fix: load CLI plugin registry for channel-aware commands (#1338) (thanks @MaudeBot)

Fixes #1327 - 'clawdbot message --channel telegram' fails with
'Unknown channel: telegram' because plugins weren't loaded.

The Commander code path (non-route-first) calls ensureConfigReady() in
preAction but doesn't load the plugin registry. Channel plugins like
telegram are registered during plugin loading, so getChannelPlugin()
returns undefined without it.

This adds ensurePluginRegistryLoaded() call for commands that need
channel plugin access: message, channels, directory.

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ Docs: https://docs.clawd.bot
 - TUI: keep thinking blocks ordered before content during streaming and isolate per-run assembly. (#1202) — thanks @aaronveklabs.
 - TUI: align custom editor initialization with the latest pi-tui API. (#1298) — thanks @sibbl.
 - CLI: avoid duplicating --profile/--dev flags when formatting commands.
+- CLI: load channel plugins for commands that need registry-backed lookups. (#1338) — thanks @MaudeBot.
 - Status: route native `/status` to the active agent so model selection reflects the correct profile. (#1301)
 - Exec: prefer bash when fish is default shell, falling back to sh if bash is missing. (#1297) — thanks @ysqander.
 - Exec: merge login-shell PATH for host=gateway exec while keeping daemon PATH minimal. (#1304)

src/cli/channels-cli.ts

@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import type { Command } from "commander";
-import { listChannelPlugins } from "../channels/plugins/index.js";
 import {
   channelsAddCommand,
   channelsCapabilitiesCommand,
@@ -13,9 +12,11 @@ import { danger } from "../globals.js";
 import { defaultRuntime } from "../runtime.js";
 import { formatDocsLink } from "../terminal/links.js";
 import { theme } from "../terminal/theme.js";
+import { resolveCliChannelOptions } from "./channel-options.js";
 import { runChannelLogin, runChannelLogout } from "./channel-auth.js";
 import { runCommandWithRuntime } from "./cli-utils.js";
 import { hasExplicitOptions } from "./command-options.js";
+import { markCommandRequiresPluginRegistry } from "./program/command-metadata.js";
 
 const optionNamesAdd = [
   "channel",
@@ -58,9 +59,7 @@ function runChannelsCommandWithDanger(action: () => Promise<void>, label: string
 }
 
 export function registerChannelsCli(program: Command) {
-  const channelNames = listChannelPlugins()
+  const channelNames = resolveCliChannelOptions().join("|");
-    .map((plugin) => plugin.id)
-    .join("|");
   const channels = program
     .command("channels")
     .description("Manage chat channel accounts")
@@ -72,6 +71,7 @@ export function registerChannelsCli(program: Command) {
           "docs.clawd.bot/cli/channels",
         )}\n`,
     );
+  markCommandRequiresPluginRegistry(channels);
 
   channels
     .command("list")

src/cli/cron-cli/shared.ts

@@ -1,13 +1,12 @@
-import { listChannelPlugins } from "../../channels/plugins/index.js";
 import { parseAbsoluteTimeMs } from "../../cron/parse.js";
 import type { CronJob, CronSchedule } from "../../cron/types.js";
 import { defaultRuntime } from "../../runtime.js";
 import { colorize, isRich, theme } from "../../terminal/theme.js";
+import { resolveCliChannelOptions } from "../channel-options.js";
 import type { GatewayRpcOpts } from "../gateway-rpc.js";
 import { callGatewayFromCli } from "../gateway-rpc.js";
 
