diff --git a/.agents/skills/openclaw-release-maintainer/SKILL.md b/.agents/skills/openclaw-release-maintainer/SKILL.md
index 1aa40aa0a2b..561ba1c88ee 100644
--- a/.agents/skills/openclaw-release-maintainer/SKILL.md
+++ b/.agents/skills/openclaw-release-maintainer/SKILL.md
@@ -72,9 +72,20 @@ pnpm test:install:smoke
 For a non-root smoke path:
 
 ```bash
-OPENCLAW_INSTALL_SMOKE_SKIP_NONROOT=1 pnpm test:install:smoke
+  OPENCLAW_INSTALL_SMOKE_SKIP_NONROOT=1 pnpm test:install:smoke
 ```
 
+After npm publish, run:
+
+```bash
+node --import tsx scripts/openclaw-npm-postpublish-verify.ts <published-version>
+```
+
+- This verifies the published registry install path in a fresh temp prefix.
+- For stable correction releases like `YYYY.M.D-N`, it also verifies the
+  upgrade path from `YYYY.M.D` to `YYYY.M.D-N` so a correction publish cannot
+  silently leave existing global installs on the old base stable payload.
+
 ## Check all relevant release builds
 
 - Always validate the OpenClaw npm release path before creating the tag.
diff --git a/docs/reference/RELEASING.md b/docs/reference/RELEASING.md
index 946e534279d..efa23c319b1 100644
--- a/docs/reference/RELEASING.md
+++ b/docs/reference/RELEASING.md
@@ -42,6 +42,14 @@ OpenClaw has three public release lanes:
 - Run `pnpm release:check` before every tagged release
 - Run `RELEASE_TAG=vYYYY.M.D node --import tsx scripts/openclaw-npm-release-check.ts`
   (or the matching beta/correction tag) before approval
+- After npm publish, run
+  `node --import tsx scripts/openclaw-npm-postpublish-verify.ts YYYY.M.D`
+  (or the matching beta/correction version) to verify the published registry
+  install path in a fresh temp prefix
+- For stable correction releases like `YYYY.M.D-N`, the post-publish verifier
+  also checks the same temp-prefix upgrade path from `YYYY.M.D` to `YYYY.M.D-N`
+  so release corrections cannot silently leave older global installs on the
+  base stable payload
 - npm release preflight fails closed unless the tarball includes both
   `dist/control-ui/index.html` and a non-empty `dist/control-ui/assets/` payload
   so we do not ship an empty browser dashboard again
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 39d021e3eb7..fdbfada18b6 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -684,6 +684,7 @@
     "protocol:gen:swift": "node --import tsx scripts/protocol-gen-swift.ts",
     "release:check": "pnpm config:docs:check && pnpm plugin-sdk:api:check && node scripts/stage-bundled-plugin-runtime-deps.mjs && pnpm ui:build && node --import tsx scripts/release-check.ts",
     "release:openclaw:npm:check": "node --import tsx scripts/openclaw-npm-release-check.ts",
+    "release:openclaw:npm:verify-published": "node --import tsx scripts/openclaw-npm-postpublish-verify.ts",
     "release:plugins:npm:check": "node --import tsx scripts/plugin-npm-release-check.ts",
     "release:plugins:npm:plan": "node --import tsx scripts/plugin-npm-release-plan.ts",
     "stage:bundled-plugin-runtime-deps": "node scripts/stage-bundled-plugin-runtime-deps.mjs",
diff --git a/scripts/openclaw-npm-postpublish-verify.ts b/scripts/openclaw-npm-postpublish-verify.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..35568d398b3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/openclaw-npm-postpublish-verify.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,157 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env -S node --import tsx
+
+import { execFileSync } from "node:child_process";
+import { existsSync, mkdtempSync, readFileSync, rmSync } from "node:fs";
+import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
+import { join } from "node:path";
+import { pathToFileURL } from "node:url";
+import { parseReleaseVersion, resolveNpmCommandInvocation } from "./openclaw-npm-release-check.ts";
+
+const REQUIRED_RUNTIME_SIDECARS = [
+  "dist/extensions/whatsapp/light-runtime-api.js",
+  "dist/extensions/whatsapp/runtime-api.js",
+  "dist/extensions/matrix/helper-api.js",
+  "dist/extensions/matrix/runtime-api.js",
+  "dist/extensions/matrix/thread-bindings-runtime.js",
+  "dist/extensions/msteams/runtime-api.js",
+] as const;
+
+type InstalledPackageJson = {
+  version?: string;
+};
+
+export type PublishedInstallScenario = {
+  name: string;
+  installSpecs: string[];
+  expectedVersion: string;
+};
+
+export function buildPublishedInstallScenarios(version: string): PublishedInstallScenario[] {
+  const parsed = parseReleaseVersion(version);
+  if (parsed === null) {
+    throw new Error(`Unsupported release version "${version}".`);
+  }
+
