diff --git a/src/gateway/config-reload.test.ts b/src/gateway/config-reload.test.ts
index 2711eafd7..089524490 100644
--- a/src/gateway/config-reload.test.ts
+++ b/src/gateway/config-reload.test.ts
@@ -204,6 +204,27 @@ function makeSnapshot(partial: Partial<ConfigFileSnapshot> = {}): ConfigFileSnap
   };
 }
 
+function createReloaderHarness(readSnapshot: () => Promise<ConfigFileSnapshot>) {
+  const watcher = createWatcherMock();
+  vi.spyOn(chokidar, "watch").mockReturnValue(watcher as unknown as never);
+  const onHotReload = vi.fn(async () => {});
+  const onRestart = vi.fn();
+  const log = {
+    info: vi.fn(),
+    warn: vi.fn(),
+    error: vi.fn(),
+  };
+  const reloader = startGatewayConfigReloader({
+    initialConfig: { gateway: { reload: { debounceMs: 0 } } },
+    readSnapshot,
+    onHotReload,
+    onRestart,
+    log,
+    watchPath: "/tmp/openclaw.json",
+  });
+  return { watcher, onHotReload, onRestart, log, reloader };
+}
+
 describe("startGatewayConfigReloader", () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
     vi.useFakeTimers();
@@ -215,9 +236,6 @@ describe("startGatewayConfigReloader", () => {
   });
 
   it("retries missing snapshots and reloads once config file reappears", async () => {
-    const watcher = createWatcherMock();
-    vi.spyOn(chokidar, "watch").mockReturnValue(watcher as unknown as never);
-
     const readSnapshot = vi
       .fn<() => Promise<ConfigFileSnapshot>>()
       .mockResolvedValueOnce(makeSnapshot({ exists: false, raw: null, hash: "missing-1" }))
@@ -230,23 +248,7 @@ describe("startGatewayConfigReloader", () => {
           hash: "next-1",
         }),
       );
-
-    const onHotReload = vi.fn(async () => {});
-    const onRestart = vi.fn();
-    const log = {
-      info: vi.fn(),
-      warn: vi.fn(),
-      error: vi.fn(),
-    };
-
-    const reloader = startGatewayConfigReloader({
-      initialConfig: { gateway: { reload: { debounceMs: 0 } } },
-      readSnapshot,
-      onHotReload,
-      onRestart,
-      log,
-      watchPath: "/tmp/openclaw.json",
-    });
+    const { watcher, onHotReload, onRestart, log, reloader } = createReloaderHarness(readSnapshot);
 
     watcher.emit("unlink");
     await vi.runOnlyPendingTimersAsync();
@@ -262,29 +264,10 @@ describe("startGatewayConfigReloader", () => {
   });
 
   it("caps missing-file retries and skips reload after retry budget is exhausted", async () => {
-    const watcher = createWatcherMock();
-    vi.spyOn(chokidar, "watch").mockReturnValue(watcher as unknown as never);
-
     const readSnapshot = vi
       .fn<() => Promise<ConfigFileSnapshot>>()
       .mockResolvedValue(makeSnapshot({ exists: false, raw: null, hash: "missing" }));
-
-    const onHotReload = vi.fn(async () => {});
-    const onRestart = vi.fn();
-    const log = {
-      info: vi.fn(),
-      warn: vi.fn(),
-      error: vi.fn(),
-    };
-
-    const reloader = startGatewayConfigReloader({
-      initialConfig: { gateway: { reload: { debounceMs: 0 } } },
-      readSnapshot,
-      onHotReload,
-      onRestart,
-      log,
-      watchPath: "/tmp/openclaw.json",
-    });
+    const { watcher, onHotReload, onRestart, log, reloader } = createReloaderHarness(readSnapshot);
 