-export const getCronChannelOptions = () =>
+export const getCronChannelOptions = () => ["last", ...resolveCliChannelOptions()].join("|");
-  ["last", ...listChannelPlugins().map((plugin) => plugin.id)].join("|");
 
 export async function warnIfCronSchedulerDisabled(opts: GatewayRpcOpts) {
   try {

src/cli/directory-cli.ts

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { resolveMessageChannelSelection } from "../infra/outbound/channel-select
 import { defaultRuntime } from "../runtime.js";
 import { formatDocsLink } from "../terminal/links.js";
 import { theme } from "../terminal/theme.js";
+import { markCommandRequiresPluginRegistry } from "./program/command-metadata.js";
 
 function parseLimit(value: unknown): number | null {
   if (typeof value === "number" && Number.isFinite(value)) {
@@ -42,6 +43,7 @@ export function registerDirectoryCli(program: Command) {
     .action(() => {
       directory.help({ error: true });
     });
+  markCommandRequiresPluginRegistry(directory);
 
   const withChannel = (cmd: Command) =>
     cmd

src/cli/pairing-cli.test.ts

@@ -34,12 +34,16 @@ vi.mock("../channels/plugins/index.js", () => ({
   normalizeChannelId,
 }));
 
-vi.mock("../config/config.js", () => ({
+vi.mock("../config/config.js", async (importOriginal) => {
+  const actual = await importOriginal<typeof import("../config/config.js")>();
+  return {
+    ...actual,
     loadConfig: vi.fn().mockReturnValue({}),
-}));
+  };
+});
 
 describe("pairing cli", () => {
-  it("evaluates pairing channels when registering the CLI (not at import)", async () => {
+  it("defers pairing channel lookup until command execution", async () => {
     listPairingChannels.mockClear();
 
     const { registerPairingCli } = await import("./pairing-cli.js");
@@ -49,6 +53,10 @@ describe("pairing cli", () => {
     program.name("test");
     registerPairingCli(program);
 
+    expect(listPairingChannels).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+    listChannelPairingRequests.mockResolvedValueOnce([]);
+    await program.parseAsync(["pairing", "list", "telegram"], { from: "user" });
     expect(listPairingChannels).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
   });
 

src/cli/pairing-cli.ts

@@ -10,7 +10,9 @@ import {
 } from "../pairing/pairing-store.js";
 import { formatDocsLink } from "../terminal/links.js";
 import { theme } from "../terminal/theme.js";
+import { resolveCliChannelOptions } from "./channel-options.js";
 import { formatCliCommand } from "./command-format.js";
+import { markCommandRequiresPluginRegistry } from "./program/command-metadata.js";
 
 /** Parse channel, allowing extension channels not in core registry. */
 function parseChannel(raw: unknown, channels: PairingChannel[]): PairingChannel {
@@ -44,7 +46,9 @@ async function notifyApproved(channel: PairingChannel, id: string) {
 }
 
 export function registerPairingCli(program: Command) {
-  const channels = listPairingChannels();
+  const channelOptions = resolveCliChannelOptions();
+  const channelHint =
+    channelOptions.length > 0 ? `Channel (${channelOptions.join(", ")})` : "Channel";
   const pairing = program
     .command("pairing")
     .description("Secure DM pairing (approve inbound requests)")
@@ -53,14 +57,16 @@ export function registerPairingCli(program: Command) {
       () =>
         `\n${theme.muted("Docs:")} ${formatDocsLink("/cli/pairing", "docs.clawd.bot/cli/pairing")}\n`,
     );
+  markCommandRequiresPluginRegistry(pairing);
 
   pairing
     .command("list")
     .description("List pending pairing requests")
-    .option("--channel <channel>", `Channel (${channels.join(", ")})`)
+    .option("--channel <channel>", channelHint)
-    .argument("[channel]", `Channel (${channels.join(", ")})`)
+    .argument("[channel]", channelHint)
     .option("--json", "Print JSON", false)
     .action(async (channelArg, opts) => {
+      const channels = listPairingChannels();
       const channelRaw = opts.channel ?? channelArg;
       if (!channelRaw) {
         throw new Error(
@@ -87,11 +93,12 @@ export function registerPairingCli(program: Command) {
   pairing
     .command("approve")
     .description("Approve a pairing code and allow that sender")
-    .option("--channel <channel>", `Channel (${channels.join(", ")})`)
+    .option("--channel <channel>", channelHint)
     .argument("<codeOrChannel>", "Pairing code (or channel when using 2 args)")
     .argument("[code]", "Pairing code (when channel is passed as the 1st arg)")
     .option("--notify", "Notify the requester on the same channel", false)
     .action(async (codeOrChannel, code, opts) => {
+      const channels = listPairingChannels();
       const channelRaw = opts.channel ?? codeOrChannel;
       const resolvedCode = opts.channel ? codeOrChannel : code;
       if (!opts.channel && !code) {

