Bug Description

OpenClaw 2026.4.8 crashes on startup with a TypeError when the Slack plugin is disabled but still present in the config. The error occurs in the Slack extension's contract API when trying to read a config property.

Error Message

Failed to read config at /home/clawmander/.openclaw/openclaw.json TypeError: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 't')
 at Object.get [as legacyConfigRules] (/home/clawmander/.npm-global/lib/node_modules/openclaw/dist/extensions/slack/contract-api.js:1:647)
 at resolvePluginDoctorContracts (file:///home/clawmander/.npm-global/lib/node_modules/openclaw/dist/config-DMMR1XE_.js:220:52)
 at listPluginDoctorLegacyConfigRules (file:///home/clawmander/.npm-global/lib/node_modules/openclaw/dist/config-DMMR1XE_.js:233:9)
 at resolveLegacyConfigForRead (file:///home/clawmander/.npm-global/lib/node_modules/openclaw/dist/config-DMMR1XE_.js:19138:82)
 at Object.loadConfig (file:///home/clawmander/.npm-global/lib/node_modules/openclaw/dist/config-DMMR1XE_.js:19203:29)

Environment

• OpenClaw: 2026.4.8 (9ece252)
• OS: Linux (Ubuntu)
• Node: v25.6.1
• Slack plugin: disabled (plugins.entries.slack.enabled: false)
• Slack in plugins.allow: yes

Steps to Reproduce

1. Have Slack in plugins.allow array
2. Set plugins.entries.slack.enabled: false
3. Have a minimal channels.slack section in config (or remove it entirely)
4. Run openclaw tui or openclaw gateway restart
5. Error occurs during config validation

Expected Behavior

When Slack plugin is disabled, the config loader should skip Slack-specific contract validation or handle missing config gracefully.

Actual Behavior

The Slack extension's contract API (legacyConfigRules) is loaded even when the plugin is disabled, and it tries to access a config property that doesn't exist, causing a TypeError.

Root Cause Analysis

The error occurs in contract-api.js line 647 in the legacyConfigRules getter. The contract API is being invoked during config validation even though the plugin is disabled. The code attempts to read a property (appears to be .t or similar) from an undefined object.

Looking at the Slack extension's doctor-contract.ts, the legacyConfigRules array contains config validation rules that check for legacy streaming aliases. These rules are being evaluated even when the plugin is disabled.

Workaround Attempts

1. ✅ Removed channels.slack section entirely - error persists
2. ✅ Added slack to plugins.allow - error persists
3. ✅ Added minimal channels.slack section with enabled: false - error persists

Impact

Prevents OpenClaw from starting when Slack plugin is disabled but was previously configured. Users cannot use OpenClaw TUI or gateway commands.

Related Issues

• #23824 - Slack plugin crash loop
• #10951 - Slack TypeError in agent responses
• #59654 - agents add TypeError
• #60414 - TypeError on every user message

Suggested Fix

1. Guard the Slack contract API validation to only run when plugin is enabled
2. Add null checks in legacyConfigRules getter
3. Skip plugin doctor contracts for disabled plugins

Please investigate and fix this config validation bug.