       loadPlugins: "never",
       networkProxy: "bypass",
     });
-    expectResolvedPolicy(["doctor"], {
+    const doctorPolicy = resolveCliCommandPathPolicy(["doctor"]);
+    expectNetworkProxyResolver(doctorPolicy);
+    expect(doctorPolicy).toMatchObject({
       bypassConfigGuard: true,
       loadPlugins: "never",
     });
+    expect(
+      doctorPolicy.networkProxy({
+        argv: ["node", "openclaw", "doctor"],
+        commandPath: ["doctor"],
+      }),
+    ).toBe("default");
+    expect(
+      doctorPolicy.networkProxy({
+        argv: ["node", "openclaw", "doctor", "--state-sqlite=compact"],
+        commandPath: ["doctor"],
+      }),
+    ).toBe("bypass");
     expectResolvedPolicy(["config", "validate"], {
       bypassConfigGuard: true,
       loadPlugins: "never",
diff --git a/src/cli/run-main.test.ts b/src/cli/run-main.test.ts
index 99ac9a0d29c..702d7d3641d 100644
--- a/src/cli/run-main.test.ts
+++ b/src/cli/run-main.test.ts
@@ -229,6 +229,16 @@ describe("shouldStartProxyForCli", () => {
     expect(shouldStartProxyForCli(["node", "openclaw", "devices"])).toBe(false);
     expect(shouldStartProxyForCli(["node", "openclaw", "mcp"])).toBe(false);
   });
+
+  it("skips managed proxy routing before shared-state SQLite maintenance", () => {
+    expect(
+      shouldStartProxyForCli(["node", "openclaw", "doctor", "--state-sqlite", "compact", "--json"]),
+    ).toBe(false);
+    expect(
+      shouldStartProxyForCli(["node", "openclaw", "doctor", "--state-sqlite=compact", "--json"]),
+    ).toBe(false);
+    expect(shouldStartProxyForCli(["node", "openclaw", "doctor", "--lint"])).toBe(true);
+  });
 });
 
 describe("shouldUseRootHelpFastPath", () => {
diff --git a/src/commands/doctor-session-transcripts.test.ts b/src/commands/doctor-session-transcripts.test.ts
index 59d4ce92324..babedf6697a 100644
--- a/src/commands/doctor-session-transcripts.test.ts
+++ b/src/commands/doctor-session-transcripts.test.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { SessionManager } from "../agents/sessions/session-manager.js";
 
 const note = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn());
 const runDoctorSessionSqlite = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn());
+const withDoctorSqliteMaintenanceLock = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn());
 
 vi.mock("../../packages/terminal-core/src/note.js", () => ({
   note,
@@ -17,6 +18,10 @@ vi.mock("./doctor-session-sqlite.js", () => ({
   runDoctorSessionSqlite,
 }));
 
+vi.mock("./doctor-sqlite-maintenance-lock.js", () => ({
+  withDoctorSqliteMaintenanceLock,
+}));
+
 import {
   detectSessionTranscriptHealthIssues,
   noteSessionTranscriptHealth,
@@ -49,6 +54,9 @@ describe("doctor session transcript repair", () => {
   beforeEach(async () => {
     note.mockClear();
     runDoctorSessionSqlite.mockReset();
+    withDoctorSqliteMaintenanceLock
+      .mockReset()
+      .mockImplementation(async (params: { run: () => unknown }) => await params.run());
     root = await fs.mkdtemp(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "openclaw-doctor-transcripts-"));
   });
 
@@ -227,6 +235,11 @@ describe("doctor session transcript repair", () => {
       env,
       mode: "import",
     });
+    expect(withDoctorSqliteMaintenanceLock).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+      env,
+      operation: "session SQLite import",
+      run: expect.any(Function),
+    });
     expect(note).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
       expect.stringContaining("Legacy entries: 1"),
       "Session SQLite",
@@ -237,6 +250,38 @@ describe("doctor session transcript repair", () => {
     );
   });
 
+  it("keeps session SQLite dry-run read-only without taking maintenance ownership", async () => {
+    const sessionsDir = path.join(root, "agents", "main", "sessions");
+    await fs.mkdir(sessionsDir, { recursive: true });
+    runDoctorSessionSqlite.mockResolvedValueOnce({
+      totals: {
+        archivedTranscriptFiles: 0,
+        archivedUnreferencedJsonlFiles: 0,
+        importedTranscriptEvents: 0,
+        issues: 0,
+        legacyEntries: 0,
+        sqliteEntries: 0,
+        unreferencedJsonlFiles: 0,
+        validatedTranscriptEvents: 0,
+      },
+    });
+    const env = { ...process.env, OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR: root };
+
+    await noteSessionTranscriptHealth({
+      env,
+      sessionDirs: [sessionsDir],
+      sessionSqlite: true,
+      shouldRepair: false,
+    });
+
+    expect(runDoctorSessionSqlite).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+      allAgents: true,
+      env,
+      mode: "dry-run",
+    });
+    expect(withDoctorSqliteMaintenanceLock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
   it("repairs supported current-version linear transcripts", async () => {
     const filePath = await writeTranscript([
       { type: "session", version: 3, id: "session-linear", timestamp: "2026-06-15T00:00:00Z" },
diff --git a/src/commands/doctor-session-transcripts.ts b/src/commands/doctor-session-transcripts.ts
index 440a2b75b13..13dd9634839 100644
--- a/src/commands/doctor-session-transcripts.ts
+++ b/src/commands/doctor-session-transcripts.ts
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import {
 } from "../config/sessions/transcript-tree.js";
 import type { HealthFinding, HealthRepairEffect } from "../flows/health-checks.js";
 import { shortenHomePath } from "../utils.js";
+import { withDoctorSqliteMaintenanceLock } from "./doctor-sqlite-maintenance-lock.js";
 
 const SESSION_TRANSCRIPTS_CHECK_ID = "core/doctor/session-transcripts";
 
