diff --git a/src/infra/outbound/targets.test.ts b/src/infra/outbound/targets.test.ts
index bd7e542d6..437ae89b4 100644
--- a/src/infra/outbound/targets.test.ts
+++ b/src/infra/outbound/targets.test.ts
@@ -408,26 +408,26 @@ describe("resolveHeartbeatDeliveryTarget", () => {
     ).toThrow(/requireExplicitTarget is enabled but no explicit 'to' target was provided/);
   });
 
-  it("throws error when requireExplicitTarget defaults to true and no to is set", () => {
+  it("allows implicit routing when requireExplicitTarget defaults to false", () => {
     const cfg: ClawdbotConfig = {
       agents: {
         defaults: {
           heartbeat: {
             target: "whatsapp",
-            // requireExplicitTarget defaults to true now
-            // no `to` set
+            // requireExplicitTarget defaults to false (backwards compatible)
+            // no `to` set - should use implicit routing
           },
         },
       },
       channels: { whatsapp: { allowFrom: ["+1555000001"] } },
     };
-    // FIX-1.4: Default is now strict mode - throws if no explicit target
-    expect(() =>
-      resolveHeartbeatDeliveryTarget({
-        cfg,
-        entry: { sessionId: "test", updatedAt: 1, lastChannel: "whatsapp", lastTo: "+1555000001" },
-      }),
-    ).toThrow(/requireExplicitTarget is enabled but no explicit 'to' target was provided/);
+    // Default is backwards compatible - allows implicit routing
+    const result = resolveHeartbeatDeliveryTarget({
+      cfg,
+      entry: { sessionId: "test", updatedAt: 1, lastChannel: "whatsapp", lastTo: "+1555000001" },
+    });
+    expect(result.channel).toBe("whatsapp");
+    expect(result.to).toBe("+1555000001");
   });
 
   it("allows heartbeat delivery when requireExplicitTarget is true and to is set", () => {
diff --git a/src/infra/outbound/targets.ts b/src/infra/outbound/targets.ts
index e33f7dbb0..32b3e6d24 100644
--- a/src/infra/outbound/targets.ts
+++ b/src/infra/outbound/targets.ts
@@ -257,7 +257,10 @@ export function resolveHeartbeatDeliveryTarget(params: {
       accountId: resolvedTarget.accountId,
       mode: "explicit",
     });
-    if (explicit.ok && explicit.to !== resolved.to) {
+    // Set reason to "allowFrom-fallback" if:
+    // 1. Explicit mode failed (target not in allowlist) and heartbeat succeeded, OR
+    // 2. Explicit mode succeeded but returned a different target than heartbeat mode
+    if (!explicit.ok || (explicit.ok && explicit.to !== resolved.to)) {
       reason = "allowFrom-fallback";
     }
   }
diff --git a/src/utils/delivery-context.ts b/src/utils/delivery-context.ts
index da688b2e7..c91329cff 100644
--- a/src/utils/delivery-context.ts
+++ b/src/utils/delivery-context.ts
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ export type DeliveryContextSessionSource = {
  * Check if a delivery context has expired based on its updatedAt timestamp.
  * @param context The delivery context to check
  * @param ttlMs TTL in milliseconds (default: 24 hours)
- * @returns true if the context has expired or has no timestamp
+ * @returns true if the context has expired, false if valid or no timestamp (backwards compatible)
  */
 export function isDeliveryContextExpired(
   context?: DeliveryContext,
@@ -72,7 +72,8 @@ export function isDeliveryContextExpired(
 ): boolean {
   if (!context) return true;
   const updatedAt = context.updatedAt;
-  if (typeof updatedAt !== "number" || !Number.isFinite(updatedAt)) return true;
+  // Backwards compatibility: contexts without timestamps are considered valid (not expired)
+  if (typeof updatedAt !== "number" || !Number.isFinite(updatedAt)) return false;
   const now = Date.now();
   return now - updatedAt > ttlMs;
 }
@@ -185,10 +186,13 @@ export function mergeDeliveryContext(
   const normalizedPrimary = normalizeDeliveryContext(primary);
   const normalizedFallback = normalizeDeliveryContext(fallback);
   if (!normalizedPrimary && !normalizedFallback) return undefined;
-  // Use the most recent timestamp from either context
-  const primaryUpdatedAt = normalizedPrimary?.updatedAt ?? 0;
-  const fallbackUpdatedAt = normalizedFallback?.updatedAt ?? 0;
-  const updatedAt = Math.max(primaryUpdatedAt, fallbackUpdatedAt) || Date.now();
+  // Use the most recent timestamp from either context (only if at least one has it)
+  const primaryUpdatedAt = normalizedPrimary?.updatedAt;
+  const fallbackUpdatedAt = normalizedFallback?.updatedAt;
+  const hasTimestamp = primaryUpdatedAt != null || fallbackUpdatedAt != null;
+  const updatedAt = hasTimestamp
+    ? Math.max(primaryUpdatedAt ?? 0, fallbackUpdatedAt ?? 0)
+    : undefined;
   return normalizeDeliveryContext({
     channel: normalizedPrimary?.channel ?? normalizedFallback?.channel,
     to: normalizedPrimary?.to ?? normalizedFallback?.to,