+  const exactSpec = `openclaw@${version}`;
+  const scenarios: PublishedInstallScenario[] = [
+    {
+      name: "fresh-exact",
+      installSpecs: [exactSpec],
+      expectedVersion: version,
+    },
+  ];
+
+  if (parsed.channel === "stable" && parsed.correctionNumber !== undefined) {
+    scenarios.push({
+      name: "upgrade-from-base-stable",
+      installSpecs: [`openclaw@${parsed.baseVersion}`, exactSpec],
+      expectedVersion: version,
+    });
+  }
+
+  return scenarios;
+}
+
+export function collectInstalledPackageErrors(params: {
+  expectedVersion: string;
+  installedVersion: string;
+  packageRoot: string;
+}): string[] {
+  const errors: string[] = [];
+
+  if (params.installedVersion !== params.expectedVersion) {
+    errors.push(
+      `installed package version mismatch: expected ${params.expectedVersion}, found ${params.installedVersion || "<missing>"}.`,
+    );
+  }
+
+  for (const relativePath of REQUIRED_RUNTIME_SIDECARS) {
+    if (!existsSync(join(params.packageRoot, relativePath))) {
+      errors.push(`installed package is missing required bundled runtime sidecar: ${relativePath}`);
+    }
+  }
+
+  return errors;
+}
+
+function npmExec(args: string[], cwd: string): string {
+  const invocation = resolveNpmCommandInvocation({
+    npmExecPath: process.env.npm_execpath,
+    nodeExecPath: process.execPath,
+    platform: process.platform,
+  });
+
+  return execFileSync(invocation.command, [...invocation.args, ...args], {
+    cwd,
+    encoding: "utf8",
+    stdio: ["ignore", "pipe", "pipe"],
+  }).trim();
+}
+
+function resolveGlobalRoot(prefixDir: string, cwd: string): string {
+  return npmExec(["root", "-g", "--prefix", prefixDir], cwd);
+}
+
+function installSpec(prefixDir: string, spec: string, cwd: string): void {
+  npmExec(["install", "-g", "--prefix", prefixDir, spec, "--no-fund", "--no-audit"], cwd);
+}
+
+function verifyScenario(version: string, scenario: PublishedInstallScenario): void {
+  const workingDir = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), `openclaw-postpublish-${scenario.name}.`));
+  const prefixDir = join(workingDir, "prefix");
+
+  try {
+    for (const spec of scenario.installSpecs) {
+      installSpec(prefixDir, spec, workingDir);
+    }
+
+    const globalRoot = resolveGlobalRoot(prefixDir, workingDir);
+    const packageRoot = join(globalRoot, "openclaw");
+    const pkg = JSON.parse(
+      readFileSync(join(packageRoot, "package.json"), "utf8"),
+    ) as InstalledPackageJson;
+    const errors = collectInstalledPackageErrors({
+      expectedVersion: scenario.expectedVersion,
+      installedVersion: pkg.version?.trim() ?? "",
+      packageRoot,
+    });
+
+    if (errors.length > 0) {
+      throw new Error(`${scenario.name} failed:\n- ${errors.join("\n- ")}`);
+    }
+
+    console.log(`openclaw-npm-postpublish-verify: ${scenario.name} OK (${version})`);
+  } finally {
+    rmSync(workingDir, { force: true, recursive: true });
+  }
+}
+
+function main(): void {
+  const version = process.argv[2]?.trim();
+  if (!version) {
+    throw new Error(
+      "Usage: node --import tsx scripts/openclaw-npm-postpublish-verify.ts <version>",
+    );
+  }
+
+  const scenarios = buildPublishedInstallScenarios(version);
+  for (const scenario of scenarios) {
+    verifyScenario(version, scenario);
+  }
+
+  console.log(
+    `openclaw-npm-postpublish-verify: verified published npm install paths for ${version}.`,
+  );
+}
+
+const entrypoint = process.argv[1] ? pathToFileURL(process.argv[1]).href : null;
+if (entrypoint !== null && import.meta.url === entrypoint) {
+  try {
+    main();
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error(
+      `openclaw-npm-postpublish-verify: ${error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error)}`,
+    );
+    process.exitCode = 1;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/cli/update-cli.test.ts b/src/cli/update-cli.test.ts
index ae08bbbacd9..148da0b1527 100644
--- a/src/cli/update-cli.test.ts
+++ b/src/cli/update-cli.test.ts
@@ -28,6 +28,14 @@ const pathExists = vi.fn();
 const syncPluginsForUpdateChannel = vi.fn();
 const updateNpmInstalledPlugins = vi.fn();
 const { defaultRuntime: runtimeCapture, resetRuntimeCapture } = createCliRuntimeCapture();
+const REQUIRED_BUNDLED_RUNTIME_SIDECARS = [
+  "dist/extensions/whatsapp/light-runtime-api.js",
+  "dist/extensions/whatsapp/runtime-api.js",
+  "dist/extensions/matrix/helper-api.js",
+  "dist/extensions/matrix/runtime-api.js",
+  "dist/extensions/matrix/thread-bindings-runtime.js",
+  "dist/extensions/msteams/runtime-api.js",
+] as const;
 