@@ -496,11 +497,19 @@ async function noteSessionSqliteMigrationHealth(params: {
   // Public doctor owns the operator-facing SQLite import; the targeted
   // --session-sqlite subcommand remains the diagnostic/proof surface.
   const { runDoctorSessionSqlite } = await import("./doctor-session-sqlite.js");
-  const report = await runDoctorSessionSqlite({
-    allAgents: true,
-    env: params.env,
-    mode: params.shouldRepair ? "import" : "dry-run",
-  });
+  const runSessionSqlite = async () =>
+    await runDoctorSessionSqlite({
+      allAgents: true,
+      env: params.env,
+      mode: params.shouldRepair ? "import" : "dry-run",
+    });
+  const report = params.shouldRepair
+    ? await withDoctorSqliteMaintenanceLock({
+        env: params.env,
+        operation: "session SQLite import",
+        run: runSessionSqlite,
+      })
+    : await runSessionSqlite();
   if (
     report.totals.legacyEntries === 0 &&
     report.totals.unreferencedJsonlFiles === 0 &&
diff --git a/src/commands/doctor-sqlite-maintenance-lock.test.ts b/src/commands/doctor-sqlite-maintenance-lock.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a64cdbb5fd6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/commands/doctor-sqlite-maintenance-lock.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,360 @@
+import fs from "node:fs/promises";
+import path from "node:path";
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import { useAutoCleanupTempDirTracker } from "../../test/helpers/temp-dir.js";
+import { acquireGatewayLock, GatewayLockError } from "../infra/gateway-lock.js";
+import {
+  isDestructiveDoctorSessionSqliteMode,
+  withDoctorSqliteMaintenanceLock,
+} from "./doctor-sqlite-maintenance-lock.js";
+
+const tempDirs = useAutoCleanupTempDirTracker((cleanup) => {
+  afterEach(cleanup);
+});
+
+async function createLockFixture() {
+  const root = tempDirs.make("openclaw-doctor-sqlite-lock-");
+  const stateDir = path.join(root, "state");
+  const configPath = path.join(stateDir, "openclaw.json");
+  const lockDir = path.join(root, "locks");
+  await fs.mkdir(stateDir, { recursive: true });
+  await fs.writeFile(configPath, "{}\n", "utf8");
+  const env = {
+    ...process.env,
+    OPENCLAW_CONFIG_PATH: configPath,
+    OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR: stateDir,
+    VITEST: "1",
+  };
+  return {
+    env,
+    lockDir,
+    lockOptions: {
+      lockDir,
+      platform: "darwin" as const,
+      pollIntervalMs: 2,
+      readProcessCmdline: () => ["openclaw-gateway"],
+      timeoutMs: 15,
+    },
+  };
+}
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  vi.restoreAllMocks();
+});
+
+describe("doctor SQLite maintenance lock", () => {
+  it.each([
+    ["inspect", false],
+    ["dry-run", false],
+    ["validate", false],
+    ["import", true],
+    ["compact", true],
+    ["restore", true],
+    ["recover", true],
+  ] as const)("classifies %s mode as destructive=%s", (mode, expected) => {
+    expect(isDestructiveDoctorSessionSqliteMode(mode)).toBe(expected);
+  });
+
+  it("refuses maintenance while a verified Gateway owns the state lock", async () => {
+    const fixture = await createLockFixture();
+    const gatewayLock = await acquireGatewayLock({
+      allowInTests: true,
+      env: fixture.env,
+      lockDir: fixture.lockDir,
+      platform: "darwin",
+      port: 18789,
+    });
+    if (!gatewayLock) {
+      throw new Error("expected Gateway lock");
+    }
+    const run = vi.fn();
+
+    try {
+      await expect(
+        withDoctorSqliteMaintenanceLock(
+          {
+            env: fixture.env,
+            operation: "state SQLite compaction",
+            run,
+          },
+          { lockOptions: fixture.lockOptions },
+        ),
+      ).rejects.toThrow(/Gateway or another SQLite maintenance command owns/);
+      expect(run).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    } finally {
+      await gatewayLock.release();
+    }
+  });
+
+  it("prevents Gateway startup until maintenance releases ownership", async () => {
+    const fixture = await createLockFixture();
+    let allowMaintenanceToFinish: (() => void) | undefined;
+    const maintenanceMayFinish = new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+      allowMaintenanceToFinish = resolve;
+    });
+    let markMaintenanceStarted: (() => void) | undefined;
+    const maintenanceStarted = new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+      markMaintenanceStarted = resolve;
+    });
+    const maintenance = withDoctorSqliteMaintenanceLock(
+      {
+        env: fixture.env,
+        operation: "session SQLite compaction",
+        run: async () => {
+          markMaintenanceStarted?.();
+          await maintenanceMayFinish;
+          return "done";
+        },
+      },
+      { lockOptions: fixture.lockOptions },
+    );
+    await maintenanceStarted;
+
+    await expect(
+      acquireGatewayLock({
+        allowInTests: true,
+        env: fixture.env,
+        lockDir: fixture.lockDir,
+        platform: "darwin",
+        port: 18789,
+        pollIntervalMs: 2,
+        readProcessCmdline: () => ["openclaw", "doctor", "--session-sqlite", "compact"],
+        timeoutMs: 15,
+      }),
+    ).rejects.toBeInstanceOf(GatewayLockError);
+
+    allowMaintenanceToFinish?.();
+    await expect(maintenance).resolves.toBe("done");
+
+    const gatewayLock = await acquireGatewayLock({
+      allowInTests: true,
+      env: fixture.env,
+      lockDir: fixture.lockDir,
+      platform: "darwin",
+      port: 18789,
+      timeoutMs: 15,
+    });
+    if (!gatewayLock) {
+      throw new Error("expected Gateway lock after maintenance release");
+    }
+    await gatewayLock.release();
+  });
+
+  it("releases ownership after maintenance fails", async () => {
+    const fixture = await createLockFixture();
+
+    await expect(
+      withDoctorSqliteMaintenanceLock(
+        {
+          env: fixture.env,
+          operation: "session SQLite restore",
+          run: () => {
+            throw new Error("restore failed");
+          },
+        },
+        { lockOptions: fixture.lockOptions },
+      ),
+    ).rejects.toThrow("restore failed");
+
+    const gatewayLock = await acquireGatewayLock({
+      allowInTests: true,
+      env: fixture.env,
+      lockDir: fixture.lockDir,
+      platform: "darwin",
+      port: 18789,
+      timeoutMs: 15,
+    });
+    if (!gatewayLock) {
+      throw new Error("expected Gateway lock after failed maintenance");
+    }
+    await gatewayLock.release();
+  });
+
+  it("blocks maintenance when the Gateway used the multi-Gateway override", async () => {
+    const fixture = await createLockFixture();
+    const run = vi.fn();
+    const gatewayLock = await acquireGatewayLock({
+      allowInTests: true,
+      env: { ...fixture.env, OPENCLAW_ALLOW_MULTI_GATEWAY: "1" },
+      lockDir: fixture.lockDir,
+      platform: "darwin",
+      port: 18789,
+      timeoutMs: 15,
+    });
+    if (!gatewayLock) {
+      throw new Error("expected state ownership lock");
+    }
+
+    try {
+      await expect(
+        withDoctorSqliteMaintenanceLock(
+          {
+            env: fixture.env,
+            operation: "state SQLite compaction",
+            run,
+          },
+          { lockOptions: fixture.lockOptions },
+        ),
+      ).rejects.toThrow(/Gateway or another SQLite maintenance command owns/);
+      expect(run).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    } finally {
+      await gatewayLock.release();
+    }
+  });
+
+  it("uses the state ownership lock when maintenance inherits the multi-Gateway override", async () => {
+    const fixture = await createLockFixture();
+
+    await expect(
+      withDoctorSqliteMaintenanceLock(
+        {
+          env: { ...fixture.env, OPENCLAW_ALLOW_MULTI_GATEWAY: "1" },
+          operation: "state SQLite compaction",
+          run: () => "done",
+        },
+        { lockOptions: fixture.lockOptions },
+      ),
+    ).resolves.toBe("done");
+  });
+
+  it("refuses explicit destructive targets outside the locked state directory", async () => {
+    const fixture = await createLockFixture();
+    const externalPath = path.join(
+      tempDirs.make("openclaw-external-session-store-"),
+      "sessions.json",
+    );
+    const run = vi.fn();
+
+    await expect(
+      withDoctorSqliteMaintenanceLock(
+        {
+          env: fixture.env,
+          operation: "session SQLite compaction",
+          protectedPaths: [externalPath],
+          run,
+        },
+        { lockOptions: fixture.lockOptions },
+      ),
+    ).rejects.toThrow(/outside the active OpenClaw state directory/);
+    expect(run).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+    const gatewayLock = await acquireGatewayLock({
+      allowInTests: true,
+      env: fixture.env,
+      lockDir: fixture.lockDir,
+      platform: "darwin",
+      port: 18789,
+      timeoutMs: 15,
+    });
+    if (!gatewayLock) {
+      throw new Error("expected Gateway lock after ownership validation failure");
+    }
+    await gatewayLock.release();
+  });
+
+  it("refuses dangling in-state symlinks that resolve outside ownership", async () => {
+    if (process.platform === "win32") {
+      return;
+    }
+    const fixture = await createLockFixture();
+    const sessionsDir = path.join(fixture.env.OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR, "agents", "main", "sessions");
+    const storePath = path.join(sessionsDir, "sessions.json");
+    const outsideTarget = path.join(
+      tempDirs.make("openclaw-dangling-session-target-"),
+      "missing.json",
+    );
+    await fs.mkdir(sessionsDir, { recursive: true });
+    await fs.symlink(outsideTarget, storePath);
+    const run = vi.fn();
+
+    await expect(
+      withDoctorSqliteMaintenanceLock(
+        {
+          env: fixture.env,
+          operation: "session SQLite import",
+          protectedPaths: [storePath],
+          run,
+        },
+        { lockOptions: fixture.lockOptions },
+      ),
+    ).rejects.toThrow(/outside the active OpenClaw state directory/);
+    expect(run).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("refuses outside path aliases that resolve into the locked state directory", async () => {
+    if (process.platform === "win32") {
+      return;
+    }
+    const fixture = await createLockFixture();
+    const externalAlias = path.join(
+      path.dirname(fixture.env.OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR),
+      "external-state-alias",
+    );
+    await fs.symlink(fixture.env.OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR, externalAlias, "dir");
+    const storePath = path.join(externalAlias, "agents", "main", "sessions", "sessions.json");
+    const run = vi.fn();
+
+    await expect(
+      withDoctorSqliteMaintenanceLock(
+        {
+          env: fixture.env,
+          operation: "session SQLite import",
+          protectedPaths: [storePath],
+          run,
+        },
+        { lockOptions: fixture.lockOptions },
+      ),
+    ).rejects.toThrow(/outside the active OpenClaw state directory/);
+    expect(run).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("refuses in-state hard links that can alias storage outside ownership", async () => {
+    const fixture = await createLockFixture();
+    const sessionsDir = path.join(fixture.env.OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR, "agents", "main", "sessions");
+    const storePath = path.join(sessionsDir, "sessions.json");
+    const externalDir = path.join(path.dirname(fixture.env.OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR), "external-state");
+    const externalPath = path.join(externalDir, "sessions.json");
+    await fs.mkdir(sessionsDir, { recursive: true });
+    await fs.mkdir(externalDir, { recursive: true });
+    await fs.writeFile(externalPath, "{}\n", "utf8");
+    await fs.link(externalPath, storePath);
+    const run = vi.fn();
+
+    await expect(
+      withDoctorSqliteMaintenanceLock(
+        {
+          env: fixture.env,
+          operation: "session SQLite compaction",
+          protectedPaths: [storePath],
+          run,
+        },
+        { lockOptions: fixture.lockOptions },
+      ),
+    ).rejects.toThrow(/hard-linked path/);
+    expect(run).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    await expect(fs.readFile(externalPath, "utf8")).resolves.toBe("{}\n");
+  });
+
+  it("allows explicit destructive targets owned by the locked state directory", async () => {
+    const fixture = await createLockFixture();
+    const storePath = path.join(
+      fixture.env.OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR,
+      "agents",
+      "main",
+      "sessions",
+      "sessions.json",
+    );
+
+    await expect(
+      withDoctorSqliteMaintenanceLock(
+        {
+          env: fixture.env,
+          operation: "session SQLite compaction",
+          protectedPaths: [storePath],
+          run: () => "done",
+        },
+        { lockOptions: fixture.lockOptions },
+      ),
+    ).resolves.toBe("done");
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/commands/doctor-sqlite-maintenance-lock.ts b/src/commands/doctor-sqlite-maintenance-lock.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..db87715016f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/commands/doctor-sqlite-maintenance-lock.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+/** Serializes offline SQLite maintenance against the Gateway state owner. */
+import fs from "node:fs";
+import path from "node:path";
+import { resolveStateDir } from "../config/paths.js";
+import { resolvePathViaExistingAncestorSync, resolveRootPathSync } from "../infra/boundary-path.js";
+import {
+  acquireGatewayLock,
+  GatewayLockError,
+  type GatewayLockOptions,
+} from "../infra/gateway-lock.js";
+import { isPathInside } from "../infra/path-guards.js";
+import type { DoctorSessionSqliteMode } from "./doctor-session-sqlite-types.js";
+
+const MAINTENANCE_LOCK_TIMEOUT_MS = 250;
+const MAINTENANCE_LOCK_POLL_INTERVAL_MS = 25;
+
+type MaintenanceLockOptions = Pick<
+  GatewayLockOptions,
+  | "lockDir"
+  | "now"
+  | "platform"
+  | "pollIntervalMs"
+  | "readProcessCmdline"
+  | "readProcessStartTime"
+  | "sleep"
+  | "staleMs"
+  | "timeoutMs"
+>;
+
+type DoctorSqliteMaintenanceLockDeps = {
+  acquireLock?: typeof acquireGatewayLock;
+  lockOptions?: MaintenanceLockOptions;
+};
+
+function assertMaintenancePathsOwnedByStateDir(
+  env: NodeJS.ProcessEnv,
+  operation: string,
+  protectedPaths: readonly string[],
+): void {
+  if (protectedPaths.length === 0) {
+    return;
+  }
+  const stateDir = path.resolve(resolveStateDir(env));
+  const stateCanonicalDir = resolvePathViaExistingAncestorSync(stateDir);
+  for (const protectedPath of protectedPaths) {
+    const absolutePath = path.resolve(protectedPath);
+    let resolvedPath: ReturnType<typeof resolveRootPathSync>;
+    try {
+      if (!isPathInside(stateDir, absolutePath) && !isPathInside(stateCanonicalDir, absolutePath)) {
+        throw new Error("path is not lexically owned by the active state directory");
+      }
+      resolvedPath = resolveRootPathSync({
+        absolutePath,
+        boundaryLabel: "OpenClaw state directory",
+        rootCanonicalPath: stateCanonicalDir,
+        rootPath: stateDir,
+      });
+    } catch (error) {
+      throw new Error(
+        `Cannot run ${operation} for a path outside the active OpenClaw state directory: ${protectedPath}. Set OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR to the owning state directory and retry.`,
+        { cause: error },
+      );
+    }
+    if (
+      resolvedPath.exists &&
+      resolvedPath.kind === "file" &&
+      fs.statSync(resolvedPath.canonicalPath).nlink > 1
+    ) {
+      throw new Error(
+        `Cannot run ${operation} for a hard-linked path: ${protectedPath}. Remove the additional hard link and retry.`,
+      );
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+export function isDestructiveDoctorSessionSqliteMode(mode: DoctorSessionSqliteMode): boolean {
+  return mode === "import" || mode === "compact" || mode === "restore" || mode === "recover";
+}
+
+/** Run one destructive doctor operation while excluding Gateway startup and peer maintenance. */
+export async function withDoctorSqliteMaintenanceLock<T>(
+  params: {
+    env?: NodeJS.ProcessEnv;
+    operation: string;
+    protectedPaths?: readonly string[];
+    run: () => Promise<T> | T;
+  },
+  deps: DoctorSqliteMaintenanceLockDeps = {},
+): Promise<T> {
+  const env = params.env ?? process.env;
+  const acquireLock = deps.acquireLock ?? acquireGatewayLock;
+  const lockOptions = deps.lockOptions;
+  let lock: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof acquireGatewayLock>>;
+  try {
+    lock = await acquireLock({
+      ...lockOptions,
+      allowInTests: true,
+      env,
+      pollIntervalMs: lockOptions?.pollIntervalMs ?? MAINTENANCE_LOCK_POLL_INTERVAL_MS,
+      role: "sqlite-maintenance",
+      timeoutMs: lockOptions?.timeoutMs ?? MAINTENANCE_LOCK_TIMEOUT_MS,
+    });
+  } catch (error) {
+    if (error instanceof GatewayLockError) {
+      throw new Error(
+        `Cannot run ${params.operation} while the Gateway or another SQLite maintenance command owns this OpenClaw state directory. Stop the Gateway and retry.`,
+        { cause: error },
+      );
+    }
+    throw error;
+  }
+  if (!lock) {
+    throw new Error(`Cannot run ${params.operation} without exclusive OpenClaw state ownership.`);
+  }
+
+  try {
+    assertMaintenancePathsOwnedByStateDir(env, params.operation, params.protectedPaths ?? []);
+    return await params.run();
+  } finally {
+    await lock.release();
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/commands/doctor-state-sqlite-compact.test.ts b/src/commands/doctor-state-sqlite-compact.test.ts
index 1560e92b4cc..74c596b083a 100644
--- a/src/commands/doctor-state-sqlite-compact.test.ts
+++ b/src/commands/doctor-state-sqlite-compact.test.ts
@@ -138,10 +138,10 @@ function expectOwnerOnlySqlitePermissions(sqlitePath: string): void {
 }
 
 describe("runDoctorStateSqliteCompact", () => {
-  it("reports a missing canonical database as skipped", () => {
+  it("reports a missing canonical database as skipped", async () => {
     const env = createStateEnv();
 
-    expect(runDoctorStateSqliteCompact({ env })).toEqual({
+    await expect(runDoctorStateSqliteCompact({ env })).resolves.toEqual({
       mode: "compact",
       path: resolveOpenClawStateSqlitePath(env),
       reason: "missing",
@@ -149,11 +149,11 @@ describe("runDoctorStateSqliteCompact", () => {
     });
   });
 
-  it("compacts the canonical database and reports verified before/after state", () => {
+  it("compacts the canonical database and reports verified before/after state", async () => {
     const env = createStateEnv();
     const sqlitePath = seedStateDatabase({ env, withBloat: true });
 
-    const report = runDoctorStateSqliteCompact({ env });
+    const report = await runDoctorStateSqliteCompact({ env });
 
     expectCompletedReport(report);
     expect(report.path).toBe(sqlitePath);
@@ -169,20 +169,20 @@ describe("runDoctorStateSqliteCompact", () => {
     expect(report.integrityCheck).toBe("ok");
   });
 
-  it.skipIf(process.platform === "win32")("reapplies owner-only SQLite permissions", () => {
+  it.skipIf(process.platform === "win32")("reapplies owner-only SQLite permissions", async () => {
     const env = createStateEnv();
     const sqlitePath = seedStateDatabase({ env, withBloat: true });
 
-    runDoctorStateSqliteCompact({ env });
+    await runDoctorStateSqliteCompact({ env });
 
     expectOwnerOnlySqlitePermissions(sqlitePath);
   });
 
-  it("rejects non-global schema metadata before mutation", () => {
+  it("rejects non-global schema metadata before mutation", async () => {
     const env = createStateEnv();
     const sqlitePath = seedStateDatabase({ env, role: "agent", withBloat: true });
 
-    expect(() => runDoctorStateSqliteCompact({ env })).toThrow(/schema role agent.*global/);
+    await expect(runDoctorStateSqliteCompact({ env })).rejects.toThrow(/schema role agent.*global/);
 
     const sqlite = requireNodeSqlite();
     const database = new sqlite.DatabaseSync(sqlitePath, { readOnly: true });
@@ -199,11 +199,11 @@ describe("runDoctorStateSqliteCompact", () => {
     ["future", OPENCLAW_STATE_SCHEMA_VERSION + 1, /uses newer schema version/],
   ] as const)(
     "rejects a %s shared-state schema before mutation",
-    (_label, schemaVersion, message) => {
+    async (_label, schemaVersion, message) => {
       const env = createStateEnv();
       const sqlitePath = seedStateDatabase({ env, schemaVersion });
 
-      expect(() => runDoctorStateSqliteCompact({ env })).toThrow(message);
+      await expect(runDoctorStateSqliteCompact({ env })).rejects.toThrow(message);
 
       const sqlite = requireNodeSqlite();
       const database = new sqlite.DatabaseSync(sqlitePath, { readOnly: true });
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ describe("runDoctorStateSqliteCompact", () => {
 
   it.skipIf(process.platform === "win32")(
     "refuses a symlink at the canonical database path",
-    () => {
+    async () => {
       const env = createStateEnv();
       const canonicalPath = resolveOpenClawStateSqlitePath(env);
       const externalEnv = createStateEnv();
@@ -225,18 +225,45 @@ describe("runDoctorStateSqliteCompact", () => {
       fs.mkdirSync(path.dirname(canonicalPath), { recursive: true });
       fs.symlinkSync(externalPath, canonicalPath);
 
