diff --git a/extensions/matrix/src/outbound.ts b/extensions/matrix/src/outbound.ts
index 54fbb09a2..6aabde56b 100644
--- a/extensions/matrix/src/outbound.ts
+++ b/extensions/matrix/src/outbound.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { chunkMarkdownText } from "../../../src/auto-reply/chunk.js";
 import type { ChannelOutboundAdapter } from "../../../src/channels/plugins/types.js";
 import { sendMessageMatrix, sendPollMatrix } from "./matrix/send.js";
+import { missingTargetError } from "../../../src/infra/outbound/target-errors.js";
 
 export const matrixOutbound: ChannelOutboundAdapter = {
   deliveryMode: "direct",
@@ -11,7 +12,7 @@ export const matrixOutbound: ChannelOutboundAdapter = {
     if (!trimmed) {
       return {
         ok: false,
-        error: new Error("Delivering to Matrix requires target <room|alias|user>"),
+        error: missingTargetError("Matrix", "<room|alias|user>"),
       };
     }
     return { ok: true, to: trimmed };
diff --git a/extensions/msteams/src/outbound.ts b/extensions/msteams/src/outbound.ts
index 9e46fafbb..8d4ccef41 100644
--- a/extensions/msteams/src/outbound.ts
+++ b/extensions/msteams/src/outbound.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import type { ChannelOutboundAdapter } from "../../../src/channels/plugins/types
 
 import { createMSTeamsPollStoreFs } from "./polls.js";
 import { sendMessageMSTeams, sendPollMSTeams } from "./send.js";
+import { missingTargetError } from "../../../src/infra/outbound/target-errors.js";
 
 export const msteamsOutbound: ChannelOutboundAdapter = {
   deliveryMode: "direct",
@@ -14,9 +15,7 @@ export const msteamsOutbound: ChannelOutboundAdapter = {
     if (!trimmed) {
       return {
         ok: false,
-        error: new Error(
-          "Delivering to MS Teams requires target <conversationId|user:ID|conversation:ID>",
-        ),
+        error: missingTargetError("MS Teams", "<conversationId|user:ID|conversation:ID>"),
       };
     }
     return { ok: true, to: trimmed };
diff --git a/extensions/zalo/src/channel.ts b/extensions/zalo/src/channel.ts
index 5742ec7e8..070b9d38c 100644
--- a/extensions/zalo/src/channel.ts
+++ b/extensions/zalo/src/channel.ts
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import {
 import { collectZaloStatusIssues } from "./status-issues.js";
 import type { CoreConfig } from "./types.js";
 import { DEFAULT_ACCOUNT_ID, normalizeAccountId } from "./shared/account-ids.js";
+import { missingTargetError } from "../../../src/infra/outbound/target-errors.js";
 
 const meta = {
   id: "zalo",
@@ -185,7 +186,7 @@ export const zaloPlugin: ChannelPlugin<ResolvedZaloAccount> = {
         return "ZALO_BOT_TOKEN can only be used for the default account.";
       }
       if (!input.useEnv && !input.token && !input.tokenFile) {
-        return "Zalo requires targetken or --token-file (or --use-env).";
+        return "Zalo requires token or --token-file (or --use-env).";
       }
       return null;
     },
@@ -284,7 +285,7 @@ export const zaloPlugin: ChannelPlugin<ResolvedZaloAccount> = {
       if (!trimmed) {
         return {
           ok: false,
-          error: new Error("Delivering to Zalo requires target <chatId>"),
+          error: missingTargetError("Zalo", "<chatId>"),
         };
       }
       return { ok: true, to: trimmed };
diff --git a/extensions/zalouser/src/channel.ts b/extensions/zalouser/src/channel.ts
index fd4b92ac6..9c71b1481 100644
--- a/extensions/zalouser/src/channel.ts
+++ b/extensions/zalouser/src/channel.ts
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import { zalouserOnboardingAdapter } from "./onboarding.js";
 import { sendMessageZalouser } from "./send.js";
 import { checkZcaInstalled, parseJsonOutput, runZca, runZcaInteractive } from "./zca.js";
 import {
+import { missingTargetError } from "../../../src/infra/outbound/target-errors.js";
   DEFAULT_ACCOUNT_ID,
   type CoreConfig,
   type ZalouserConfig,
@@ -378,7 +379,7 @@ export const zalouserPlugin: ChannelPlugin<ResolvedZalouserAccount> = {
       if (!trimmed) {
         return {
           ok: false,
-          error: new Error("Delivering to Zalouser requires target <threadId>"),
+          error: missingTargetError("Zalouser", "<threadId>"),
         };
       }
       return { ok: true, to: trimmed };
diff --git a/src/channels/plugins/discord.ts b/src/channels/plugins/discord.ts
index 5f726f292..0a65cc007 100644
--- a/src/channels/plugins/discord.ts
+++ b/src/channels/plugins/discord.ts
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ import {
 } from "./setup-helpers.js";
 import { collectDiscordStatusIssues } from "./status-issues/discord.js";
 import type { ChannelPlugin } from "./types.js";
+import { missingTargetError } from "../../infra/outbound/target-errors.js";
 