 vi.mock("@clack/prompts", () => ({
   confirm,
@@ -615,6 +623,58 @@ describe("update-cli", () => {
     }
   });
 
+  it("fails package updates when the installed correction version does not match the requested target", async () => {
+    const tempDir = createCaseDir("openclaw-update");
+    const nodeModules = path.join(tempDir, "node_modules");
+    const pkgRoot = path.join(nodeModules, "openclaw");
+    mockPackageInstallStatus(tempDir);
+    await fs.mkdir(pkgRoot, { recursive: true });
+    await fs.writeFile(
+      path.join(pkgRoot, "package.json"),
+      JSON.stringify({ name: "openclaw", version: "2026.3.23" }),
+      "utf-8",
+    );
+    for (const relativePath of REQUIRED_BUNDLED_RUNTIME_SIDECARS) {
+      const absolutePath = path.join(pkgRoot, relativePath);
+      await fs.mkdir(path.dirname(absolutePath), { recursive: true });
+      await fs.writeFile(absolutePath, "export {};\n", "utf-8");
+    }
+    readPackageVersion.mockResolvedValue("2026.3.23");
+    pathExists.mockImplementation(async (candidate: string) =>
+      REQUIRED_BUNDLED_RUNTIME_SIDECARS.some(
+        (relativePath) => candidate === path.join(pkgRoot, relativePath),
+      ),
+    );
+    vi.mocked(runCommandWithTimeout).mockImplementation(async (argv) => {
+      if (Array.isArray(argv) && argv[0] === "npm" && argv[1] === "root" && argv[2] === "-g") {
+        return {
+          stdout: nodeModules,
+          stderr: "",
+          code: 0,
+          signal: null,
+          killed: false,
+          termination: "exit",
+        };
+      }
+      return {
+        stdout: "",
+        stderr: "",
+        code: 0,
+        signal: null,
+        killed: false,
+        termination: "exit",
+      };
+    });
+
+    await updateCommand({ yes: true, tag: "2026.3.23-2" });
+
+    expect(defaultRuntime.exit).toHaveBeenCalledWith(1);
+    expect(writeConfigFile).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    const logs = vi.mocked(defaultRuntime.log).mock.calls.map((call) => String(call[0]));
+    expect(logs.join("\n")).toContain("global install verify");
+    expect(logs.join("\n")).toContain("expected installed version 2026.3.23-2, found 2026.3.23");
+  });
+
   it("prepends portable Git PATH for package updates on Windows", async () => {
     const platformSpy = vi.spyOn(process, "platform", "get").mockReturnValue("win32");
     const tempDir = createCaseDir("openclaw-update");
diff --git a/src/cli/update-cli/update-command.ts b/src/cli/update-cli/update-command.ts
index d96cc7a4a84..eff1fbb06f8 100644
--- a/src/cli/update-cli/update-command.ts
+++ b/src/cli/update-cli/update-command.ts
@@ -24,10 +24,12 @@ import {
   checkUpdateStatus,
 } from "../../infra/update-check.js";
 import {
+  collectInstalledGlobalPackageErrors,
   canResolveRegistryVersionForPackageTarget,
   createGlobalInstallEnv,
   cleanupGlobalRenameDirs,
   globalInstallArgs,
+  resolveExpectedInstalledVersionFromSpec,
   resolveGlobalInstallSpec,
   resolveGlobalPackageRoot,
 } from "../../infra/update-global.js";
@@ -343,9 +345,27 @@ async function runPackageInstallUpdate(params: {
   const steps = [updateStep];
   let afterVersion = beforeVersion;
 