-      expect(() => runDoctorStateSqliteCompact({ env })).toThrow(/not a regular file/);
+      await expect(runDoctorStateSqliteCompact({ env })).rejects.toThrow(/not a regular file/);
     },
   );
 
-  it("refuses compaction while this process owns an open shared-state handle", () => {
+  it("refuses compaction while this process owns an open shared-state handle", async () => {
     const env = createStateEnv();
     openOpenClawStateDatabase({ env });
 
-    expect(() => runDoctorStateSqliteCompact({ env })).toThrow(/already open in this process/);
+    await expect(runDoctorStateSqliteCompact({ env })).rejects.toThrow(
+      /already open in this process/,
+    );
   });
 
-  it("treats a busy truncating checkpoint as failure", () => {
+  it("leaves the database untouched when exclusive state ownership is unavailable", async () => {
+    const env = createStateEnv();
+    const sqlitePath = seedStateDatabase({ env, withBloat: true });
+
+    await expect(
+      runDoctorStateSqliteCompact(
+        { env },
+        {
+          withMaintenanceLock: async () => {
+            throw new Error("Gateway owns this OpenClaw state directory");
+          },
+        },
+      ),
+    ).rejects.toThrow(/Gateway owns/);
+
+    const sqlite = requireNodeSqlite();
+    const database = new sqlite.DatabaseSync(sqlitePath, { readOnly: true });
+    try {
+      expect(readPragma(database, "auto_vacuum")).toBe(0);
+      expect(readPragma(database, "freelist_count")).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+    } finally {
+      database.close();
+    }
+  });
+
+  it("treats a busy truncating checkpoint as failure", async () => {
     const env = createStateEnv();
     const sqlitePath = seedStateDatabase({ env });
     const sqlite = requireNodeSqlite();
@@ -247,7 +274,7 @@ describe("runDoctorStateSqliteCompact", () => {
       writer.exec("INSERT INTO compact_payload (payload) VALUES ('newer wal frame');");
 
       // Exercise the real busy checkpoint result without waiting the production lock timeout.
-      expect(() => runDoctorStateSqliteCompact({ env }, { busyTimeoutMs: 0 })).toThrow(
+      await expect(runDoctorStateSqliteCompact({ env }, { busyTimeoutMs: 0 })).rejects.toThrow(
         /checkpoint remained busy/,
       );
       expect(readPragma(writer, "auto_vacuum")).toBe(0);
@@ -258,7 +285,7 @@ describe("runDoctorStateSqliteCompact", () => {
     }
   });
 
-  it("rejects stale secondary indexes before mutating the database", () => {
+  it("rejects stale secondary indexes before mutating the database", async () => {
     const env = createStateEnv();
     const sqlitePath = seedStateDatabase({ env, withBloat: true });
     createUnsafeIndexDrift(sqlitePath);
@@ -277,7 +304,7 @@ describe("runDoctorStateSqliteCompact", () => {
       before.close();
     }
 
-    expect(() => runDoctorStateSqliteCompact({ env })).toThrow(
+    await expect(runDoctorStateSqliteCompact({ env })).rejects.toThrow(
       /integrity_check failed.*missing from index unsafe_index_records_value/iu,
     );
 
@@ -297,7 +324,7 @@ describe("runDoctorStateSqliteCompact", () => {
     }
   });
 
-  it("rejects foreign-key violations before mutating the database", () => {
+  it("rejects foreign-key violations before mutating the database", async () => {
     const env = createStateEnv();
     const sqlitePath = seedStateDatabase({ env, withBloat: true });
     const sqlite = requireNodeSqlite();
@@ -326,7 +353,7 @@ describe("runDoctorStateSqliteCompact", () => {
       corrupted.close();
     }
 
-    expect(() => runDoctorStateSqliteCompact({ env })).toThrow(
+    await expect(runDoctorStateSqliteCompact({ env })).rejects.toThrow(
       /foreign_key_check failed.*compact_children row 1 references compact_parents \(foreign key 0\)/iu,
     );
 
diff --git a/src/commands/doctor-state-sqlite-compact.ts b/src/commands/doctor-state-sqlite-compact.ts
index b4cc86ed4f1..555ca4ba8c2 100644
--- a/src/commands/doctor-state-sqlite-compact.ts
+++ b/src/commands/doctor-state-sqlite-compact.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import {
   compactDoctorSqliteFile,
   type DoctorSqliteCompactSnapshot,
 } from "./doctor-sqlite-compact.js";
+import { withDoctorSqliteMaintenanceLock } from "./doctor-sqlite-maintenance-lock.js";
 
 export type DoctorStateSqliteCompactReport =
   | {
@@ -35,13 +36,14 @@ type DoctorStateSqliteCompactOptions = {
 
 type DoctorStateSqliteCompactDeps = {
   busyTimeoutMs?: number;
+  withMaintenanceLock?: typeof withDoctorSqliteMaintenanceLock;
 };
 
 /** Compact only the canonical shared state database resolved for this invocation. */
-export function runDoctorStateSqliteCompact(
+export async function runDoctorStateSqliteCompact(
   options: DoctorStateSqliteCompactOptions = {},
   deps: DoctorStateSqliteCompactDeps = {},
-): DoctorStateSqliteCompactReport {
+): Promise<DoctorStateSqliteCompactReport> {
   const env = options.env ?? process.env;
   const sqlitePath = resolveOpenClawStateSqlitePath(env);
   const stat = readCanonicalStateDatabaseStat(sqlitePath);
@@ -56,25 +58,32 @@ export function runDoctorStateSqliteCompact(
   if (!stat.isFile()) {
     throw new Error(`Canonical OpenClaw state database is not a regular file: ${sqlitePath}`);
   }
-  if (isOpenClawStateDatabaseOpen()) {
-    throw new Error(
-      "The shared OpenClaw state database is already open in this process. Stop OpenClaw and retry.",
-    );
-  }
+  const withMaintenanceLock = deps.withMaintenanceLock ?? withDoctorSqliteMaintenanceLock;
+  return await withMaintenanceLock({
+    env,
+    operation: "state SQLite compaction",
+    run: () => {
+      if (isOpenClawStateDatabaseOpen()) {
+        throw new Error(
+          "The shared OpenClaw state database is already open in this process. Stop OpenClaw and retry.",
+        );
+      }
 
-  const compact = compactDoctorSqliteFile({
-    afterMutation: () => ensureOpenClawStatePermissions(sqlitePath, env),
-    ...(deps.busyTimeoutMs !== undefined ? { busyTimeoutMs: deps.busyTimeoutMs } : {}),
-    sqlitePath,
-    validateBeforeMutation: (database) =>
-      assertOpenClawStateDatabaseForMaintenance(database, { pathname: sqlitePath }),
+      const compact = compactDoctorSqliteFile({
+        afterMutation: () => ensureOpenClawStatePermissions(sqlitePath, env),
+        ...(deps.busyTimeoutMs !== undefined ? { busyTimeoutMs: deps.busyTimeoutMs } : {}),
+        sqlitePath,
+        validateBeforeMutation: (database) =>
+          assertOpenClawStateDatabaseForMaintenance(database, { pathname: sqlitePath }),
+      });
+      return {
+        ...compact,
+        mode: "compact",
+        path: sqlitePath,
+        skipped: false,
+      };
+    },
   });
-  return {
-    ...compact,
-    mode: "compact",
-    path: sqlitePath,
-    skipped: false,
-  };
 }
 
 function readCanonicalStateDatabaseStat(sqlitePath: string): fs.Stats | undefined {
diff --git a/src/commands/doctor.test.ts b/src/commands/doctor.test.ts
index bd1ba70dcc5..bfb02067004 100644
--- a/src/commands/doctor.test.ts
+++ b/src/commands/doctor.test.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 // Doctor command tests cover probe orchestration, fix mode, and runtime command output.
+import path from "node:path";
 import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
 
 const mocks = vi.hoisted(() => ({
@@ -6,6 +7,7 @@ const mocks = vi.hoisted(() => ({
   runPostUpgradeProbes: vi.fn(),
   runDoctorStateSqliteCompact: vi.fn(),
   runDoctorSessionSqlite: vi.fn(),
+  withDoctorSqliteMaintenanceLock: vi.fn(),
   resolveInstalledPluginIndexStorePath: vi.fn(() => "/tmp/openclaw-installed-plugins.json"),
 }));
 
@@ -21,6 +23,12 @@ vi.mock("./doctor-state-sqlite-compact.js", () => ({
   runDoctorStateSqliteCompact: mocks.runDoctorStateSqliteCompact,
 }));
 
+vi.mock("./doctor-sqlite-maintenance-lock.js", () => ({
+  isDestructiveDoctorSessionSqliteMode: (mode: string) =>
+    mode === "import" || mode === "compact" || mode === "restore" || mode === "recover",
+  withDoctorSqliteMaintenanceLock: mocks.withDoctorSqliteMaintenanceLock,
+}));
+
 vi.mock("./doctor-session-sqlite-github-issue.js", () => ({
   createSessionSqliteGithubIssue: mocks.createSessionSqliteGithubIssue,
 }));
@@ -34,6 +42,9 @@ const { doctorCommand } = await import("./doctor.js");
 describe("doctorCommand", () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
     vi.clearAllMocks();
+    mocks.withDoctorSqliteMaintenanceLock.mockImplementation(
+      async (params: { run: () => unknown }) => await params.run(),
+    );
   });
 
   it("writes post-upgrade JSON through the runtime before exiting with findings", async () => {
@@ -108,10 +119,124 @@ describe("doctorCommand", () => {
       agent: "main",
       mode: "inspect",
     });
+    expect(mocks.withDoctorSqliteMaintenanceLock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
     expect(runtime.writeJson).toHaveBeenCalledWith(report, 2);
     expect(runtime.exit).toHaveBeenCalledWith(0);
   });
 
+  it("holds exclusive state ownership for destructive session sqlite modes", async () => {
+    const report = {
+      mode: "restore",
+      targets: [],
+      totals: {
+        archivedTranscriptFiles: 0,
+        archivedUnreferencedJsonlFiles: 0,
+        importedEntries: 0,
+        importedTranscriptEvents: 0,
+        issues: 0,
+        legacyEntries: 0,
+        sqliteEntries: 0,
+        targets: 0,
+        unreferencedJsonlFiles: 0,
+        validatedEntries: 0,
+        validatedTranscriptEvents: 0,
+      },
+    };
+    mocks.runDoctorSessionSqlite.mockResolvedValueOnce(report);
+    const runtime = {
+      log: vi.fn(),
+      error: vi.fn(),
+      writeStdout: vi.fn(),
+      writeJson: vi.fn(),
+      exit: vi.fn((code: number) => {
+        throw new Error(`exit:${code}`);
+      }),
+    };
+
+    await expect(
+      doctorCommand(runtime, {
+        sessionSqlite: "restore",
+        sessionSqliteAllAgents: true,
+      }),
+    ).rejects.toThrow("exit:0");
+
+    expect(mocks.withDoctorSqliteMaintenanceLock).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+      env: process.env,
+      operation: "session SQLite restore",
+      run: expect.any(Function),
+    });
+    expect(mocks.runDoctorSessionSqlite).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+      allAgents: true,
+      mode: "restore",
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("binds explicit destructive session stores to the maintenance lock", async () => {
+    const report = {
+      mode: "compact",
+      targets: [],
+      totals: {
+        archivedTranscriptFiles: 0,
+        archivedUnreferencedJsonlFiles: 0,
+        importedEntries: 0,
+        importedTranscriptEvents: 0,
+        issues: 0,
+        legacyEntries: 0,
+        sqliteEntries: 0,
+        targets: 0,
+        unreferencedJsonlFiles: 0,
+        validatedEntries: 0,
+        validatedTranscriptEvents: 0,
+      },
+    };
+    mocks.runDoctorSessionSqlite.mockResolvedValueOnce(report);
+    const runtime = {
+      log: vi.fn(),
+      error: vi.fn(),
+      writeStdout: vi.fn(),
+      writeJson: vi.fn(),
+      exit: vi.fn((code: number) => {
+        throw new Error(`exit:${code}`);
+      }),
+    };
+    const stateDir = path.resolve(process.env.OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR ?? ".openclaw");
+    const storePath = path.join(stateDir, "agents", "main", "sessions", "sessions.json");
+    const sqlitePath = path.join(stateDir, "agents", "main", "agent", "openclaw-agent.sqlite");
+
+    await expect(
+      doctorCommand(runtime, {
+        sessionSqlite: "compact",
+        sessionSqliteStore: storePath,
+      }),
+    ).rejects.toThrow("exit:0");
+
+    expect(mocks.withDoctorSqliteMaintenanceLock).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+      env: process.env,
+      operation: "session SQLite compact",
+      protectedPaths: [
+        storePath,
+        sqlitePath,
+        `${sqlitePath}-wal`,
+        `${sqlitePath}-shm`,
+        `${sqlitePath}-journal`,
+      ],
+      run: expect.any(Function),
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("rejects conflicting explicit-store selectors before taking maintenance ownership", async () => {
+    await expect(
+      doctorCommand(undefined, {
+        sessionSqlite: "compact",
+        sessionSqliteAgent: "ops",
+        sessionSqliteStore: path.resolve("stores", "{agentId}", "sessions.json"),
+      }),
+    ).rejects.toThrow("--store cannot be combined with --agent or --all-agents");
+
+    expect(mocks.withDoctorSqliteMaintenanceLock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(mocks.runDoctorSessionSqlite).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
   it("writes shared-state sqlite compaction JSON through the runtime", async () => {
     const report = {
       after: {
@@ -135,7 +260,7 @@ describe("doctorCommand", () => {
       reclaimedBytes: 12_288,
       skipped: false,
     };
-    mocks.runDoctorStateSqliteCompact.mockReturnValueOnce(report);
+    mocks.runDoctorStateSqliteCompact.mockResolvedValueOnce(report);
     const runtime = {
       log: vi.fn(),
       error: vi.fn(),
diff --git a/src/commands/doctor.ts b/src/commands/doctor.ts
index 42144e1ff2a..4b3be1cc88b 100644
--- a/src/commands/doctor.ts
+++ b/src/commands/doctor.ts
@@ -1,15 +1,52 @@
 /** Top-level doctor command wrapper, including post-upgrade probe mode. */
+import { resolveSqliteTargetFromSessionStorePath } from "../config/sessions/session-sqlite-target.js";
+import { resolveSessionStoreTargets } from "../config/sessions/targets.js";
+import { resolveSqliteDatabaseFilePaths } from "../infra/sqlite-files.js";
 import { defaultRuntime, type RuntimeEnv, writeRuntimeJson } from "../runtime.js";
 import { runPostUpgradeProbes } from "./doctor-post-upgrade.js";
 import type { DoctorOptions } from "./doctor-prompter.js";
 import type { DoctorSessionSqliteReport } from "./doctor-session-sqlite.js";
+import {
+  isDestructiveDoctorSessionSqliteMode,
+  withDoctorSqliteMaintenanceLock,
+} from "./doctor-sqlite-maintenance-lock.js";
+
+function resolveExplicitSessionSqliteMaintenancePaths(options: DoctorOptions): string[] {
+  if (!options.sessionSqliteStore) {
+    return [];
+  }
+  // Explicit path mode intentionally bypasses runtime config. Resolve through
+  // the same selector as the migration so ownership checks cover exact targets.
+  const targets = resolveSessionStoreTargets(
+    {},
+    {
+      store: options.sessionSqliteStore,
+      ...(options.sessionSqliteAgent ? { agent: options.sessionSqliteAgent } : {}),
+      ...(options.sessionSqliteAllAgents ? { allAgents: true } : {}),
+    },
+    { env: process.env },
+  );
+  const protectedPaths = new Set<string>();
+  for (const target of targets) {
+    protectedPaths.add(target.storePath);
+    const sqlitePath = resolveSqliteTargetFromSessionStorePath(target.storePath, {
+      agentId: target.agentId,
+    }).path;
+    if (sqlitePath) {
+      for (const databasePath of resolveSqliteDatabaseFilePaths(sqlitePath)) {
+        protectedPaths.add(databasePath);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  return [...protectedPaths];
+}
 