 const meta = getChatChannelMeta("discord");
 
@@ -253,7 +254,7 @@ export const discordPlugin: ChannelPlugin<ResolvedDiscordAccount> = {
         return "DISCORD_BOT_TOKEN can only be used for the default account.";
       }
       if (!input.useEnv && !input.token) {
-        return "Discord requires targetken (or --use-env).";
+        return "Discord requires token (or --use-env).";
       }
       return null;
     },
@@ -314,7 +315,7 @@ export const discordPlugin: ChannelPlugin<ResolvedDiscordAccount> = {
       if (!trimmed) {
         return {
           ok: false,
-          error: new Error("Delivering to Discord requires target <channelId|user:ID|channel:ID>"),
+          error: missingTargetError("Discord", "<channelId|user:ID|channel:ID>"),
         };
       }
       return { ok: true, to: trimmed };
diff --git a/src/channels/plugins/imessage.ts b/src/channels/plugins/imessage.ts
index 0a52ffa36..47420d0b1 100644
--- a/src/channels/plugins/imessage.ts
+++ b/src/channels/plugins/imessage.ts
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import {
   migrateBaseNameToDefaultAccount,
 } from "./setup-helpers.js";
 import type { ChannelPlugin } from "./types.js";
+import { missingTargetError } from "../../infra/outbound/target-errors.js";
 
 const meta = getChatChannelMeta("imessage");
 
@@ -177,7 +178,7 @@ export const imessagePlugin: ChannelPlugin<ResolvedIMessageAccount> = {
       if (!trimmed) {
         return {
           ok: false,
-          error: new Error("Delivering to iMessage requires target <handle|chat_id:ID>"),
+          error: missingTargetError("iMessage", "<handle|chat_id:ID>"),
         };
       }
       return { ok: true, to: trimmed };
diff --git a/src/channels/plugins/outbound/discord.ts b/src/channels/plugins/outbound/discord.ts
index 7f76b6c72..2209576f5 100644
--- a/src/channels/plugins/outbound/discord.ts
+++ b/src/channels/plugins/outbound/discord.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { sendMessageDiscord, sendPollDiscord } from "../../../discord/send.js";
 import type { ChannelOutboundAdapter } from "../types.js";
+import { missingTargetError } from "../../../infra/outbound/target-errors.js";
 
 export const discordOutbound: ChannelOutboundAdapter = {
   deliveryMode: "direct",
@@ -11,7 +12,7 @@ export const discordOutbound: ChannelOutboundAdapter = {
     if (!trimmed) {
       return {
         ok: false,
-        error: new Error("Delivering to Discord requires target <channelId|user:ID|channel:ID>"),
+        error: missingTargetError("Discord", "<channelId|user:ID|channel:ID>"),
       };
     }
     return { ok: true, to: trimmed };
diff --git a/src/channels/plugins/outbound/imessage.ts b/src/channels/plugins/outbound/imessage.ts
index 89389b230..b3e8a9280 100644
--- a/src/channels/plugins/outbound/imessage.ts
+++ b/src/channels/plugins/outbound/imessage.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { chunkText } from "../../../auto-reply/chunk.js";
 import { sendMessageIMessage } from "../../../imessage/send.js";
 import { resolveChannelMediaMaxBytes } from "../media-limits.js";
 import type { ChannelOutboundAdapter } from "../types.js";
+import { missingTargetError } from "../../../infra/outbound/target-errors.js";
 