-  if (pkgRoot) {
-    afterVersion = await readPackageVersion(pkgRoot);
-    const entryPath = path.join(pkgRoot, "dist", "entry.js");
+  const verifiedPackageRoot =
+    (await resolveGlobalPackageRoot(manager, runCommand, params.timeoutMs)) ?? pkgRoot;
+  if (verifiedPackageRoot) {
+    afterVersion = await readPackageVersion(verifiedPackageRoot);
+    const expectedVersion = resolveExpectedInstalledVersionFromSpec(packageName, installSpec);
+    const verificationErrors = await collectInstalledGlobalPackageErrors({
+      packageRoot: verifiedPackageRoot,
+      expectedVersion,
+    });
+    if (verificationErrors.length > 0) {
+      steps.push({
+        name: "global install verify",
+        command: `verify ${verifiedPackageRoot}`,
+        cwd: verifiedPackageRoot,
+        durationMs: 0,
+        exitCode: 1,
+        stderrTail: verificationErrors.join("\n"),
+        stdoutTail: null,
+      });
+    }
+    const entryPath = path.join(verifiedPackageRoot, "dist", "entry.js");
     if (await pathExists(entryPath)) {
       const doctorStep = await runUpdateStep({
         name: `${CLI_NAME} doctor`,
@@ -361,7 +381,7 @@ async function runPackageInstallUpdate(params: {
   return {
     status: failedStep ? "error" : "ok",
     mode: manager,
-    root: pkgRoot ?? params.root,
+    root: verifiedPackageRoot ?? params.root,
     reason: failedStep ? failedStep.name : undefined,
     before: { version: beforeVersion },
     after: { version: afterVersion },
diff --git a/src/infra/update-global.ts b/src/infra/update-global.ts
index e0dc9045f67..0083cb1714a 100644
--- a/src/infra/update-global.ts
+++ b/src/infra/update-global.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import fs from "node:fs/promises";
 import os from "node:os";
 import path from "node:path";
 import { pathExists } from "../utils.js";
+import { readPackageVersion } from "./package-json.js";
 import { applyPathPrepend } from "./path-prepend.js";
 