 /** Runs doctor or the post-upgrade probe submode using the provided runtime. */
 export async function doctorCommand(runtime?: RuntimeEnv, options?: DoctorOptions): Promise<void> {
   if (options?.stateSqlite) {
     const outputRuntime = runtime ?? defaultRuntime;
     const { runDoctorStateSqliteCompact } = await import("./doctor-state-sqlite-compact.js");
-    const report = runDoctorStateSqliteCompact();
+    const report = await runDoctorStateSqliteCompact();
     if (options.json) {
       writeRuntimeJson(outputRuntime, report);
     } else if (report.skipped) {
@@ -30,14 +67,26 @@ export async function doctorCommand(runtime?: RuntimeEnv, options?: DoctorOption
   }
   if (options?.sessionSqlite) {
     const outputRuntime = runtime ?? defaultRuntime;
+    const sessionSqliteMode = options.sessionSqlite;
     const { runDoctorSessionSqlite } = await import("./doctor-session-sqlite.js");
-    const report = await runDoctorSessionSqlite({
-      mode: options.sessionSqlite,
-      ...(options.sessionSqliteStore ? { store: options.sessionSqliteStore } : {}),
-      ...(options.sessionSqliteAgent ? { agent: options.sessionSqliteAgent } : {}),
-      ...(options.sessionSqliteAllAgents ? { allAgents: true } : {}),
-    });
-    if (options.sessionSqlite === "recover" && options.sessionSqliteGithubIssue === true) {
+    const runSessionSqlite = async () =>
+      await runDoctorSessionSqlite({
+        mode: sessionSqliteMode,
+        ...(options.sessionSqliteStore ? { store: options.sessionSqliteStore } : {}),
+        ...(options.sessionSqliteAgent ? { agent: options.sessionSqliteAgent } : {}),
+        ...(options.sessionSqliteAllAgents ? { allAgents: true } : {}),
+      });
+    const report = isDestructiveDoctorSessionSqliteMode(sessionSqliteMode)
+      ? await withDoctorSqliteMaintenanceLock({
+          env: process.env,
+          operation: `session SQLite ${sessionSqliteMode}`,
+          ...(options.sessionSqliteStore
+            ? { protectedPaths: resolveExplicitSessionSqliteMaintenancePaths(options) }
+            : {}),
+          run: runSessionSqlite,
+        })
+      : await runSessionSqlite();
+    if (sessionSqliteMode === "recover" && options.sessionSqliteGithubIssue === true) {
       await maybeCreateSessionSqliteGithubIssue(outputRuntime, report, options);
     }
     if (options.json) {
diff --git a/src/flows/doctor-health-contributions.ts b/src/flows/doctor-health-contributions.ts
index a3f74b362e1..5e18a588d7a 100644
--- a/src/flows/doctor-health-contributions.ts
+++ b/src/flows/doctor-health-contributions.ts
@@ -673,7 +673,10 @@ async function runSessionLocksHealth(ctx: DoctorHealthFlowContext): Promise<void
 
 async function runSessionTranscriptsHealth(ctx: DoctorHealthFlowContext): Promise<void> {
   const { noteSessionTranscriptHealth } = await import("../commands/doctor-session-transcripts.js");
-  await noteSessionTranscriptHealth({ shouldRepair: ctx.prompter.shouldRepair });
+  await noteSessionTranscriptHealth({
+    env: ctx.env ?? process.env,
+    shouldRepair: ctx.prompter.shouldRepair,
+  });
 }
 
 async function runSessionSnapshotsHealth(ctx: DoctorHealthFlowContext): Promise<void> {
diff --git a/src/infra/gateway-lock.test.ts b/src/infra/gateway-lock.test.ts
index 6a9a51b76e9..11f0e48728d 100644
--- a/src/infra/gateway-lock.test.ts
+++ b/src/infra/gateway-lock.test.ts
@@ -66,37 +66,15 @@ function expectGatewayLock(lock: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof acquireGatewayLock>>)
 function resolveLockPath(env: NodeJS.ProcessEnv) {
   const stateDir = resolveStateDir(env);
   const configPath = resolveConfigPath(env, stateDir);
-  const hash = createHash("sha256").update(configPath).digest("hex").slice(0, 8);
+  const configHash = createHash("sha256").update(configPath).digest("hex").slice(0, 8);
+  const canonicalStateDir = fsSync.realpathSync.native(path.resolve(stateDir));
+  const stateHash = createHash("sha256").update(canonicalStateDir).digest("hex").slice(0, 8);
   const lockDir = resolveTestLockDir();
-  return { lockPath: path.join(lockDir, `gateway.${hash}.lock`), configPath };
-}
-
-function makeProcStat(pid: number, startTime: number) {
-  const fields = [
-    "R",
-    "1",
-    "1",
-    "1",
-    "1",
-    "1",
-    "1",
-    "1",
-    "1",
-    "1",
-    "1",
-    "1",
-    "1",
-    "1",
-    "1",
-    "1",
-    "1",
-    "1",
-    "1",
-    String(startTime),
-    "1",
-    "1",
-  ];
-  return `${pid} (node) ${fields.join(" ")}`;
+  return {
+    lockPath: path.join(lockDir, `gateway.${configHash}.lock`),
+    configPath,
+    stateLockPath: path.join(lockDir, `gateway.state.${stateHash}.lock`),
+  };
 }
 
 function createLockPayload(params: {
@@ -104,12 +82,14 @@ function createLockPayload(params: {
   startTime: number;
   createdAt?: string;
   port?: number;
+  role?: "gateway" | "sqlite-maintenance";
 }) {
   return {
     pid: process.pid,
     createdAt: params.createdAt ?? new Date().toISOString(),
     configPath: params.configPath,
     ...(params.port ? { port: params.port } : {}),
+    ...(params.role ? { role: params.role } : {}),
     startTime: params.startTime,
   };
 }
@@ -210,6 +190,78 @@ describe("gateway lock", () => {
     await expectGatewayLock(lock2).release();
   });
 
+  it("serializes different config paths that resolve to the same state directory", async () => {
+    const stateDir = await fixtureRootTracker.make("shared-state");
+    const configA = path.join(stateDir, "gateway-a.json");
+    const configB = path.join(stateDir, "gateway-b.json");
+    await fs.writeFile(configA, "{}", "utf8");
+    await fs.writeFile(configB, "{}", "utf8");
+    const envA = {
+      ...process.env,
+      OPENCLAW_CONFIG_PATH: configA,
+      OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR: stateDir,
+    };
+    const envB = {
+      ...process.env,
+      OPENCLAW_CONFIG_PATH: configB,
+      OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR: stateDir,
+    };
+    const lock = expectGatewayLock(
+      await acquireForTest(envA, {
+        platform: "darwin",
+      }),
+    );
+
+    try {
+      await expect(
+        acquireForTest(envB, {
+          platform: "darwin",
+          readProcessCmdline: () => ["openclaw-gateway"],
+          timeoutMs: 15,
+        }),
+      ).rejects.toBeInstanceOf(GatewayLockError);
+    } finally {
+      await lock.release();
+    }
+  });
+
+  it.skipIf(process.platform === "win32")(
+    "canonicalizes state-directory aliases before choosing the ownership lock",
+    async () => {
+      const stateDir = await fixtureRootTracker.make("canonical-state");
+      const aliasRoot = await fixtureRootTracker.make("canonical-alias");
+      const stateAlias = path.join(aliasRoot, "state-link");
+      const configA = path.join(stateDir, "gateway-a.json");
+      const configB = path.join(aliasRoot, "gateway-b.json");
+      await fs.writeFile(configA, "{}", "utf8");
+      await fs.writeFile(configB, "{}", "utf8");
+      await fs.symlink(stateDir, stateAlias);
+      const envA = {
+        ...process.env,
+        OPENCLAW_CONFIG_PATH: configA,
+        OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR: stateDir,
+      };
+      const envB = {
+        ...process.env,
+        OPENCLAW_CONFIG_PATH: configB,
+        OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR: stateAlias,
+      };
+      const lock = expectGatewayLock(await acquireForTest(envA, { platform: "darwin" }));
+
+      try {
+        await expect(
+          acquireForTest(envB, {
+            platform: "darwin",
+            readProcessCmdline: () => ["openclaw-gateway"],
+            timeoutMs: 15,
+          }),
+        ).rejects.toBeInstanceOf(GatewayLockError);
+      } finally {
+        await lock.release();
+      }
+    },
+  );
+
   it("records and reads the active runtime port from a verified gateway lock", async () => {
     const env = await makeEnv();
     const lock = expectGatewayLock(
@@ -234,10 +286,69 @@ describe("gateway lock", () => {
     }
   });
 
+  it("reads the active runtime port from state ownership without a config lock", async () => {
+    const env = {
+      ...(await makeEnv()),
+      OPENCLAW_ALLOW_MULTI_GATEWAY: "1",
+      VITEST: "",
+    };
+    const lock = expectGatewayLock(
+      await acquireForTest(env, {
+        platform: "darwin",
+        port: 48789,
+        readProcessCmdline: () => ["openclaw-gateway"],
+      }),
+    );
+
+    try {
+      const { lockPath } = resolveLockPath(env);
+      await expect(fs.access(lockPath)).rejects.toMatchObject({ code: "ENOENT" });
+      await expect(
+        readActiveGatewayLockPort({
+          env,
+          lockDir: resolveTestLockDir(),
+          platform: "darwin",
+          readProcessCmdline: () => ["openclaw-gateway"],
+        }),
+      ).resolves.toBe(48789);
+    } finally {
+      await lock.release();
+    }
+  });
+
+  it("reads the active runtime port across configs that share a state directory", async () => {
+    const envA = await makeEnv();
+    const configB = path.join(resolveStateDir(envA), "gateway-b.json");
+    await fs.writeFile(configB, "{}", "utf8");
+    const envB = { ...envA, OPENCLAW_CONFIG_PATH: configB };
+    const lock = expectGatewayLock(
+      await acquireForTest(envA, {
+        platform: "darwin",
+        port: 48789,
+        readProcessCmdline: () => ["openclaw-gateway"],
+      }),
+    );
+
+    try {
+      const { lockPath } = resolveLockPath(envB);
+      await expect(fs.access(lockPath)).rejects.toMatchObject({ code: "ENOENT" });
+      await expect(
+        readActiveGatewayLockPort({
+          env: envB,
+          lockDir: resolveTestLockDir(),
+          platform: "darwin",
+          readProcessCmdline: () => ["openclaw-gateway"],
+        }),
+      ).resolves.toBe(48789);
+    } finally {
+      await lock.release();
+    }
+  });
+
   it("keeps a retitled gateway lock owned during concurrent acquisition", async () => {
     const env = await makeEnv();
     const lock = expectGatewayLock(await acquireForTest(env, { platform: "darwin", port: 48789 }));
-    const connectSpy = createPortProbeConnectionSpy("connect");
+    const connectSpy = createPortProbeConnectionSpy("refused");
 
     try {
       await expect(
@@ -248,12 +359,64 @@ describe("gateway lock", () => {
           readProcessCmdline: () => ["openclaw-gateway"],
         }),
       ).rejects.toBeInstanceOf(GatewayLockError);
-      expect(connectSpy).toHaveBeenCalled();
+      expect(connectSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
     } finally {
       await lock.release();
     }
   });
 
