diff --git a/apps/macos/Sources/Clawdbot/GatewayProcessManager.swift b/apps/macos/Sources/Clawdbot/GatewayProcessManager.swift
index 234418128..8369dbb93 100644
--- a/apps/macos/Sources/Clawdbot/GatewayProcessManager.swift
+++ b/apps/macos/Sources/Clawdbot/GatewayProcessManager.swift
@@ -87,6 +87,14 @@ final class GatewayProcessManager {
             self.status = .stopped
             return
         }
+        // Many surfaces can call `setActive(true)` in quick succession (startup, Canvas, health checks).
+        // Avoid spawning multiple concurrent "start" tasks that can thrash launchd and flap the port.
+        switch self.status {
+        case .starting, .running, .attachedExisting:
+            return
+        case .stopped, .failed:
+            break
+        }
         self.status = .starting
         self.logger.debug("gateway start requested")
 
diff --git a/apps/macos/Sources/Clawdbot/PortGuardian.swift b/apps/macos/Sources/Clawdbot/PortGuardian.swift
index b0f03fa28..fb9adf52b 100644
--- a/apps/macos/Sources/Clawdbot/PortGuardian.swift
+++ b/apps/macos/Sources/Clawdbot/PortGuardian.swift
@@ -351,10 +351,11 @@ actor PortGuardian {
             if port == GatewayEnvironment.gatewayPort() { return cmd.contains("ssh") }
             return false
         case .local:
-            if !cmd.contains("clawdbot") { return false }
+            // The gateway daemon may listen as `clawdbot` or as its runtime (`node`, `bun`, etc).
             if full.contains("gateway-daemon") { return true }
             // If args are unavailable, treat a clawdbot listener as expected.
-            return full == cmd
+            if cmd.contains("clawdbot"), full == cmd { return true }
+            return false
         case .unconfigured:
             return false
         }
diff --git a/scripts/restart-mac.sh b/scripts/restart-mac.sh
index d75aac24d..8187a9148 100755
--- a/scripts/restart-mac.sh
+++ b/scripts/restart-mac.sh
@@ -206,6 +206,31 @@ if [[ "$NO_SIGN" -ne 1 && -f "${LAUNCHAGENT_DISABLE_MARKER}" ]]; then
   run_step "clear launchagent disable marker" /bin/rm -f "${LAUNCHAGENT_DISABLE_MARKER}"
 fi
 
+# When unsigned, ensure the gateway LaunchAgent targets the repo CLI (before the app launches).
+# This reduces noisy "could not connect" errors during app startup.
+if [ "$NO_SIGN" -eq 1 ]; then
+  run_step "install gateway launch agent (unsigned)" bash -lc "cd '${ROOT_DIR}' && node dist/entry.js daemon install --force --runtime node"
+  run_step "restart gateway daemon (unsigned)" bash -lc "cd '${ROOT_DIR}' && node dist/entry.js daemon restart"
+  if [[ "${GATEWAY_WAIT_SECONDS}" -gt 0 ]]; then
+    run_step "wait for gateway (unsigned)" sleep "${GATEWAY_WAIT_SECONDS}"
+  fi
+  GATEWAY_PORT="$(
+    node -e '
+      const fs = require("node:fs");
+      const path = require("node:path");
+      try {
+        const raw = fs.readFileSync(path.join(process.env.HOME, ".clawdbot", "clawdbot.json"), "utf8");
+        const cfg = JSON.parse(raw);
+        const port = cfg && cfg.gateway && typeof cfg.gateway.port === "number" ? cfg.gateway.port : 18789;
+        process.stdout.write(String(port));
+      } catch {
+        process.stdout.write("18789");
+      }
+    '
+  )"
+  run_step "verify gateway port ${GATEWAY_PORT} (unsigned)" bash -lc "lsof -iTCP:${GATEWAY_PORT} -sTCP:LISTEN | head -n 5 || true"
+fi
+
 # 4) Launch the installed app in the foreground so the menu bar extra appears.
 # LaunchServices can inherit a huge environment from this shell (secrets, prompt vars, etc.).
 # That can cause launchd spawn failures and is undesirable for a GUI app anyway.
@@ -226,13 +251,6 @@ else
   fail "App exited immediately. Check ${LOG_PATH} or Console.app (User Reports)."
 fi
 
-# When unsigned, ensure the gateway LaunchAgent targets the repo CLI (after the app launches).
 if [ "$NO_SIGN" -eq 1 ]; then
-  run_step "install gateway launch agent (unsigned)" bash -lc "cd '${ROOT_DIR}' && node dist/entry.js daemon install --force --runtime node"
-  run_step "restart gateway daemon (unsigned)" bash -lc "cd '${ROOT_DIR}' && node dist/entry.js daemon restart"
-  if [[ "${GATEWAY_WAIT_SECONDS}" -gt 0 ]]; then
-    run_step "wait for gateway (unsigned)" sleep "${GATEWAY_WAIT_SECONDS}"
-  fi
-  run_step "verify gateway port 18789 (unsigned)" bash -lc "lsof -iTCP:18789 -sTCP:LISTEN | head -n 5 || true"
   run_step "show gateway launch agent args (unsigned)" bash -lc "/usr/bin/plutil -p '${HOME}/Library/LaunchAgents/com.clawdbot.gateway.plist' | head -n 40 || true"
 fi
diff --git a/src/commands/status-all.ts b/src/commands/status-all.ts
index f32fbabed..924dbf06e 100644
--- a/src/commands/status-all.ts
+++ b/src/commands/status-all.ts
@@ -119,10 +119,11 @@ export async function statusAllCommand(
 
     const localFallbackAuth = resolveProbeAuth("local");
     const remoteAuth = resolveProbeAuth("remote");
+    const probeAuth = isRemoteMode && !remoteUrlMissing ? remoteAuth : localFallbackAuth;
 
     const gatewayProbe = await probeGateway({
       url: connection.url,
-      auth: remoteUrlMissing ? localFallbackAuth : remoteAuth,
+      auth: probeAuth,
       timeoutMs: Math.min(5000, opts?.timeoutMs ?? 10_000),
     }).catch(() => null);
     const gatewayReachable = gatewayProbe?.ok === true;
@@ -291,7 +292,7 @@ export async function statusAllCommand(
         ? `unreachable (${gatewayProbe.error})`
         : "unreachable";
     const gatewayAuth = gatewayReachable
-      ? ` · auth ${formatGatewayAuthUsed(remoteUrlMissing ? localFallbackAuth : remoteAuth)}`
+      ? ` · auth ${formatGatewayAuthUsed(probeAuth)}`
       : "";
     const gatewaySelfLine =
       gatewaySelf?.host || gatewaySelf?.ip || gatewaySelf?.version || gatewaySelf?.platform