 export type GlobalInstallManager = "npm" | "pnpm" | "bun";
@@ -15,6 +16,14 @@ const PRIMARY_PACKAGE_NAME = "openclaw";
 const ALL_PACKAGE_NAMES = [PRIMARY_PACKAGE_NAME] as const;
 const GLOBAL_RENAME_PREFIX = ".";
 export const OPENCLAW_MAIN_PACKAGE_SPEC = "github:openclaw/openclaw#main";
+const REQUIRED_BUNDLED_RUNTIME_SIDECARS = [
+  "dist/extensions/whatsapp/light-runtime-api.js",
+  "dist/extensions/whatsapp/runtime-api.js",
+  "dist/extensions/matrix/helper-api.js",
+  "dist/extensions/matrix/runtime-api.js",
+  "dist/extensions/matrix/thread-bindings-runtime.js",
+  "dist/extensions/msteams/runtime-api.js",
+] as const;
 const NPM_GLOBAL_INSTALL_QUIET_FLAGS = ["--no-fund", "--no-audit", "--loglevel=error"] as const;
 const NPM_GLOBAL_INSTALL_OMIT_OPTIONAL_FLAGS = [
   "--omit=optional",
@@ -41,6 +50,47 @@ export function isExplicitPackageInstallSpec(value: string): boolean {
   );
 }
 
+export function resolveExpectedInstalledVersionFromSpec(
+  packageName: string,
+  spec: string,
+): string | null {
+  const normalizedPackageName = packageName.trim();
+  const normalizedSpec = normalizePackageTarget(spec);
+  if (!normalizedPackageName || !normalizedSpec.startsWith(`${normalizedPackageName}@`)) {
+    return null;
+  }
+  const rawVersion = normalizedSpec.slice(normalizedPackageName.length + 1).trim();
+  if (
+    !rawVersion ||
+    rawVersion.includes("/") ||
+    rawVersion.includes(":") ||
+    rawVersion.includes("#") ||
+    /^(latest|beta|next|main)$/i.test(rawVersion)
+  ) {
+    return null;
+  }
+  return rawVersion;
+}
+
+export async function collectInstalledGlobalPackageErrors(params: {
+  packageRoot: string;
+  expectedVersion?: string | null;
+}): Promise<string[]> {
+  const errors: string[] = [];
+  const installedVersion = await readPackageVersion(params.packageRoot);
+  if (params.expectedVersion && installedVersion !== params.expectedVersion) {
+    errors.push(
+      `expected installed version ${params.expectedVersion}, found ${installedVersion ?? "<missing>"}`,
+    );
+  }
+  for (const relativePath of REQUIRED_BUNDLED_RUNTIME_SIDECARS) {
+    if (!(await pathExists(path.join(params.packageRoot, relativePath)))) {
+      errors.push(`missing bundled runtime sidecar ${relativePath}`);
+    }
+  }
+  return errors;
+}
+
 export function canResolveRegistryVersionForPackageTarget(value: string): boolean {
   const trimmed = normalizePackageTarget(value);
   if (!trimmed) {
diff --git a/src/infra/update-runner.test.ts b/src/infra/update-runner.test.ts
index 4d0436eb5ba..f8f6d2abcd5 100644
--- a/src/infra/update-runner.test.ts
+++ b/src/infra/update-runner.test.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,14 @@ import { runGatewayUpdate } from "./update-runner.js";
 
 type CommandResponse = { stdout?: string; stderr?: string; code?: number | null };
 type CommandResult = { stdout: string; stderr: string; code: number | null };
+const REQUIRED_BUNDLED_RUNTIME_SIDECARS = [
+  "dist/extensions/whatsapp/light-runtime-api.js",
+  "dist/extensions/whatsapp/runtime-api.js",
+  "dist/extensions/matrix/helper-api.js",
+  "dist/extensions/matrix/runtime-api.js",
+  "dist/extensions/matrix/thread-bindings-runtime.js",
+  "dist/extensions/msteams/runtime-api.js",
+] as const;
 
 function createRunner(responses: Record<string, CommandResponse>) {
   const calls: string[] = [];
@@ -185,6 +193,7 @@ describe("runGatewayUpdate", () => {
       JSON.stringify({ name: "openclaw", version }),
       "utf-8",
     );
+    await writeBundledRuntimeSidecars(pkgRoot);
   }
 