+  it("keeps a verified owner when a second gateway requests a different unbound port", async () => {
+    const env = await makeEnv();
+    const lock = expectGatewayLock(
+      await acquireForTest(env, {
+        platform: "darwin",
+        port: 18789,
+      }),
+    );
+    const connectSpy = createPortProbeConnectionSpy("refused");
+
+    try {
+      await expect(
+        acquireForTest(env, {
+          platform: "darwin",
+          port: 28789,
+          timeoutMs: 15,
+          readProcessCmdline: () => ["openclaw-gateway"],
+        }),
+      ).rejects.toBeInstanceOf(GatewayLockError);
+      expect(connectSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    } finally {
+      connectSpy.mockRestore();
+      await lock.release();
+    }
+  });
+
+  it("keeps a live SQLite maintenance owner when the requested gateway port is free", async () => {
+    const env = await makeEnv();
+    const lock = expectGatewayLock(
+      await acquireForTest(env, {
+        ...({ role: "sqlite-maintenance" } as GatewayLockOptions),
+        platform: "darwin",
+      }),
+    );
+    const connectSpy = createPortProbeConnectionSpy("refused");
+
+    try {
+      await expect(
+        acquireForTest(env, {
+          platform: "darwin",
+          port: 18789,
+          timeoutMs: 15,
+          readProcessCmdline: () => ["openclaw", "doctor", "--state-sqlite", "compact"],
+        }),
+      ).rejects.toBeInstanceOf(GatewayLockError);
+      expect(connectSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    } finally {
+      connectSpy.mockRestore();
+      await lock.release();
+    }
+  });
+
   it("ignores active-port metadata when the lock owner cannot be verified", async () => {
     const env = await makeEnv();
     const { lockPath, configPath } = resolveLockPath(env);
@@ -276,25 +439,66 @@ describe("gateway lock", () => {
     const payload = createLockPayload({ configPath, startTime: 111 });
     await fs.writeFile(lockPath, JSON.stringify(payload), "utf8");
 
-    const statValue = makeProcStat(process.pid, 222);
-    const spy = mockProcStatRead({
-      onProcRead: () => statValue,
-    });
-
     const lock = await acquireForTest(env, {
       timeoutMs: 80,
       pollIntervalMs: 5,
       platform: "linux",
+      readProcessStartTime: () => 222,
     });
     const acquiredLock = expectGatewayLock(lock);
 
     await acquiredLock.release();
-    spy.mockRestore();
+  });
+
+  it("serializes concurrent stale-lock reclamation", async () => {
+    vi.useRealTimers();
+    const env = await makeEnv();
+    const { configPath, stateLockPath } = resolveLockPath(env);
+    await fs.mkdir(path.dirname(stateLockPath), { recursive: true });
+    await fs.writeFile(
+      stateLockPath,
+      JSON.stringify(createLockPayload({ configPath, startTime: 111 })),
+      "utf8",
+    );
+
+    const attempts = await Promise.allSettled([
+      acquireForTest(env, {
+        platform: "linux",
+        readProcessStartTime: () => 222,
+        timeoutMs: 80,
+      }),
+      acquireForTest(env, {
+        platform: "linux",
+        readProcessStartTime: () => 222,
+        timeoutMs: 25,
+      }),
+    ]);
+    const acquired = attempts.filter(
+      (result): result is PromiseFulfilledResult<GatewayLock> =>
+        result.status === "fulfilled" && result.value !== null,
+    );
+    const rejected = attempts.filter(
+      (result): result is PromiseRejectedResult => result.status === "rejected",
+    );
+
+    expect(acquired).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(rejected).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(rejected[0]?.reason).toBeInstanceOf(GatewayLockError);
+    await expect(fs.access(stateLockPath)).resolves.toBeUndefined();
+
+    const acquiredResult = acquired[0];
+    if (!acquiredResult) {
+      throw new Error("Expected one successful stale-lock contender");
+    }
+    await acquiredResult.value.release();
+    const nextLock = expectGatewayLock(await acquireForTest(env));
+    await nextLock.release();
   });
 
   it("keeps lock on linux when proc access fails unless stale", async () => {
     vi.useRealTimers();
     const env = await makeEnv();
+    const { stateLockPath } = resolveLockPath(env);
     await writeLockFile(env);
     const spy = createEaccesProcStatSpy();
 
@@ -302,12 +506,196 @@ describe("gateway lock", () => {
       timeoutMs: 15,
       staleMs: 10_000,
       platform: "linux",
+      readProcessCmdline: () => null,
     });
     await expect(pending).rejects.toBeInstanceOf(GatewayLockError);
+    await expect(fs.access(stateLockPath)).rejects.toMatchObject({ code: "ENOENT" });
 
     spy.mockRestore();
   });
 
+  it("keeps a verified maintenance owner when process start identity is unavailable", async () => {
+    vi.useRealTimers();
+    const env = await makeEnv();
+    const { lockPath, configPath } = resolveLockPath(env);
+    await fs.writeFile(
+      lockPath,
+      JSON.stringify(
+        createLockPayload({
+          configPath,
+          createdAt: "2000-01-01T00:00:00.000Z",
+          role: "sqlite-maintenance",
+          startTime: 111,
+        }),
+      ),
+      "utf8",
+    );
+    const spy = createEaccesProcStatSpy();
+
+    try {
+      await expect(
+        acquireForTest(env, {
+          timeoutMs: 15,
+          staleMs: 0,
+          platform: "linux",
+          readProcessCmdline: () => [
+            "node",
+            "/srv/openclaw/openclaw.mjs",
+            "doctor",
+            "--state-sqlite",
+            "compact",
+          ],
+        }),
+      ).rejects.toBeInstanceOf(GatewayLockError);
+    } finally {
+      spy.mockRestore();
+    }
+  });
+
+  it("reclaims a maintenance lock when its live pid belongs to another process", async () => {
+    vi.useRealTimers();
+    const env = await makeEnv();
+    const { lockPath, configPath } = resolveLockPath(env);
+    await fs.writeFile(
+      lockPath,
+      JSON.stringify(
+        createLockPayload({
+          configPath,
+          role: "sqlite-maintenance",
+          startTime: 111,
+        }),
+      ),
+      "utf8",
+    );
+    const spy = createEaccesProcStatSpy();
+
+    try {
+      const lock = await acquireForTest(env, {
+        platform: "linux",
+        readProcessCmdline: () => ["node", "worker.js"],
+        timeoutMs: 80,
+      });
+      await expectGatewayLock(lock).release();
+    } finally {
+      spy.mockRestore();
+    }
+  });
+
+  it("reclaims a Windows maintenance lock when the pid creation time changed", async () => {
+    vi.useRealTimers();
+    const env = await makeEnv();
+    const { lockPath, configPath } = resolveLockPath(env);
+    await fs.writeFile(
+      lockPath,
+      JSON.stringify(
+        createLockPayload({
+          configPath,
+          role: "sqlite-maintenance",
+          startTime: 111,
+        }),
+      ),
+      "utf8",
+    );
+
+    const lock = await acquireForTest(env, {
+      platform: "win32",
+      readProcessCmdline: () => ["openclaw", "doctor", "--state-sqlite", "compact"],
+      readProcessStartTime: () => 222,
+      timeoutMs: 80,
+    });
+    await expectGatewayLock(lock).release();
+  });
+
+  it("keeps a Windows maintenance lock when the pid creation time matches", async () => {
+    vi.useRealTimers();
+    const env = await makeEnv();
+    const { lockPath, configPath } = resolveLockPath(env);
+    await fs.writeFile(
+      lockPath,
+      JSON.stringify(
+        createLockPayload({
+          configPath,
+          createdAt: "2000-01-01T00:00:00.000Z",
+          role: "sqlite-maintenance",
+          startTime: 111,
+        }),
+      ),
+      "utf8",
+    );
+
+    await expect(
+      acquireForTest(env, {
+        platform: "win32",
+        readProcessCmdline: () => ["node", "worker.js"],
+        readProcessStartTime: () => 111,
+        staleMs: 0,
+        timeoutMs: 15,
+      }),
+    ).rejects.toBeInstanceOf(GatewayLockError);
+  });
+
+  it("fails closed for a recent maintenance owner with unreadable process identity", async () => {
+    vi.useRealTimers();
+    const env = await makeEnv();
+    const { lockPath, configPath } = resolveLockPath(env);
+    await fs.writeFile(
+      lockPath,
+      JSON.stringify(
+        createLockPayload({
+          configPath,
+          role: "sqlite-maintenance",
+          startTime: 111,
+        }),
+      ),
+      "utf8",
+    );
+    const spy = createEaccesProcStatSpy();
+
+    try {
+      await expect(
+        acquireForTest(env, {
+          platform: "linux",
+          readProcessCmdline: () => null,
+          staleMs: 10_000,
+          timeoutMs: 15,
+        }),
+      ).rejects.toBeInstanceOf(GatewayLockError);
+    } finally {
+      spy.mockRestore();
+    }
+  });
+
+  it("ages out an old maintenance owner with unreadable process identity", async () => {
+    vi.useRealTimers();
+    const env = await makeEnv();
+    const { lockPath, configPath } = resolveLockPath(env);
+    await fs.writeFile(
+      lockPath,
+      JSON.stringify(
+        createLockPayload({
+          configPath,
+          createdAt: "2000-01-01T00:00:00.000Z",
+          role: "sqlite-maintenance",
+          startTime: 111,
+        }),
+      ),
+      "utf8",
+    );
+    const spy = createEaccesProcStatSpy();
+
+    try {
+      const lock = await acquireForTest(env, {
+        platform: "linux",
+        readProcessCmdline: () => null,
+        staleMs: 0,
+        timeoutMs: 80,
+      });
+      await expectGatewayLock(lock).release();
+    } finally {
+      spy.mockRestore();
+    }
+  });
+
   it("keeps lock when fs.stat fails until payload is stale", async () => {
     vi.useRealTimers();
     const env = await makeEnv();
@@ -321,6 +709,7 @@ describe("gateway lock", () => {
       timeoutMs: 20,
       staleMs: 10_000,
       platform: "linux",
+      readProcessCmdline: () => null,
     });
     await expect(pending).rejects.toBeInstanceOf(GatewayLockError);
 
@@ -328,11 +717,10 @@ describe("gateway lock", () => {
     statSpy.mockRestore();
   });
 
-  it("treats lock as stale when owner pid is alive but configured port is free", async () => {
+  it("reclaims a lock when its live pid belongs to a non-gateway process", async () => {
     vi.useRealTimers();
     const env = await makeEnv();
     await writeRecentLockFile(env);
-    const connectSpy = createPortProbeConnectionSpy("refused");
 
     const lock = await acquireForTest(env, {
       timeoutMs: 80,
@@ -340,9 +728,9 @@ describe("gateway lock", () => {
       staleMs: 10_000,
       platform: "darwin",
       port: 18789,
+      readProcessCmdline: () => ["node", "worker.js"],
     });
     await expectGatewayLock(lock).release();
-    connectSpy.mockRestore();
   });
 
   it("keeps lock when configured port is busy and owner pid is alive", async () => {
@@ -392,13 +780,34 @@ describe("gateway lock", () => {
     expect(sleepDelays).toEqual([5]);
   });
 
-  it("returns null when multi-gateway override is enabled", async () => {
+  it("keeps state ownership when the config singleton override is enabled", async () => {
     const env = await makeEnv();
-    const lock = await acquireGatewayLock({
-      env: { ...env, OPENCLAW_ALLOW_MULTI_GATEWAY: "1", VITEST: "" },
-      lockDir: resolveTestLockDir(),
-    });
-    expect(lock).toBeNull();
+    const { lockPath, stateLockPath } = resolveLockPath(env);
+    const lock = expectGatewayLock(
+      await acquireGatewayLock({
+        allowInTests: true,
+        env: { ...env, OPENCLAW_ALLOW_MULTI_GATEWAY: "1", VITEST: "" },
+        lockDir: resolveTestLockDir(),
+      }),
+    );
+
+    try {
+      expect(lock.lockPath).toBe(stateLockPath);
+      await expect(fs.access(stateLockPath)).resolves.toBeUndefined();
+      await expect(fs.access(lockPath)).rejects.toMatchObject({ code: "ENOENT" });
+      await expect(
+        acquireGatewayLock({
+          allowInTests: true,
+          env,
+          lockDir: resolveTestLockDir(),
+          platform: "darwin",
+          readProcessCmdline: () => ["openclaw-gateway"],
+          timeoutMs: 15,
+        }),
+      ).rejects.toBeInstanceOf(GatewayLockError);
+    } finally {
+      await lock.release();
+    }
   });
 
   it("returns null in test env unless allowInTests is set", async () => {
@@ -451,7 +860,7 @@ describe("gateway lock", () => {
   it("closes handle and removes lock file when writeFile fails after open succeeds", async () => {
     vi.useRealTimers();
     const env = await makeEnv();
-    const { lockPath } = resolveLockPath(env);
+    const { stateLockPath } = resolveLockPath(env);
 
     const writeError = Object.assign(new Error("ENOSPC: no space left on device"), {
       code: "ENOSPC",
@@ -459,7 +868,7 @@ describe("gateway lock", () => {
     const close = vi.fn<() => Promise<void>>().mockResolvedValue(undefined);
     const mockHandle = {
       writeFile: vi.fn().mockImplementation(async () => {
-        await fs.writeFile(lockPath, "partial", "utf8");
+        await fs.writeFile(stateLockPath, "partial", "utf8");
         throw writeError;
       }),
       close,
@@ -473,7 +882,7 @@ describe("gateway lock", () => {
     });
 
     expect(close).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
-    await expect(fs.access(lockPath)).rejects.toMatchObject({ code: "ENOENT" });
+    await expect(fs.access(stateLockPath)).rejects.toMatchObject({ code: "ENOENT" });
 
     openSpy.mockRestore();
   });
@@ -492,6 +901,7 @@ describe("gateway lock", () => {
       platform: "win32",
       port: 18789,
       readProcessCmdline: () => ["chrome.exe", "--no-sandbox"],
+      readProcessStartTime: () => null,
     });
     await expectGatewayLock(lock).release();
 