src/cli/program/command-metadata.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+import { Command } from "commander";
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+
+import {
+  commandRequiresPluginRegistry,
+  markCommandRequiresPluginRegistry,
+} from "./command-metadata.js";
+
+describe("commandRequiresPluginRegistry", () => {
+  it("detects direct requirement", () => {
+    const program = new Command();
+    const cmd = program.command("message");
+    markCommandRequiresPluginRegistry(cmd);
+    expect(commandRequiresPluginRegistry(cmd)).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("walks parent chain", () => {
+    const program = new Command();
+    const parent = program.command("channels");
+    const child = parent.command("list");
+    markCommandRequiresPluginRegistry(parent);
+    expect(commandRequiresPluginRegistry(child)).toBe(true);
+  });
+});

src/cli/program/command-metadata.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+import type { Command } from "commander";
+
+const REQUIRES_PLUGIN_REGISTRY = Symbol.for("clawdbot.requiresPluginRegistry");
+
+type CommandWithPluginRequirement = Command & {
+  [REQUIRES_PLUGIN_REGISTRY]?: boolean;
+};
+
+export function markCommandRequiresPluginRegistry(command: Command): Command {
+  (command as CommandWithPluginRequirement)[REQUIRES_PLUGIN_REGISTRY] = true;
+  return command;
+}
+
+export function commandRequiresPluginRegistry(command?: Command | null): boolean {
+  let current: Command | null | undefined = command;
+  while (current) {
+    if ((current as CommandWithPluginRequirement)[REQUIRES_PLUGIN_REGISTRY]) return true;
+    current = current.parent ?? undefined;
+  }
+  return false;
+}

src/cli/program/command-registry.ts

@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ const routeSessions: RouteSpec = {
 
 const routeAgentsList: RouteSpec = {
   match: (path) => path[0] === "agents" && path[1] === "list",
+  loadPlugins: true,
   run: async (argv) => {
     const json = hasFlag(argv, "--json");
     const bindings = hasFlag(argv, "--bindings");

src/cli/program/preaction.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+import { Command } from "commander";
+import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+
+import { markCommandRequiresPluginRegistry } from "./command-metadata.js";
+
+vi.mock("../plugin-registry.js", () => ({
+  ensurePluginRegistryLoaded: vi.fn(),
+}));
+vi.mock("./config-guard.js", () => ({
+  ensureConfigReady: vi.fn(async () => {}),
+}));
+vi.mock("../banner.js", () => ({
+  emitCliBanner: vi.fn(),
+}));
+vi.mock("../argv.js", () => ({
+  getCommandPath: vi.fn(() => ["message"]),
+  hasHelpOrVersion: vi.fn(() => false),
+}));
+
+const loadRegisterPreActionHooks = async () => {
+  const mod = await import("./preaction.js");
+  return mod.registerPreActionHooks;
+};
+
+const loadEnsurePluginRegistryLoaded = async () => {
+  const mod = await import("../plugin-registry.js");
+  return mod.ensurePluginRegistryLoaded;
+};
+
+describe("registerPreActionHooks", () => {
+  beforeEach(async () => {
+    const ensurePluginRegistryLoaded = await loadEnsurePluginRegistryLoaded();
+    vi.mocked(ensurePluginRegistryLoaded).mockClear();
+  });
+
+  it("loads plugins for marked commands", async () => {
+    const registerPreActionHooks = await loadRegisterPreActionHooks();
+    const ensurePluginRegistryLoaded = await loadEnsurePluginRegistryLoaded();
+    const program = new Command();
+    registerPreActionHooks(program, "test");
+
+    const message = program.command("message").action(() => {});
+    markCommandRequiresPluginRegistry(message);
+
+    const originalArgv = process.argv;
+    const argv = ["node", "clawdbot", "message"];
+    process.argv = argv;
+    try {
+      await program.parseAsync(argv);
+    } finally {
+      process.argv = originalArgv;
+    }
+
+    expect(vi.mocked(ensurePluginRegistryLoaded)).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+  });
+});