   async function writeGlobalPackageVersion(pkgRoot: string, version = "2.0.0") {
@@ -193,6 +202,15 @@ describe("runGatewayUpdate", () => {
       JSON.stringify({ name: "openclaw", version }),
       "utf-8",
     );
+    await writeBundledRuntimeSidecars(pkgRoot);
+  }
+
+  async function writeBundledRuntimeSidecars(pkgRoot: string) {
+    for (const relativePath of REQUIRED_BUNDLED_RUNTIME_SIDECARS) {
+      const absolutePath = path.join(pkgRoot, relativePath);
+      await fs.mkdir(path.dirname(absolutePath), { recursive: true });
+      await fs.writeFile(absolutePath, "export {};\n", "utf-8");
+    }
   }
 
   async function createGlobalPackageFixture(rootDir: string) {
@@ -660,11 +678,7 @@ describe("runGatewayUpdate", () => {
         return { stdout: "", stderr: "node-gyp failed", code: 1 };
       },
       onOmitOptionalInstall: async () => {
-        await fs.writeFile(
-          path.join(pkgRoot, "package.json"),
-          JSON.stringify({ name: "openclaw", version: "2.0.0" }),
-          "utf-8",
-        );
+        await writeGlobalPackageVersion(pkgRoot);
         return { stdout: "ok", stderr: "", code: 0 };
       },
     });
@@ -680,6 +694,47 @@ describe("runGatewayUpdate", () => {
     ]);
   });
 
+  it("fails global npm update when the installed version misses the requested correction", async () => {
+    const { calls, result } = await runNpmGlobalUpdateCase({
+      expectedInstallCommand: "npm i -g openclaw@2026.3.23-2 --no-fund --no-audit --loglevel=error",
+      tag: "2026.3.23-2",
+    });
+
+    expect(result.status).toBe("error");
+    expect(result.reason).toBe("global install verify");
+    expect(result.after?.version).toBe("2.0.0");
+    expect(result.steps.at(-1)?.stderrTail).toContain(
+      "expected installed version 2026.3.23-2, found 2.0.0",
+    );
+    expect(calls).toContain("npm i -g openclaw@2026.3.23-2 --no-fund --no-audit --loglevel=error");
+  });
+
+  it("fails global npm update when bundled runtime sidecars are missing after install", async () => {
+    const { nodeModules, pkgRoot } = await createGlobalPackageFixture(tempDir);
+    const expectedInstallCommand = "npm i -g openclaw@latest --no-fund --no-audit --loglevel=error";
+    const { runCommand } = createGlobalInstallHarness({
+      pkgRoot,
+      npmRootOutput: nodeModules,
+      installCommand: expectedInstallCommand,
+      onInstall: async () => {
+        await fs.writeFile(
+          path.join(pkgRoot, "package.json"),
+          JSON.stringify({ name: "openclaw", version: "2.0.0" }),
+          "utf-8",
+        );
+        await fs.rm(path.join(pkgRoot, "dist"), { recursive: true, force: true });
+      },
+    });
+
+    const result = await runWithCommand(runCommand, { cwd: pkgRoot });
+
+    expect(result.status).toBe("error");
+    expect(result.reason).toBe("global install verify");
+    expect(result.steps.at(-1)?.stderrTail).toContain(
+      "missing bundled runtime sidecar dist/extensions/whatsapp/light-runtime-api.js",
+    );
+  });
+
   it("prepends portable Git PATH for global Windows npm updates", async () => {
     const platformSpy = vi.spyOn(process, "platform", "get").mockReturnValue("win32");
     const localAppData = path.join(tempDir, "local-app-data");
diff --git a/src/infra/update-runner.ts b/src/infra/update-runner.ts
index 373fe42e768..90df1408706 100644
--- a/src/infra/update-runner.ts
+++ b/src/infra/update-runner.ts
@@ -21,12 +21,15 @@ import {
 } from "./update-channels.js";
 import { compareSemverStrings } from "./update-check.js";
 import {
+  collectInstalledGlobalPackageErrors,
   cleanupGlobalRenameDirs,
   createGlobalInstallEnv,
   detectGlobalInstallManagerForRoot,
   globalInstallArgs,
   globalInstallFallbackArgs,
+  resolveExpectedInstalledVersionFromSpec,
   resolveGlobalInstallSpec,
+  resolveGlobalPackageRoot,
 } from "./update-global.js";
 
 export type UpdateStepResult = {
@@ -1045,12 +1048,34 @@ export async function runGatewayUpdate(opts: UpdateRunnerOptions = {}): Promise<
       }
     }
 