@@ -516,6 +926,7 @@ describe("gateway lock", () => {
         "gateway",
         "run",
       ],
+      readProcessStartTime: () => null,
     });
     await expect(pending).rejects.toBeInstanceOf(GatewayLockError);
 
@@ -536,6 +947,7 @@ describe("gateway lock", () => {
       platform: "win32",
       port: 18789,
       readProcessCmdline: () => null,
+      readProcessStartTime: () => null,
     });
     await expect(pending).rejects.toBeInstanceOf(GatewayLockError);
 
diff --git a/src/infra/gateway-lock.ts b/src/infra/gateway-lock.ts
index 7905224e08f..de66bc616fa 100644
--- a/src/infra/gateway-lock.ts
+++ b/src/infra/gateway-lock.ts
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
 import { execFileSync } from "node:child_process";
 import fsSync from "node:fs";
 import fs from "node:fs/promises";
-import net from "node:net";
 import path from "node:path";
+import type { DatabaseSync } from "node:sqlite";
 import {
   resolvePositiveTimerTimeoutMs,
   resolveTimerTimeoutMs,
@@ -11,22 +11,28 @@ import {
 } from "@openclaw/normalization-core/number-coercion";
 import { z } from "zod";
 import { resolveConfigPath, resolveGatewayLockDir, resolveStateDir } from "../config/paths.js";
-import { isPidAlive } from "../shared/pid-alive.js";
+import { getFileLockProcessStartTime, isPidAlive } from "../shared/pid-alive.js";
 import { safeParseJsonWithSchema } from "../utils/zod-parse.js";
 import { sha256HexPrefix } from "./crypto-digest.js";
-import { isGatewayArgv, parseProcCmdline } from "./gateway-process-argv.js";
-import { readWindowsProcessArgsSync } from "./windows-port-pids.js";
+import { isGatewayArgv, isOpenClawCommandArgv, parseProcCmdline } from "./gateway-process-argv.js";
+import { requireNodeSqlite } from "./node-sqlite.js";
+import { isSqliteLockError } from "./sqlite-transaction.js";
+import {
+  readWindowsProcessArgsSync,
+  readWindowsProcessStartTimeSync,
+} from "./windows-port-pids.js";
 
 const DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_MS = 5000;
 const DEFAULT_POLL_INTERVAL_MS = 100;
 const DEFAULT_STALE_MS = 30_000;
-const DEFAULT_PORT_PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS = 1000;
 
 type LockPayload = {
   pid: number;
   createdAt: string;
   configPath: string;
   port?: number;
+  role?: GatewayLockRole;
+  stateDir?: string;
   startTime?: number;
 };
 
@@ -35,15 +41,20 @@ const LockPayloadSchema = z.object({
   createdAt: z.string(),
   configPath: z.string(),
   port: z.number().int().min(1).max(65_535).optional(),
+  role: z.enum(["gateway", "sqlite-maintenance"]).optional(),
+  stateDir: z.string().optional(),
   startTime: z.number().optional(),
 }) as z.ZodType<LockPayload>;
 
 type GatewayLockHandle = {
   lockPath: string;
+  stateLockPath: string;
   configPath: string;
   release: () => Promise<void>;
 };
 
+export type GatewayLockRole = "gateway" | "sqlite-maintenance";
+
 export type GatewayLockOptions = {
   env?: NodeJS.ProcessEnv;
   timeoutMs?: number;
@@ -55,8 +66,11 @@ export type GatewayLockOptions = {
   now?: () => number;
   sleep?: (ms: number) => Promise<void>;
   lockDir?: string;
+  role?: GatewayLockRole;
   /** Override process command-line reader (testing seam). */
   readProcessCmdline?: (pid: number) => string[] | null;
+  /** Override process start-identity reader (testing seam). */
+  readProcessStartTime?: (pid: number) => number | null;
 };
 
 export class GatewayLockError extends Error {
@@ -71,6 +85,45 @@ export class GatewayLockError extends Error {
 
 type LockOwnerStatus = "alive" | "dead" | "unknown";
 
+type GatewayLockCoordinator = {
+  release: () => void;
+};
+
+function tryAcquireGatewayLockCoordinator(lockPath: string): GatewayLockCoordinator | null {
+  const { DatabaseSync } = requireNodeSqlite();
+  const coordinatorDb: DatabaseSync = new DatabaseSync(`${lockPath}.sqlite`);
+  try {
+    coordinatorDb.exec("PRAGMA busy_timeout = 0; BEGIN EXCLUSIVE;");
+  } catch (error) {
+    try {
+      coordinatorDb.close();
+    } catch {}
+    if (isSqliteLockError(error)) {
+      return null;
+    }
+    throw error;
+  }
+
+  return {
+    release: () => {
+      let releaseError: unknown;
+      try {
+        coordinatorDb.exec("ROLLBACK");
+      } catch (error) {
+        releaseError = error;
+      }
+      try {
+        coordinatorDb.close();
+      } catch (error) {
+        releaseError ??= error;
+      }
+      if (releaseError) {
+        throw new GatewayLockError("failed to release gateway lock coordinator", releaseError);
+      }
+    },
+  };
+}
+
 function readLinuxCmdline(pid: number): string[] | null {
   try {
     const raw = fsSync.readFileSync(`/proc/${pid}/cmdline`, "utf8");
@@ -111,48 +164,13 @@ function readDarwinCmdline(pid: number): string[] | null {
   }
 }
 
-function readLinuxStartTime(pid: number): number | null {
-  try {
-    const raw = fsSync.readFileSync(`/proc/${pid}/stat`, "utf8").trim();
-    const closeParen = raw.lastIndexOf(")");
-    if (closeParen < 0) {
-      return null;
-    }
-    const rest = raw.slice(closeParen + 1).trim();
-    const fields = rest.split(/\s+/);
-    const startTime = Number.parseInt(fields[19] ?? "", 10);
-    return Number.isFinite(startTime) ? startTime : null;
-  } catch {
+function readProcessStartTime(pid: number, platform: NodeJS.Platform): number | null {
+  if (platform !== process.platform) {
     return null;
   }
-}
-
-async function checkPortFree(port: number, host = "127.0.0.1"): Promise<boolean> {
-  return await new Promise<boolean>((resolve) => {
-    const socket = net.createConnection({ port, host });
-    let settled = false;
-    const finish = (result: boolean) => {
-      if (settled) {
-        return;
-      }
-      settled = true;
-      clearTimeout(timer);
-      socket.removeAllListeners();
-      socket.destroy();
-      resolve(result);
-    };
-    const timer = setTimeout(() => {
-      // Conservative for liveness checks: timeout usually means no responsive
-      // local listener, so treat the lock owner as stale.
-      finish(true);
-    }, DEFAULT_PORT_PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS);
-    socket.once("connect", () => {
-      finish(false);
-    });
-    socket.once("error", () => {
-      finish(true);
-    });
-  });
+  return platform === "win32"
+    ? readWindowsProcessStartTimeSync(pid, CMDLINE_EXEC_TIMEOUT_MS)
+    : getFileLockProcessStartTime(pid);
 }
 
 function defaultReadProcessCmdline(pid: number, platform: NodeJS.Platform): string[] | null {
@@ -172,35 +190,36 @@ async function resolveGatewayOwnerStatus(
   pid: number,
   payload: LockPayload | null,
   platform: NodeJS.Platform,
-  port: number | undefined,
   readCmdline?: (pid: number) => string[] | null,
+  readStartTime?: (pid: number) => number | null,
   opts: { trustUnknownCmdlineOwner?: boolean } = {},
 ): Promise<LockOwnerStatus> {
-  if (port != null) {
-    const portFree = await checkPortFree(port);
-    if (portFree) {
-      return "dead";
-    }
-  }
-
+  const role = payload?.role ?? "gateway";
   if (!isPidAlive(pid)) {
     return "dead";
   }
 
-  // On Linux, an extra start-time comparison catches PID recycling even when
-  // the replacement process also looks like a gateway (same argv shape).
-  if (platform === "linux") {
-    const payloadStartTime = payload?.startTime;
-    if (Number.isFinite(payloadStartTime)) {
-      const currentStartTime = readLinuxStartTime(pid);
-      if (currentStartTime == null) {
-        return "unknown";
-      }
+  // Process start identity catches PID recycling even when the replacement
+  // process has the same argv shape.
+  const payloadStartTime = payload?.startTime;
+  if (Number.isFinite(payloadStartTime)) {
+    const currentStartTime = (
+      readStartTime ?? ((ownerPid) => readProcessStartTime(ownerPid, platform))
+    )(pid);
+    if (currentStartTime != null) {
       return currentStartTime === payloadStartTime ? "alive" : "dead";
     }
   }
 
   const readFn = readCmdline ?? ((p: number) => defaultReadProcessCmdline(p, platform));
+  if (role === "sqlite-maintenance") {
+    const args = readFn(pid);
+    if (!args) {
+      return "unknown";
+    }
+    return isOpenClawCommandArgv(args, "doctor") ? "alive" : "dead";
+  }
+
   const args = readFn(pid);
   if (!args) {
     // Cmdline reader unavailable or failed. On Linux legacy locks (no
@@ -223,29 +242,69 @@ async function readLockPayload(lockPath: string): Promise<LockPayload | null> {
   }
 }
 
-function resolveGatewayLockPath(env: NodeJS.ProcessEnv, lockDir = resolveGatewayLockDir()) {
-  const stateDir = resolveStateDir(env);
-  const configPath = resolveConfigPath(env, stateDir);
-  const hash = sha256HexPrefix(configPath, 8);
-  const lockPath = path.join(lockDir, `gateway.${hash}.lock`);
-  return { lockPath, configPath };
+function canonicalizeStateDir(stateDir: string): string {
+  const resolved = path.resolve(stateDir);
+  try {
+    return fsSync.realpathSync.native(resolved);
+  } catch {
+    const missingSegments: string[] = [];
+    let current = resolved;
+    while (true) {
+      const parent = path.dirname(current);
+      if (parent === current) {
+        return resolved;
+      }
+      missingSegments.push(path.basename(current));
+      current = parent;
+      try {
+        return path.join(fsSync.realpathSync.native(current), ...missingSegments.toReversed());
+      } catch {
+        // Keep walking so aliases in an existing ancestor still share one lock.
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+function resolveGatewayLockPaths(env: NodeJS.ProcessEnv, lockDir = resolveGatewayLockDir()) {
+  const resolvedStateDir = resolveStateDir(env);
+  const stateDir = canonicalizeStateDir(resolvedStateDir);
+  const configPath = resolveConfigPath(env, resolvedStateDir);
+  const configHash = sha256HexPrefix(configPath, 8);
+  const stateHash = sha256HexPrefix(stateDir, 8);
+  return {
+    configLockPath: path.join(lockDir, `gateway.${configHash}.lock`),
+    configPath,
+    stateDir,
+    stateLockPath: path.join(lockDir, `gateway.state.${stateHash}.lock`),
+  };
 }
 
 export async function readActiveGatewayLockPort(
-  opts: Pick<GatewayLockOptions, "env" | "lockDir" | "platform" | "readProcessCmdline"> = {},
+  opts: Pick<
+    GatewayLockOptions,
+    "env" | "lockDir" | "platform" | "readProcessCmdline" | "readProcessStartTime"
+  > = {},
 ): Promise<number | undefined> {
   const env = opts.env ?? process.env;
-  const { lockPath } = resolveGatewayLockPath(env, opts.lockDir);
+  const { configLockPath, stateLockPath } = resolveGatewayLockPaths(env, opts.lockDir);
+  const configPort = await readVerifiedGatewayLockPort(configLockPath, opts);
+  return configPort ?? (await readVerifiedGatewayLockPort(stateLockPath, opts));
+}
+
+async function readVerifiedGatewayLockPort(
+  lockPath: string,
+  opts: Pick<GatewayLockOptions, "platform" | "readProcessCmdline" | "readProcessStartTime">,
+): Promise<number | undefined> {
   const payload = await readLockPayload(lockPath);
-  if (!payload?.port) {
+  if (!payload?.port || payload.role === "sqlite-maintenance") {
     return undefined;
   }
   const ownerStatus = await resolveGatewayOwnerStatus(
     payload.pid,
     payload,
     opts.platform ?? process.platform,
-    undefined,
     opts.readProcessCmdline,
+    opts.readProcessStartTime,
     { trustUnknownCmdlineOwner: false },
   );
   return ownerStatus === "alive" ? payload.port : undefined;
@@ -256,13 +315,77 @@ export async function acquireGatewayLock(
 ): Promise<GatewayLockHandle | null> {
   const env = opts.env ?? process.env;
   const allowInTests = opts.allowInTests === true;
-  if (
-    env.OPENCLAW_ALLOW_MULTI_GATEWAY === "1" ||
-    (!allowInTests && (env.VITEST || env.NODE_ENV === "test"))
-  ) {
+  if (!allowInTests && (env.VITEST || env.NODE_ENV === "test")) {
     return null;
   }
+  const role = opts.role ?? "gateway";
+  const paths = resolveGatewayLockPaths(env, opts.lockDir);
+  const stateLock = await acquireLockFile({
+    ...opts,
+    configPath: paths.configPath,
+    env,
+    lockPath: paths.stateLockPath,
+    role,
+    stateDir: paths.stateDir,
+  });
+  const shouldAcquireConfigLock =
+    role === "sqlite-maintenance" || env.OPENCLAW_ALLOW_MULTI_GATEWAY !== "1";
+  if (!shouldAcquireConfigLock) {
+    return {
+      ...stateLock,
+      stateLockPath: stateLock.lockPath,
+    };
+  }
 