     watcher.emit("unlink");
     await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
diff --git a/src/gateway/config-reload.ts b/src/gateway/config-reload.ts
index f92e74401..64f04b15e 100644
--- a/src/gateway/config-reload.ts
+++ b/src/gateway/config-reload.ts
@@ -286,6 +286,73 @@ export function startGatewayConfigReloader(opts: {
   const schedule = () => {
     scheduleAfter(settings.debounceMs);
   };
+  const queueRestart = (plan: GatewayReloadPlan, nextConfig: OpenClawConfig) => {
+    if (restartQueued) {
+      return;
+    }
+    restartQueued = true;
+    opts.onRestart(plan, nextConfig);
+  };
+
+  const handleMissingSnapshot = (snapshot: ConfigFileSnapshot): boolean => {
+    if (snapshot.exists) {
+      missingConfigRetries = 0;
+      return false;
+    }
+    if (missingConfigRetries < MISSING_CONFIG_MAX_RETRIES) {
+      missingConfigRetries += 1;
+      opts.log.info(
+        `config reload retry (${missingConfigRetries}/${MISSING_CONFIG_MAX_RETRIES}): config file not found`,
+      );
+      scheduleAfter(MISSING_CONFIG_RETRY_DELAY_MS);
+      return true;
+    }
+    opts.log.warn("config reload skipped (config file not found)");
+    return true;
+  };
+
+  const handleInvalidSnapshot = (snapshot: ConfigFileSnapshot): boolean => {
+    if (snapshot.valid) {
+      return false;
+    }
+    const issues = snapshot.issues.map((issue) => `${issue.path}: ${issue.message}`).join(", ");
+    opts.log.warn(`config reload skipped (invalid config): ${issues}`);
+    return true;
+  };
+
+  const applySnapshot = async (nextConfig: OpenClawConfig) => {
+    const changedPaths = diffConfigPaths(currentConfig, nextConfig);
+    currentConfig = nextConfig;
+    settings = resolveGatewayReloadSettings(nextConfig);
+    if (changedPaths.length === 0) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    opts.log.info(`config change detected; evaluating reload (${changedPaths.join(", ")})`);
+    const plan = buildGatewayReloadPlan(changedPaths);
+    if (settings.mode === "off") {
+      opts.log.info("config reload disabled (gateway.reload.mode=off)");
+      return;
+    }
+    if (settings.mode === "restart") {
+      queueRestart(plan, nextConfig);
+      return;
+    }
+    if (plan.restartGateway) {
+      if (settings.mode === "hot") {
+        opts.log.warn(
+          `config reload requires gateway restart; hot mode ignoring (${plan.restartReasons.join(
+            ", ",
+          )})`,
+        );
+        return;
+      }
+      queueRestart(plan, nextConfig);
+      return;
+    }
+
+    await opts.onHotReload(plan, nextConfig);
+  };
 
   const runReload = async () => {
     if (stopped) {
@@ -302,62 +369,13 @@ export function startGatewayConfigReloader(opts: {
     }
     try {
       const snapshot = await opts.readSnapshot();
-      if (!snapshot.exists) {
-        if (missingConfigRetries < MISSING_CONFIG_MAX_RETRIES) {
-          missingConfigRetries += 1;
-          opts.log.info(
-            `config reload retry (${missingConfigRetries}/${MISSING_CONFIG_MAX_RETRIES}): config file not found`,
-          );
-          scheduleAfter(MISSING_CONFIG_RETRY_DELAY_MS);
-          return;
-        }
-        opts.log.warn("config reload skipped (config file not found)");
+      if (handleMissingSnapshot(snapshot)) {
         return;
       }
-      missingConfigRetries = 0;
-      if (!snapshot.valid) {
-        const issues = snapshot.issues.map((issue) => `${issue.path}: ${issue.message}`).join(", ");
-        opts.log.warn(`config reload skipped (invalid config): ${issues}`);
+      if (handleInvalidSnapshot(snapshot)) {
         return;
       }
-      const nextConfig = snapshot.config;
-      const changedPaths = diffConfigPaths(currentConfig, nextConfig);
-      currentConfig = nextConfig;
-      settings = resolveGatewayReloadSettings(nextConfig);
-      if (changedPaths.length === 0) {
-        return;
-      }
-
-      opts.log.info(`config change detected; evaluating reload (${changedPaths.join(", ")})`);
-      const plan = buildGatewayReloadPlan(changedPaths);
-      if (settings.mode === "off") {
-        opts.log.info("config reload disabled (gateway.reload.mode=off)");
-        return;
-      }
-      if (settings.mode === "restart") {
-        if (!restartQueued) {
-          restartQueued = true;
-          opts.onRestart(plan, nextConfig);
-        }
-        return;
-      }
-      if (plan.restartGateway) {
-        if (settings.mode === "hot") {
-          opts.log.warn(
-            `config reload requires gateway restart; hot mode ignoring (${plan.restartReasons.join(
-              ", ",
-            )})`,
-          );
-          return;
-        }
-        if (!restartQueued) {
-          restartQueued = true;
-          opts.onRestart(plan, nextConfig);
-        }
-        return;
-      }
-
-      await opts.onHotReload(plan, nextConfig);
+      await applySnapshot(snapshot.config);
     } catch (err) {
       opts.log.error(`config reload failed: ${String(err)}`);
     } finally {