-    const afterVersion = await readPackageVersion(pkgRoot);
+    const verifiedPackageRoot =
+      (await resolveGlobalPackageRoot(globalManager, runCommand, timeoutMs)) ?? pkgRoot;
+    const expectedVersion = resolveExpectedInstalledVersionFromSpec(packageName, spec);
+    const verificationErrors = await collectInstalledGlobalPackageErrors({
+      packageRoot: verifiedPackageRoot,
+      expectedVersion,
+    });
+    if (verificationErrors.length > 0) {
+      steps.push({
+        name: "global install verify",
+        command: `verify ${verifiedPackageRoot}`,
+        cwd: verifiedPackageRoot,
+        durationMs: 0,
+        exitCode: 1,
+        stderrTail: verificationErrors.join("\n"),
+      });
+    }
+    const afterVersion = await readPackageVersion(verifiedPackageRoot);
+    const failedStep =
+      finalStep.exitCode !== 0
+        ? finalStep
+        : (steps.find((step) => step.name === "global install verify" && step.exitCode !== 0) ??
+          null);
     return {
-      status: finalStep.exitCode === 0 ? "ok" : "error",
+      status: failedStep ? "error" : "ok",
       mode: globalManager,
-      root: pkgRoot,
-      reason: finalStep.exitCode === 0 ? undefined : finalStep.name,
+      root: verifiedPackageRoot,
+      reason: failedStep ? failedStep.name : undefined,
       before: { version: beforeVersion },
       after: { version: afterVersion },
       steps,
diff --git a/test/openclaw-npm-postpublish-verify.test.ts b/test/openclaw-npm-postpublish-verify.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..577ebf924a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/openclaw-npm-postpublish-verify.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import {
+  buildPublishedInstallScenarios,
+  collectInstalledPackageErrors,
+} from "../scripts/openclaw-npm-postpublish-verify.ts";
+
+describe("buildPublishedInstallScenarios", () => {
+  it("uses a single fresh scenario for plain stable releases", () => {
+    expect(buildPublishedInstallScenarios("2026.3.23")).toEqual([
+      {
+        name: "fresh-exact",
+        installSpecs: ["openclaw@2026.3.23"],
+        expectedVersion: "2026.3.23",
+      },
+    ]);
+  });
+
+  it("adds a stable-to-correction upgrade scenario for correction releases", () => {
+    expect(buildPublishedInstallScenarios("2026.3.23-2")).toEqual([
+      {
+        name: "fresh-exact",
+        installSpecs: ["openclaw@2026.3.23-2"],
+        expectedVersion: "2026.3.23-2",
+      },
+      {
+        name: "upgrade-from-base-stable",
+        installSpecs: ["openclaw@2026.3.23", "openclaw@2026.3.23-2"],
+        expectedVersion: "2026.3.23-2",
+      },
+    ]);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("collectInstalledPackageErrors", () => {
+  it("flags version mismatches and missing runtime sidecars", () => {
+    expect(
+      collectInstalledPackageErrors({
+        expectedVersion: "2026.3.23-2",
+        installedVersion: "2026.3.23",
+        packageRoot: "/tmp/empty-openclaw",
+      }),
+    ).toEqual([
+      "installed package version mismatch: expected 2026.3.23-2, found 2026.3.23.",
+      "installed package is missing required bundled runtime sidecar: dist/extensions/whatsapp/light-runtime-api.js",
+      "installed package is missing required bundled runtime sidecar: dist/extensions/whatsapp/runtime-api.js",
+      "installed package is missing required bundled runtime sidecar: dist/extensions/matrix/helper-api.js",
+      "installed package is missing required bundled runtime sidecar: dist/extensions/matrix/runtime-api.js",
+      "installed package is missing required bundled runtime sidecar: dist/extensions/matrix/thread-bindings-runtime.js",
+      "installed package is missing required bundled runtime sidecar: dist/extensions/msteams/runtime-api.js",
+    ]);
+  });
+});