 export const imessageOutbound: ChannelOutboundAdapter = {
   deliveryMode: "direct",
@@ -12,7 +13,7 @@ export const imessageOutbound: ChannelOutboundAdapter = {
     if (!trimmed) {
       return {
         ok: false,
-        error: new Error("Delivering to iMessage requires target <handle|chat_id:ID>"),
+        error: missingTargetError("iMessage", "<handle|chat_id:ID>"),
       };
     }
     return { ok: true, to: trimmed };
diff --git a/src/channels/plugins/outbound/signal.ts b/src/channels/plugins/outbound/signal.ts
index 366b66231..c7515b332 100644
--- a/src/channels/plugins/outbound/signal.ts
+++ b/src/channels/plugins/outbound/signal.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { chunkText } from "../../../auto-reply/chunk.js";
 import { sendMessageSignal } from "../../../signal/send.js";
 import { resolveChannelMediaMaxBytes } from "../media-limits.js";
 import type { ChannelOutboundAdapter } from "../types.js";
+import { missingTargetError } from "../../../infra/outbound/target-errors.js";
 
 export const signalOutbound: ChannelOutboundAdapter = {
   deliveryMode: "direct",
@@ -12,9 +13,7 @@ export const signalOutbound: ChannelOutboundAdapter = {
     if (!trimmed) {
       return {
         ok: false,
-        error: new Error(
-          "Delivering to Signal requires target <E.164|group:ID|signal:group:ID|signal:+E.164>",
-        ),
+        error: missingTargetError("Signal", "<E.164|group:ID|signal:group:ID|signal:+E.164>"),
       };
     }
     return { ok: true, to: trimmed };
diff --git a/src/channels/plugins/outbound/slack.ts b/src/channels/plugins/outbound/slack.ts
index 63fc2e540..00de3a188 100644
--- a/src/channels/plugins/outbound/slack.ts
+++ b/src/channels/plugins/outbound/slack.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { sendMessageSlack } from "../../../slack/send.js";
 import type { ChannelOutboundAdapter } from "../types.js";
+import { missingTargetError } from "../../../infra/outbound/target-errors.js";
 
 export const slackOutbound: ChannelOutboundAdapter = {
   deliveryMode: "direct",
@@ -10,7 +11,7 @@ export const slackOutbound: ChannelOutboundAdapter = {
     if (!trimmed) {
       return {
         ok: false,
-        error: new Error("Delivering to Slack requires target <channelId|user:ID|channel:ID>"),
+        error: missingTargetError("Slack", "<channelId|user:ID|channel:ID>"),
       };
     }
     return { ok: true, to: trimmed };
diff --git a/src/channels/plugins/outbound/telegram.ts b/src/channels/plugins/outbound/telegram.ts
index cb6f5529d..f6e773edd 100644
--- a/src/channels/plugins/outbound/telegram.ts
+++ b/src/channels/plugins/outbound/telegram.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { markdownToTelegramHtmlChunks } from "../../../telegram/format.js";
 import { sendMessageTelegram } from "../../../telegram/send.js";
 import type { ChannelOutboundAdapter } from "../types.js";
+import { missingTargetError } from "../../../infra/outbound/target-errors.js";
 
 function parseReplyToMessageId(replyToId?: string | null) {
   if (!replyToId) return undefined;
@@ -27,7 +28,7 @@ export const telegramOutbound: ChannelOutboundAdapter = {
     if (!trimmed) {
       return {
         ok: false,
-        error: new Error("Delivering to Telegram requires target <chatId>"),
+        error: missingTargetError("Telegram", "<chatId>"),
       };
     }
     return { ok: true, to: trimmed };
diff --git a/src/channels/plugins/outbound/whatsapp.ts b/src/channels/plugins/outbound/whatsapp.ts
index 495c0bdaa..f9ff350fc 100644
--- a/src/channels/plugins/outbound/whatsapp.ts
+++ b/src/channels/plugins/outbound/whatsapp.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { shouldLogVerbose } from "../../../globals.js";
 import { sendMessageWhatsApp, sendPollWhatsApp } from "../../../web/outbound.js";
 import { isWhatsAppGroupJid, normalizeWhatsAppTarget } from "../../../whatsapp/normalize.js";
 import type { ChannelOutboundAdapter } from "../types.js";
+import { missingTargetError } from "../../../infra/outbound/target-errors.js";
 