+  try {
+    const configLock = await acquireLockFile({
+      ...opts,
+      configPath: paths.configPath,
+      env,
+      lockPath: paths.configLockPath,
+      role,
+      stateDir: paths.stateDir,
+    });
+    return {
+      ...configLock,
+      stateLockPath: stateLock.lockPath,
+      release: async () => {
+        let releaseError: Error | undefined;
+        try {
+          await configLock.release();
+        } catch (error) {
+          releaseError =
+            error instanceof Error
+              ? error
+              : new GatewayLockError("failed to release config lock", error);
+        }
+        try {
+          await stateLock.release();
+        } catch (error) {
+          releaseError ??=
+            error instanceof Error
+              ? error
+              : new GatewayLockError("failed to release state lock", error);
+        }
+        if (releaseError) {
+          throw releaseError;
+        }
+      },
+    };
+  } catch (error) {
+    await stateLock.release().catch(() => undefined);
+    throw error;
+  }
+}
+
+async function acquireLockFile(
+  opts: GatewayLockOptions & {
+    configPath: string;
+    lockPath: string;
+    role: GatewayLockRole;
+    stateDir: string;
+  },
+): Promise<Omit<GatewayLockHandle, "stateLockPath">> {
   const timeoutMs = resolveTimerTimeoutMs(opts.timeoutMs, DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_MS, 0);
   const pollIntervalMs = resolvePositiveTimerTimeoutMs(
     opts.pollIntervalMs,
@@ -271,6 +394,7 @@ export async function acquireGatewayLock(
   const staleMs = resolveTimerTimeoutMs(opts.staleMs, DEFAULT_STALE_MS, 0);
   const platform = opts.platform ?? process.platform;
   const port = opts.port;
+  const role = opts.role;
   const now = opts.now ?? Date.now;
   const sleep =
     opts.sleep ??
@@ -278,95 +402,161 @@ export async function acquireGatewayLock(
       await new Promise((resolve) => {
         setTimeout(resolve, ms);
       }));
-  const { lockPath, configPath } = resolveGatewayLockPath(env, opts.lockDir);
+  const { configPath, lockPath, stateDir } = opts;
   await fs.mkdir(path.dirname(lockPath), { recursive: true });
 
   const startedAt = now();
   let lastPayload: LockPayload | null = null;
 
   while (now() - startedAt < timeoutMs) {
+    let coordinator: GatewayLockCoordinator | null;
     try {
-      const handle = await fs.open(lockPath, "wx");
-      try {
-        const startTime = platform === "linux" ? readLinuxStartTime(process.pid) : null;
-        const payload: LockPayload = {
-          pid: process.pid,
-          createdAt: resolveTimestampMsToIsoString(now()),
-          configPath,
-        };
-        if (typeof port === "number" && Number.isInteger(port) && port > 0 && port <= 65_535) {
-          payload.port = port;
-        }
-        if (typeof startTime === "number" && Number.isFinite(startTime)) {
-          payload.startTime = startTime;
-        }
-        await handle.writeFile(JSON.stringify(payload), "utf8");
-      } catch (error) {
-        // Acquisition owns both resources until the release callback exists.
-        // Unwind them if payload preparation fails before ownership transfers.
-        await handle.close().catch(() => undefined);
-        await fs.rm(lockPath, { force: true }).catch(() => undefined);
-        throw error;
-      }
-      return {
-        lockPath,
-        configPath,
-        release: async () => {
-          await handle.close().catch(() => undefined);
-          await fs.rm(lockPath, { force: true });
-        },
-      };
-    } catch (err) {
-      const code = (err as { code?: unknown }).code;
-      if (code !== "EEXIST") {
-        throw new GatewayLockError(`failed to acquire gateway lock at ${lockPath}`, err);
-      }
+      coordinator = tryAcquireGatewayLockCoordinator(lockPath);
+    } catch (error) {
+      throw new GatewayLockError(`failed to acquire gateway lock at ${lockPath}`, error);
+    }
 
+    if (!coordinator) {
       lastPayload = await readLockPayload(lockPath);
-      const ownerPid = lastPayload?.pid;
-      const ownerStatus = ownerPid
-        ? await resolveGatewayOwnerStatus(
-            ownerPid,
-            lastPayload,
-            platform,
-            port,
-            opts.readProcessCmdline,
-          )
-        : "unknown";
-      if (ownerStatus === "dead" && ownerPid) {
-        await fs.rm(lockPath, { force: true });
-        continue;
-      }
-      if (ownerStatus !== "alive") {
-        let stale = false;
-        if (lastPayload?.createdAt) {
-          const createdAt = Date.parse(lastPayload.createdAt);
-          stale = Number.isFinite(createdAt) ? now() - createdAt > staleMs : false;
-        }
-        if (!stale) {
+    } else {
+      let handle: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof fs.open>> | undefined;
+      let acquisitionError: unknown;
+      let waitForOwner = false;
+      try {
+        while (!handle && !waitForOwner) {
+          let candidateHandle: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof fs.open>>;
           try {
-            const st = await fs.stat(lockPath);
-            stale = now() - st.mtimeMs > staleMs;
-          } catch {
-            // On Windows or locked filesystems we may be unable to stat the
-            // lock file even though the existing gateway is still healthy.
-            // Treat the lock as non-stale so we keep waiting instead of
-            // forcefully removing another gateway's lock.
-            stale = false;
+            candidateHandle = await fs.open(lockPath, "wx");
+          } catch (error) {
+            const code = (error as { code?: unknown }).code;
+            if (code !== "EEXIST") {
+              throw error;
+            }
+
+            lastPayload = await readLockPayload(lockPath);
+            const ownerPid = lastPayload?.pid;
+            const ownerStatus = ownerPid
+              ? await resolveGatewayOwnerStatus(
+                  ownerPid,
+                  lastPayload,
+                  platform,
+                  opts.readProcessCmdline,
+                  opts.readProcessStartTime,
+                )
+              : "unknown";
+            if (ownerStatus === "dead" && ownerPid) {
+              await fs.rm(lockPath, { force: true });
+              continue;
+            }
+            if (ownerStatus !== "alive") {
+              let stale = false;
+              if (lastPayload?.createdAt) {
+                const createdAt = Date.parse(lastPayload.createdAt);
+                stale = Number.isFinite(createdAt) ? now() - createdAt > staleMs : false;
+              }
+              if (!stale) {
+                try {
+                  const st = await fs.stat(lockPath);
+                  stale = now() - st.mtimeMs > staleMs;
+                } catch {
+                  // On Windows or locked filesystems we may be unable to stat the
+                  // lock file even though the existing gateway is still healthy.
+                  // Treat the lock as non-stale so we keep waiting instead of
+                  // forcefully removing another gateway's lock.
+                  stale = false;
+                }
+              }
+              if (stale) {
+                await fs.rm(lockPath, { force: true });
+                continue;
+              }
+            }
+            waitForOwner = true;
+            continue;
+          }
+
+          try {
+            const startTime = (
+              opts.readProcessStartTime ?? ((pid) => readProcessStartTime(pid, platform))
+            )(process.pid);
+            const payload: LockPayload = {
+              pid: process.pid,
+              createdAt: resolveTimestampMsToIsoString(now()),
+              configPath,
+              stateDir,
+            };
+            if (typeof port === "number" && Number.isInteger(port) && port > 0 && port <= 65_535) {
+              payload.port = port;
+            }
+            if (role !== "gateway") {
+              payload.role = role;
+            }
+            if (typeof startTime === "number" && Number.isFinite(startTime)) {
+              payload.startTime = startTime;
+            }
+            await candidateHandle.writeFile(JSON.stringify(payload), "utf8");
+            handle = candidateHandle;
+          } catch (error) {
+            // Acquisition owns both resources until the release callback exists.
+            // Unwind them if payload preparation fails before ownership transfers.
+            await candidateHandle.close().catch(() => undefined);
+            await fs.rm(lockPath, { force: true }).catch(() => undefined);
+            throw error;
           }
         }
-        if (stale) {
-          await fs.rm(lockPath, { force: true });
-          continue;
-        }
+      } catch (error) {
+        acquisitionError = error;
       }
 
-      const remainingMs = timeoutMs - (now() - startedAt);
-      if (remainingMs <= 0) {
-        break;
+      if (handle) {
+        return {
+          lockPath,
+          configPath,
+          release: async () => {
+            let releaseError: unknown;
+            try {
+              await handle.close();
+            } catch (error) {
+              releaseError = error;
+            }
+            try {
+              await fs.rm(lockPath, { force: true });
+            } catch (error) {
+              releaseError ??= error;
+            }
+            try {
+              coordinator.release();
+            } catch (error) {
+              releaseError ??= error;
+            }
+            if (releaseError) {
+              throw new GatewayLockError(
+                `failed to release gateway lock at ${lockPath}`,
+                releaseError,
+              );
+            }
+          },
+        };
+      }
+
+      try {
+        coordinator.release();
+      } catch (error) {
+        acquisitionError ??= error;
+      }
+      if (acquisitionError) {
+        throw new GatewayLockError(
+          `failed to acquire gateway lock at ${lockPath}`,
+          acquisitionError,
+        );
       }
-      await sleep(Math.min(pollIntervalMs, remainingMs));
     }
+
+    const remainingMs = timeoutMs - (now() - startedAt);
+    if (remainingMs <= 0) {
+      break;
+    }
+    await sleep(Math.min(pollIntervalMs, remainingMs));
   }
 
   const owner = lastPayload?.pid ? ` (pid ${lastPayload.pid})` : "";
diff --git a/src/infra/gateway-process-argv.test.ts b/src/infra/gateway-process-argv.test.ts
index b3f9d6585b2..e4170a19c5b 100644
--- a/src/infra/gateway-process-argv.test.ts
+++ b/src/infra/gateway-process-argv.test.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Tests gateway process argv parsing for diagnostics.
 import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
-import { isGatewayArgv, parseProcCmdline } from "./gateway-process-argv.js";
+import { isGatewayArgv, isOpenClawCommandArgv, parseProcCmdline } from "./gateway-process-argv.js";
 
 describe("parseProcCmdline", () => {
   it("splits null-delimited argv and trims empty entries", () => {
@@ -53,3 +53,22 @@ describe("isGatewayArgv", () => {
     expect(isGatewayArgv(["python", "gateway", "script.py"])).toBe(false);
   });
 });
+
+describe("isOpenClawCommandArgv", () => {
+  it("matches doctor across source, built, and installed entrypoints", () => {
+    expect(isOpenClawCommandArgv(["node", "/srv/openclaw/openclaw.mjs", "doctor"], "doctor")).toBe(
+      true,
+    );
+    expect(
+      isOpenClawCommandArgv(["NODE", "C:\\OpenClaw\\DIST\\ENTRY.JS", "DOCTOR"], "doctor"),
+    ).toBe(true);
+    expect(isOpenClawCommandArgv(["C:\\bin\\openclaw.cmd", "doctor", "--fix"], "doctor")).toBe(
+      true,
+    );
+  });
+
+  it("rejects other OpenClaw commands and unrelated doctor processes", () => {
+    expect(isOpenClawCommandArgv(["openclaw", "gateway"], "doctor")).toBe(false);
+    expect(isOpenClawCommandArgv(["python", "doctor", "worker.py"], "doctor")).toBe(false);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/infra/gateway-process-argv.ts b/src/infra/gateway-process-argv.ts
index ee985cc4fd2..d155f8c842d 100644
--- a/src/infra/gateway-process-argv.ts
+++ b/src/infra/gateway-process-argv.ts
@@ -6,33 +6,37 @@ function normalizeProcArg(arg: string): string {
   return normalizeLowercaseStringOrEmpty(arg.replaceAll("\\", "/"));
 }
 
+const ENTRY_CANDIDATES = [
+  "dist/index.js",
+  "dist/entry.js",
+  "openclaw.mjs",
+  "scripts/run-node.mjs",
+  "src/entry.ts",
+  "src/index.ts",
+] as const;
+
 export function parseProcCmdline(raw: string): string[] {
   return normalizeStringEntries(raw.split("\0"));
 }
 