src/cli/program/preaction.ts

@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ import type { Command } from "commander";
 import { defaultRuntime } from "../../runtime.js";
 import { emitCliBanner } from "../banner.js";
 import { getCommandPath, hasHelpOrVersion } from "../argv.js";
+import { ensurePluginRegistryLoaded } from "../plugin-registry.js";
+import { commandRequiresPluginRegistry } from "./command-metadata.js";
 import { ensureConfigReady } from "./config-guard.js";
 
 function setProcessTitleForCommand(actionCommand: Command) {
@@ -20,8 +22,12 @@ export function registerPreActionHooks(program: Command, programVersion: string)
     emitCliBanner(programVersion);
     const argv = process.argv;
     if (hasHelpOrVersion(argv)) return;
+    const needsPlugins = commandRequiresPluginRegistry(actionCommand);
     const commandPath = getCommandPath(argv, 2);
     if (commandPath[0] === "doctor") return;
     await ensureConfigReady({ runtime: defaultRuntime, commandPath });
+    if (needsPlugins) {
+      ensurePluginRegistryLoaded();
+    }
   });
 }

src/cli/program/register.agent.ts

@@ -14,10 +14,11 @@ import { theme } from "../../terminal/theme.js";
 import { hasExplicitOptions } from "../command-options.js";
 import { createDefaultDeps } from "../deps.js";
 import { runCommandWithRuntime } from "../cli-utils.js";
+import { markCommandRequiresPluginRegistry } from "./command-metadata.js";
 import { collectOption } from "./helpers.js";
 
 export function registerAgentCommands(program: Command, args: { agentChannelOptions: string }) {
-  program
+  const agent = program
     .command("agent")
     .description("Run an agent turn via the Gateway (use --local for embedded)")
     .requiredOption("-m, --message <text>", "Message body for the agent")
@@ -67,6 +68,7 @@ ${theme.muted("Docs:")} ${formatDocsLink("/cli/agent", "docs.clawd.bot/cli/agent
         await agentCliCommand(opts, defaultRuntime, deps);
       });
     });
+  markCommandRequiresPluginRegistry(agent);
 
   const agents = program
     .command("agents")
@@ -76,6 +78,7 @@ ${theme.muted("Docs:")} ${formatDocsLink("/cli/agent", "docs.clawd.bot/cli/agent
       () =>
         `\n${theme.muted("Docs:")} ${formatDocsLink("/cli/agents", "docs.clawd.bot/cli/agents")}\n`,
     );
+  markCommandRequiresPluginRegistry(agents);
 
   agents
     .command("list")

src/cli/program/register.configure.ts

@@ -8,9 +8,10 @@ import { defaultRuntime } from "../../runtime.js";
 import { formatDocsLink } from "../../terminal/links.js";
 import { theme } from "../../terminal/theme.js";
 import { runCommandWithRuntime } from "../cli-utils.js";
+import { markCommandRequiresPluginRegistry } from "./command-metadata.js";
 
 export function registerConfigureCommand(program: Command) {
-  program
+  const configure = program
     .command("configure")
     .description("Interactive prompt to set up credentials, devices, and agent defaults")
     .addHelpText(
@@ -48,4 +49,5 @@ export function registerConfigureCommand(program: Command) {
         await configureCommandWithSections(sections as never, defaultRuntime);
       });
     });
+  markCommandRequiresPluginRegistry(configure);
 }

src/cli/program/register.message.ts

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import type { Command } from "commander";
 import { formatDocsLink } from "../../terminal/links.js";
 import { theme } from "../../terminal/theme.js";
 import type { ProgramContext } from "./context.js";
+import { markCommandRequiresPluginRegistry } from "./command-metadata.js";
 import { createMessageCliHelpers } from "./message/helpers.js";
 import { registerMessageDiscordAdminCommands } from "./message/register.discord-admin.js";
 import {
@@ -39,6 +40,7 @@ ${theme.muted("Docs:")} ${formatDocsLink("/cli/message", "docs.clawd.bot/cli/mes
     .action(() => {
       message.help({ error: true });
     });
+  markCommandRequiresPluginRegistry(message);
 