 export const whatsappOutbound: ChannelOutboundAdapter = {
   deliveryMode: "gateway",
@@ -26,8 +27,9 @@ export const whatsappOutbound: ChannelOutboundAdapter = {
         }
         return {
           ok: false,
-          error: new Error(
-            "Delivering to WhatsApp requires target <E.164|group JID> or channels.whatsapp.allowFrom[0]",
+          error: missingTargetError(
+            "WhatsApp",
+            "<E.164|group JID> or channels.whatsapp.allowFrom[0]",
           ),
         };
       }
@@ -51,8 +53,9 @@ export const whatsappOutbound: ChannelOutboundAdapter = {
     }
     return {
       ok: false,
-      error: new Error(
-        "Delivering to WhatsApp requires target <E.164|group JID> or channels.whatsapp.allowFrom[0]",
+      error: missingTargetError(
+        "WhatsApp",
+        "<E.164|group JID> or channels.whatsapp.allowFrom[0]",
       ),
     };
   },
diff --git a/src/channels/plugins/signal.ts b/src/channels/plugins/signal.ts
index 7692a038d..167d2c48c 100644
--- a/src/channels/plugins/signal.ts
+++ b/src/channels/plugins/signal.ts
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import {
   migrateBaseNameToDefaultAccount,
 } from "./setup-helpers.js";
 import type { ChannelPlugin } from "./types.js";
+import { missingTargetError } from "../../infra/outbound/target-errors.js";
 
 const meta = getChatChannelMeta("signal");
 
@@ -201,8 +202,9 @@ export const signalPlugin: ChannelPlugin<ResolvedSignalAccount> = {
       if (!trimmed) {
         return {
           ok: false,
-          error: new Error(
-            "Delivering to Signal requires target <E.164|group:ID|signal:group:ID|signal:+E.164>",
+          error: missingTargetError(
+            "Signal",
+            "<E.164|group:ID|signal:group:ID|signal:+E.164>",
           ),
         };
       }
diff --git a/src/channels/plugins/slack.ts b/src/channels/plugins/slack.ts
index c82cea5a2..9bf3db690 100644
--- a/src/channels/plugins/slack.ts
+++ b/src/channels/plugins/slack.ts
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import {
   migrateBaseNameToDefaultAccount,
 } from "./setup-helpers.js";
 import type { ChannelMessageActionName, ChannelPlugin } from "./types.js";
+import { missingTargetError } from "../../infra/outbound/target-errors.js";
 
 const meta = getChatChannelMeta("slack");
 
@@ -497,7 +498,7 @@ export const slackPlugin: ChannelPlugin<ResolvedSlackAccount> = {
       if (!trimmed) {
         return {
           ok: false,
-          error: new Error("Delivering to Slack requires target <channelId|user:ID|channel:ID>"),
+          error: missingTargetError("Slack", "<channelId|user:ID|channel:ID>"),
         };
       }
       return { ok: true, to: trimmed };
diff --git a/src/channels/plugins/telegram.ts b/src/channels/plugins/telegram.ts
index 941c73d9a..24dae1803 100644
--- a/src/channels/plugins/telegram.ts
+++ b/src/channels/plugins/telegram.ts
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ import {
 } from "./setup-helpers.js";
 import { collectTelegramStatusIssues } from "./status-issues/telegram.js";
 import type { ChannelPlugin } from "./types.js";
+import { missingTargetError } from "../../infra/outbound/target-errors.js";
 
 const meta = getChatChannelMeta("telegram");
 
@@ -215,7 +216,7 @@ export const telegramPlugin: ChannelPlugin<ResolvedTelegramAccount> = {
         return "TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN can only be used for the default account.";
       }
       if (!input.useEnv && !input.token && !input.tokenFile) {
-        return "Telegram requires targetken or --token-file (or --use-env).";
+        return "Telegram requires token or --token-file (or --use-env).";
       }
       return null;
     },
@@ -285,7 +286,7 @@ export const telegramPlugin: ChannelPlugin<ResolvedTelegramAccount> = {
       if (!trimmed) {
         return {
           ok: false,
-          error: new Error("Delivering to Telegram requires target <chatId>"),
+          error: missingTargetError("Telegram", "<chatId>"),
         };
       }
       return { ok: true, to: trimmed };
diff --git a/src/channels/plugins/whatsapp.ts b/src/channels/plugins/whatsapp.ts
index 0c4171c79..9759d64b2 100644
--- a/src/channels/plugins/whatsapp.ts
+++ b/src/channels/plugins/whatsapp.ts
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ import {
 import { collectWhatsAppStatusIssues } from "./status-issues/whatsapp.js";
 import type { ChannelMessageActionName, ChannelPlugin } from "./types.js";
 import { resolveWhatsAppHeartbeatRecipients } from "./whatsapp-heartbeat.js";
+import { missingTargetError } from "../../infra/outbound/target-errors.js";
 
 const meta = getChatChannelMeta("whatsapp");
 