+export function isOpenClawCommandArgv(args: string[], command: string): boolean {
+  const normalized = args.map(normalizeProcArg);
+  const exe = (normalized[0] ?? "").replace(/\.(bat|cmd|exe)$/i, "");
+  if (!normalized.includes(normalizeProcArg(command))) {
+    return false;
+  }
+  if (normalized.some((arg) => ENTRY_CANDIDATES.some((entry) => arg.endsWith(entry)))) {
+    return true;
+  }
+  return exe.endsWith("/openclaw") || exe === "openclaw";
+}
+
 export function isGatewayArgv(args: string[], opts?: { allowGatewayBinary?: boolean }): boolean {
   const normalized = args.map(normalizeProcArg);
   const exe = (normalized[0] ?? "").replace(/\.(bat|cmd|exe)$/i, "");
   const isGatewayBinary = exe.endsWith("/openclaw-gateway") || exe === "openclaw-gateway";
-  if (!normalized.includes("gateway")) {
+  if (!isOpenClawCommandArgv(args, "gateway")) {
     return opts?.allowGatewayBinary === true && isGatewayBinary;
   }
-
-  const entryCandidates = [
-    "dist/index.js",
-    "dist/entry.js",
-    "openclaw.mjs",
-    "scripts/run-node.mjs",
-    "src/entry.ts",
-    "src/index.ts",
-  ];
-  if (normalized.some((arg) => entryCandidates.some((entry) => arg.endsWith(entry)))) {
-    return true;
-  }
-
-  return (
-    exe.endsWith("/openclaw") ||
-    exe === "openclaw" ||
-    (opts?.allowGatewayBinary === true && isGatewayBinary)
-  );
+  return true;
 }
diff --git a/src/infra/windows-port-pids.test.ts b/src/infra/windows-port-pids.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..2b27c1258ec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/infra/windows-port-pids.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import { getWindowsPowerShellExePath, getWindowsWmicExePath } from "./windows-install-roots.js";
+import { readWindowsProcessStartTimeSync } from "./windows-port-pids.js";
+
+const spawnSyncMock = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn());
+
+vi.mock("node:child_process", async (importOriginal) => ({
+  ...(await importOriginal<typeof import("node:child_process")>()),
+  spawnSync: spawnSyncMock,
+}));
+
+describe("readWindowsProcessStartTimeSync", () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    spawnSyncMock.mockReset();
+  });
+
+  it("reads an ISO creation time through PowerShell", () => {
+    spawnSyncMock.mockReturnValueOnce({
+      status: 0,
+      stdout: "2026-07-13T07:20:49.1234567Z",
+    } as never);
+
+    expect(readWindowsProcessStartTimeSync(123, 1000)).toBe(Date.parse("2026-07-13T07:20:49.123Z"));
+    expect(spawnSyncMock.mock.calls[0]?.[0]).toBe(getWindowsPowerShellExePath());
+  });
+
+  it("falls back to WMIC DMTF creation time output", () => {
+    spawnSyncMock.mockReturnValueOnce({ status: 1, stdout: "" } as never).mockReturnValueOnce({
+      status: 0,
+      stdout: Buffer.from("CreationDate=20260713092049.123456+120\r\n"),
+    } as never);
+
+    expect(readWindowsProcessStartTimeSync(456, 1000)).toBe(Date.parse("2026-07-13T07:20:49.123Z"));
+    expect(spawnSyncMock.mock.calls[1]?.[0]).toBe(getWindowsWmicExePath());
+  });
+
+  it("returns null when process creation time is unavailable", () => {
+    spawnSyncMock
+      .mockReturnValueOnce({ status: 1, stdout: "" } as never)
+      .mockReturnValueOnce({ status: 1, stdout: Buffer.alloc(0) } as never);
+
+    expect(readWindowsProcessStartTimeSync(789, 1000)).toBeNull();
+    expect(readWindowsProcessStartTimeSync(0, 1000)).toBeNull();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/infra/windows-port-pids.ts b/src/infra/windows-port-pids.ts
index 66bbd907aef..0723a783c11 100644
--- a/src/infra/windows-port-pids.ts
+++ b/src/infra/windows-port-pids.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// Resolves Windows process ids that own listening ports.
+// Resolves Windows process identity and listening-port ownership.
 import { spawnSync } from "node:child_process";
 import { normalizeLowercaseStringOrEmpty } from "@openclaw/normalization-core/string-coerce";
 import { normalizeStringEntries } from "@openclaw/normalization-core/string-normalization";
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ export function readWindowsListeningPidsResultSync(
 }
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Windows process-args reading (PowerShell → WMIC fallback)
+// Windows process identity reading (PowerShell → WMIC fallback)
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 function decodeWindowsProcessOutput(output: Buffer | string): string {
@@ -105,6 +105,77 @@ function extractWindowsCommandLine(raw: Buffer | string): string | null {
   return lines.find((line) => normalizeLowercaseStringOrEmpty(line) !== "commandline") ?? null;
 }
 
+function parseWindowsProcessStartTime(raw: Buffer | string): number | null {
+  const lines = normalizeStringEntries(decodeWindowsProcessOutput(raw).split(/\r?\n/));
+  const value =
+    lines
+      .find((line) => normalizeLowercaseStringOrEmpty(line).startsWith("creationdate="))
+      ?.slice("creationdate=".length)
+      .trim() ??
+    lines.find((line) => normalizeLowercaseStringOrEmpty(line) !== "creationdate") ??
+    "";
+  const parsedIso = Date.parse(value);
+  if (Number.isFinite(parsedIso)) {
+    return parsedIso;
+  }
+  const dmtf = value.match(/^(\d{4})(\d{2})(\d{2})(\d{2})(\d{2})(\d{2})\.(\d{6})([+-])(\d{3})$/);
+  if (!dmtf) {
+    return null;
+  }
+  const [, year, month, day, hour, minute, second, microseconds, offsetSign, offset] = dmtf;
+  const localTimeMs = Date.UTC(
+    Number(year),
+    Number(month) - 1,
+    Number(day),
+    Number(hour),
+    Number(minute),
+    Number(second),
+    Math.floor(Number(microseconds) / 1000),
+  );
+  const offsetMs = Number(offset) * 60_000 * (offsetSign === "+" ? 1 : -1);
+  return localTimeMs - offsetMs;
+}
+
+/** Read a stable Windows process creation time for lock-owner identity checks. */
+export function readWindowsProcessStartTimeSync(
+  pid: number,
+  timeoutMs = DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_MS,
+): number | null {
+  if (!Number.isInteger(pid) || pid <= 0) {
+    return null;
+  }
+  const powershell = spawnSync(
+    getWindowsPowerShellExePath(),
+    [
+      "-NoProfile",
+      "-NonInteractive",
+      "-Command",
+      `$process = Get-CimInstance Win32_Process -Filter "ProcessId = ${pid}" -ErrorAction Stop; [Console]::Out.Write($process.CreationDate.ToUniversalTime().ToString("o"))`,
+    ],
+    {
+      encoding: "utf8",
+      timeout: timeoutMs,
+      windowsHide: true,
+    },
+  );
+  if (!powershell.error && powershell.status === 0) {
+    const startTime = parseWindowsProcessStartTime(powershell.stdout);
+    if (startTime !== null) {
+      return startTime;
+    }
+  }
+  const wmic = spawnSync(
+    getWindowsWmicExePath(),
+    ["process", "where", `ProcessId=${pid}`, "get", "CreationDate", "/value"],
+    {
+      timeout: timeoutMs,
+      windowsHide: true,
+      stdio: ["ignore", "pipe", "ignore"],
+    },
+  );
+  return !wmic.error && wmic.status === 0 ? parseWindowsProcessStartTime(wmic.stdout) : null;
+}
+
 export function readWindowsProcessArgsSync(
   pid: number,
   timeoutMs = DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_MS,
diff --git a/test/cli-state-sqlite.e2e.test.ts b/test/cli-state-sqlite.e2e.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a7b79b4c2f3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/cli-state-sqlite.e2e.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,199 @@
+// SQLite CLI E2E tests cover startup and target ownership before offline maintenance.
+import { spawnSync } from "node:child_process";
+import fs from "node:fs";
+import path from "node:path";
+import { withTempHome } from "openclaw/plugin-sdk/test-env";
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import {
+  closeOpenClawStateDatabase,
+  openOpenClawStateDatabase,
+} from "../src/state/openclaw-state-db.js";
+
+describe("SQLite CLI maintenance ownership", () => {
+  it("compacts after full CLI startup without retaining a config-health database handle", async () => {
+    await withTempHome(
+      async (tempHome) => {
+        const stateDir = path.join(tempHome, ".openclaw");
+        const env: NodeJS.ProcessEnv = {
+          ...process.env,
+          HOME: tempHome,
+          USERPROFILE: tempHome,
+          OPENCLAW_DISABLE_BUNDLED_PLUGINS: "1",
+          OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR: stateDir,
+          OPENCLAW_TEST_FAST: "1",
+        };
+        delete env.OPENCLAW_CONFIG_PATH;
+        delete env.OPENCLAW_HOME;
+        delete env.VITEST;
+
+        try {
+          const database = openOpenClawStateDatabase({ env });
+          database.db.exec(`
+            CREATE TABLE compact_cli_payload (
+              id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY,
+              payload TEXT NOT NULL
+            );
+            BEGIN IMMEDIATE;
+          `);
+          const insert = database.db.prepare(
+            "INSERT INTO compact_cli_payload (payload) VALUES (?)",
+          );
+          for (let index = 0; index < 256; index += 1) {
+            insert.run(`${index}:${"x".repeat(8_192)}`);
+          }
+          database.db.exec(`
+            COMMIT;
+            DELETE FROM compact_cli_payload;
+            PRAGMA wal_checkpoint(TRUNCATE);
+          `);
+        } finally {
+          closeOpenClawStateDatabase();
+        }
+
+        const entry = path.resolve(process.cwd(), "src/entry.ts");
+        const result = spawnSync(
+          process.execPath,
+          ["--import", "tsx", entry, "doctor", "--state-sqlite", "compact", "--json"],
+          {
+            cwd: process.cwd(),
+            env,
+            encoding: "utf8",
+            timeout: 60_000,
+          },
+        );
+
+        expect(result.status, result.stderr || result.stdout).toBe(0);
+        const report = JSON.parse(result.stdout.trim()) as {
+          after: { autoVacuum: number; freelistPages: number };
+          before: { freelistPages: number };
+          integrityCheck: string;
+          quickCheck: string;
+          skipped: boolean;
+        };
+        expect(report).toMatchObject({
+          after: {
+            autoVacuum: 2,
+            freelistPages: 0,
+          },
+          integrityCheck: "ok",
+          quickCheck: "ok",
+          skipped: false,
+        });
+        expect(report.before.freelistPages).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+        expect(fs.existsSync(path.join(stateDir, "state", "openclaw.sqlite"))).toBe(true);
+      },
+      { prefix: "openclaw-state-sqlite-cli-" },
+    );
+  }, 90_000);
+
+  it("rejects destructive explicit session stores outside the active state owner", async () => {
+    await withTempHome(
+      async (tempHome) => {
+        const stateDir = path.join(tempHome, ".openclaw");
+        const externalStorePath = path.join(
+          tempHome,
+          "external-state",
+          "agents",
+          "main",
+          "sessions",
+          "sessions.json",
+        );
+        const env: NodeJS.ProcessEnv = {
+          ...process.env,
+          HOME: tempHome,
+          USERPROFILE: tempHome,
+          OPENCLAW_DISABLE_BUNDLED_PLUGINS: "1",
+          OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR: stateDir,
+          OPENCLAW_TEST_FAST: "1",
+        };
+        delete env.OPENCLAW_CONFIG_PATH;
+        delete env.OPENCLAW_HOME;
+        delete env.VITEST;
+
+        const entry = path.resolve(process.cwd(), "src/entry.ts");
+        const result = spawnSync(
+          process.execPath,
+          [
+            "--import",
+            "tsx",
+            entry,
+            "doctor",
+            "--session-sqlite",
+            "compact",
+            "--session-sqlite-store",
+            externalStorePath,
+            "--json",
+          ],
+          {
+            cwd: process.cwd(),
+            env,
+            encoding: "utf8",
+            timeout: 60_000,
+          },
+        );
+
+        expect(result.status).not.toBe(0);
+        expect(`${result.stderr}\n${result.stdout}`).toContain(
+          "outside the active OpenClaw state directory",
+        );
+        expect(fs.existsSync(externalStorePath)).toBe(false);
+      },
+      { prefix: "openclaw-session-sqlite-cli-" },
+    );
+  }, 90_000);
+
+  it("rejects hard-linked SQLite sidecars before destructive maintenance", async () => {
+    await withTempHome(
+      async (tempHome) => {
+        const stateDir = path.join(tempHome, ".openclaw");
+        const storePath = path.join(stateDir, "agents", "main", "sessions", "sessions.json");
+        const sqlitePath = path.join(stateDir, "agents", "main", "agent", "openclaw-agent.sqlite");
+        const externalWalPath = path.join(tempHome, "external-state", "openclaw-agent.sqlite-wal");
+        fs.mkdirSync(path.dirname(storePath), { recursive: true });
+        fs.mkdirSync(path.dirname(sqlitePath), { recursive: true });
+        fs.mkdirSync(path.dirname(externalWalPath), { recursive: true });
+        fs.writeFileSync(storePath, "{}\n", "utf8");
+        fs.writeFileSync(externalWalPath, "external wal\n", "utf8");
+        fs.linkSync(externalWalPath, `${sqlitePath}-wal`);
+        const env: NodeJS.ProcessEnv = {
+          ...process.env,
+          HOME: tempHome,
+          USERPROFILE: tempHome,
+          OPENCLAW_DISABLE_BUNDLED_PLUGINS: "1",
+          OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR: stateDir,
+          OPENCLAW_TEST_FAST: "1",
+        };
+        delete env.OPENCLAW_CONFIG_PATH;
+        delete env.OPENCLAW_HOME;
+        delete env.VITEST;
+
+        const entry = path.resolve(process.cwd(), "src/entry.ts");
+        const result = spawnSync(
+          process.execPath,
+          [
+            "--import",
+            "tsx",
+            entry,
+            "doctor",
+            "--session-sqlite",
+            "compact",
+            "--session-sqlite-store",
+            storePath,
+            "--json",
+          ],
+          {
+            cwd: process.cwd(),
+            env,
+            encoding: "utf8",
+            timeout: 60_000,
+          },
+        );
+
+        expect(result.status).not.toBe(0);
+        expect(`${result.stderr}\n${result.stdout}`).toContain("hard-linked path");
+        expect(fs.readFileSync(externalWalPath, "utf8")).toBe("external wal\n");
+      },
+      { prefix: "openclaw-session-sqlite-sidecar-cli-" },
+    );
+  }, 90_000);
+});