   const helpers = createMessageCliHelpers(message, ctx.messageChannelOptions);
   registerMessageSendCommand(message, helpers);

src/cli/program/register.onboard.ts

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import { defaultRuntime } from "../../runtime.js";
 import { formatDocsLink } from "../../terminal/links.js";
 import { theme } from "../../terminal/theme.js";
 import { runCommandWithRuntime } from "../cli-utils.js";
+import { markCommandRequiresPluginRegistry } from "./command-metadata.js";
 
 function resolveInstallDaemonFlag(
   command: unknown,
@@ -32,7 +33,7 @@ function resolveInstallDaemonFlag(
 }
 
 export function registerOnboardCommand(program: Command) {
-  program
+  const onboard = program
     .command("onboard")
     .description("Interactive wizard to set up the gateway, workspace, and skills")
     .addHelpText(
@@ -150,4 +151,5 @@ export function registerOnboardCommand(program: Command) {
         );
       });
     });
+  markCommandRequiresPluginRegistry(onboard);
 }

src/cli/program/register.status-health-sessions.ts

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import { defaultRuntime } from "../../runtime.js";
 import { formatDocsLink } from "../../terminal/links.js";
 import { theme } from "../../terminal/theme.js";
 import { runCommandWithRuntime } from "../cli-utils.js";
+import { markCommandRequiresPluginRegistry } from "./command-metadata.js";
 import { parsePositiveIntOrUndefined } from "./helpers.js";
 
 function resolveVerbose(opts: { verbose?: boolean; debug?: boolean }): boolean {
@@ -24,7 +25,7 @@ function parseTimeoutMs(timeout: unknown): number | null | undefined {
 }
 
 export function registerStatusHealthSessionsCommands(program: Command) {
-  program
+  const status = program
     .command("status")
     .description("Show channel health and recent session recipients")
     .option("--json", "Output JSON instead of text", false)
@@ -72,8 +73,9 @@ Examples:
         );
       });
     });
+  markCommandRequiresPluginRegistry(status);
 
-  program
+  const health = program
     .command("health")
     .description("Fetch health from the running gateway")
     .option("--json", "Output JSON instead of text", false)
@@ -103,6 +105,7 @@ Examples:
         );
       });
     });
+  markCommandRequiresPluginRegistry(health);
 
   program
     .command("sessions")

src/cli/sandbox-cli.ts

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { sandboxExplainCommand } from "../commands/sandbox-explain.js";
 import { defaultRuntime } from "../runtime.js";
 import { formatDocsLink } from "../terminal/links.js";
 import { theme } from "../terminal/theme.js";
+import { markCommandRequiresPluginRegistry } from "./program/command-metadata.js";
 
 // --- Types ---
 
@@ -142,7 +143,7 @@ export function registerSandboxCli(program: Command) {
 
   // --- Explain Command ---
 
-  sandbox
+  const explain = sandbox
     .command("explain")
     .description("Explain effective sandbox/tool policy for a session/agent")
     .option("--session <key>", "Session key to inspect (defaults to agent main)")
@@ -161,4 +162,5 @@ export function registerSandboxCli(program: Command) {
         ),
       ),
     );
+  markCommandRequiresPluginRegistry(explain);
 }

src/cli/security-cli.ts

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { fixSecurityFootguns } from "../security/fix.js";
 import { formatDocsLink } from "../terminal/links.js";
 import { isRich, theme } from "../terminal/theme.js";
 import { formatCliCommand } from "./command-format.js";
+import { markCommandRequiresPluginRegistry } from "./program/command-metadata.js";
 
 type SecurityAuditOptions = {
   json?: boolean;
@@ -36,6 +37,7 @@ export function registerSecurityCli(program: Command) {
       () =>
         `\n${theme.muted("Docs:")} ${formatDocsLink("/cli/security", "docs.clawd.bot/cli/security")}\n`,
     );
+  markCommandRequiresPluginRegistry(security);
 
   security
     .command("audit")