@@ -315,8 +316,9 @@ export const whatsappPlugin: ChannelPlugin<ResolvedWhatsAppAccount> = {
           }
           return {
             ok: false,
-            error: new Error(
-              "Delivering to WhatsApp requires target <E.164|group JID> or channels.whatsapp.allowFrom[0]",
+            error: missingTargetError(
+              "WhatsApp",
+              "<E.164|group JID> or channels.whatsapp.allowFrom[0]",
             ),
           };
         }
@@ -340,9 +342,7 @@ export const whatsappPlugin: ChannelPlugin<ResolvedWhatsAppAccount> = {
       }
       return {
         ok: false,
-        error: new Error(
-          "Delivering to WhatsApp requires target <E.164|group JID> or channels.whatsapp.allowFrom[0]",
-        ),
+        error: missingTargetError("WhatsApp", "<E.164|group JID> or channels.whatsapp.allowFrom[0]"),
       };
     },
     sendText: async ({ to, text, accountId, deps, gifPlayback }) => {
diff --git a/src/infra/outbound/message-action-runner.ts b/src/infra/outbound/message-action-runner.ts
index 87d66705c..b5ba043ce 100644
--- a/src/infra/outbound/message-action-runner.ts
+++ b/src/infra/outbound/message-action-runner.ts
@@ -150,6 +150,36 @@ function applyCrossContextMessageDecoration({
   return applied.message;
 }
 
+async function maybeApplyCrossContextMarker(params: {
+  cfg: ClawdbotConfig;
+  channel: ChannelId;
+  action: ChannelMessageActionName;
+  target: string;
+  toolContext?: ChannelThreadingToolContext;
+  accountId?: string | null;
+  args: Record<string, unknown>;
+  message: string;
+  preferEmbeds: boolean;
+}): Promise<string> {
+  if (!shouldApplyCrossContextMarker(params.action) || !params.toolContext) {
+    return params.message;
+  }
+  const decoration = await buildCrossContextDecoration({
+    cfg: params.cfg,
+    channel: params.channel,
+    target: params.target,
+    toolContext: params.toolContext,
+    accountId: params.accountId ?? undefined,
+  });
+  if (!decoration) return params.message;
+  return applyCrossContextMessageDecoration({
+    params: params.args,
+    message: params.message,
+    decoration,
+    preferEmbeds: params.preferEmbeds,
+  });
+}
+
 function readBooleanParam(params: Record<string, unknown>, key: string): boolean | undefined {
   const raw = params[key];
   if (typeof raw === "boolean") return raw;
@@ -339,24 +369,17 @@ async function handleSendAction(ctx: ResolvedActionContext): Promise<MessageActi
     params.media = parsed.mediaUrls?.[0] || parsed.mediaUrl || undefined;
   }
 
-  const decoration =
-    shouldApplyCrossContextMarker(action) && input.toolContext
-      ? await buildCrossContextDecoration({
-          cfg,
-          channel,
-          target: to,
-          toolContext: input.toolContext,
-          accountId: accountId ?? undefined,
-        })
-      : null;
-  if (decoration) {
-    message = applyCrossContextMessageDecoration({
-      params,
-      message,
-      decoration,
-      preferEmbeds: true,
-    });
-  }
+  message = await maybeApplyCrossContextMarker({
+    cfg,
+    channel,
+    action,
+    target: to,
+    toolContext: input.toolContext,
+    accountId,
+    args: params,
+    message,
+    preferEmbeds: true,
+  });
 
   const mediaUrl = readStringParam(params, "media", { trim: false });
   const gifPlayback = readBooleanParam(params, "gifPlayback") ?? false;
@@ -415,25 +438,18 @@ async function handlePollAction(ctx: ResolvedActionContext): Promise<MessageActi
     integer: true,
   });
   const maxSelections = allowMultiselect ? Math.max(2, options.length) : 1;
-  const decoration =
-    shouldApplyCrossContextMarker(action) && input.toolContext
-      ? await buildCrossContextDecoration({
-          cfg,
-          channel,
-          target: to,
-          toolContext: input.toolContext,
-          accountId: accountId ?? undefined,
-        })
-      : null;
-  if (decoration) {
-    const base = typeof params.message === "string" ? params.message : "";
-    applyCrossContextMessageDecoration({
-      params,
-      message: base,
-      decoration,
-      preferEmbeds: true,
-    });
-  }
+  const base = typeof params.message === "string" ? params.message : "";
+  await maybeApplyCrossContextMarker({
+    cfg,
+    channel,
+    action,
+    target: to,
+    toolContext: input.toolContext,
+    accountId,
+    args: params,
+    message: base,
+    preferEmbeds: true,
+  });
 
   const poll = await executePollAction({
     ctx: {
diff --git a/src/infra/outbound/target-errors.ts b/src/infra/outbound/target-errors.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5064b0967
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/infra/outbound/target-errors.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+export function missingTargetMessage(provider: string, hint?: string): string {
+  const suffix = hint ? ` ${hint}` : "";
+  return `Delivering to ${provider} requires target${suffix}`;
+}
+
+export function missingTargetError(provider: string, hint?: string): Error {
+  return new Error(missingTargetMessage(provider, hint));
+}
diff --git a/src/infra/outbound/target-resolver.test.ts b/src/infra/outbound/target-resolver.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e9bcc6ade
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/infra/outbound/target-resolver.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+
+import type { ChannelDirectoryEntry } from "../../channels/plugins/types.js";
+import type { ClawdbotConfig } from "../../config/config.js";
+import { resetDirectoryCache, resolveMessagingTarget } from "./target-resolver.js";
+
+const mocks = vi.hoisted(() => ({
+  listGroups: vi.fn(),
+  listGroupsLive: vi.fn(),
+  getChannelPlugin: vi.fn(),
+}));
+
+vi.mock("../../channels/plugins/index.js", () => ({
+  getChannelPlugin: (...args: unknown[]) => mocks.getChannelPlugin(...args),
+}));
+
+describe("resolveMessagingTarget (directory fallback)", () => {
+  const cfg = {} as ClawdbotConfig;
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    mocks.listGroups.mockReset();
+    mocks.listGroupsLive.mockReset();
+    mocks.getChannelPlugin.mockReset();
+    resetDirectoryCache();
+    mocks.getChannelPlugin.mockReturnValue({
+      directory: {
+        listGroups: mocks.listGroups,
+        listGroupsLive: mocks.listGroupsLive,
+      },
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("uses live directory fallback and caches the result", async () => {
+    const entry: ChannelDirectoryEntry = { id: "123456789", name: "support" };
+    mocks.listGroups.mockResolvedValue([]);
+    mocks.listGroupsLive.mockResolvedValue([entry]);
+
+    const first = await resolveMessagingTarget({
+      cfg,
+      channel: "discord",
+      input: "support",
+    });
+
+    expect(first.ok).toBe(true);
+    if (first.ok) {
+      expect(first.target.source).toBe("directory");
+      expect(first.target.to).toBe("123456789");
+    }
+    expect(mocks.listGroups).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(mocks.listGroupsLive).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+
+    const second = await resolveMessagingTarget({
+      cfg,
+      channel: "discord",
+      input: "support",
+    });
+
+    expect(second.ok).toBe(true);
+    expect(mocks.listGroups).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(mocks.listGroupsLive).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+  });
+
+  it("skips directory lookup for direct ids", async () => {
+    const result = await resolveMessagingTarget({
+      cfg,
+      channel: "discord",
+      input: "123456789",
+    });
+
+    expect(result.ok).toBe(true);
+    if (result.ok) {
+      expect(result.target.source).toBe("normalized");
+      expect(result.target.to).toBe("123456789");
+    }
+    expect(mocks.listGroups).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(mocks.listGroupsLive).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/infra/outbound/target-resolver.ts b/src/infra/outbound/target-resolver.ts
index e493b6bed..9e861d224 100644
--- a/src/infra/outbound/target-resolver.ts
+++ b/src/infra/outbound/target-resolver.ts
@@ -227,6 +227,7 @@ async function getDirectoryEntries(params: {
     source: "live",
   });
   directoryCache.set(liveKey, liveEntries, params.cfg);
+  directoryCache.set(cacheKey, liveEntries, params.cfg);
   return liveEntries;
 }