diff --git a/src/plugins/loader.test.ts b/src/plugins/loader.test.ts
index 0336f2fb14d..75d08a32676 100644
--- a/src/plugins/loader.test.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/loader.test.ts
@@ -1189,6 +1189,73 @@ module.exports = { id: "skipped-scoped-only", register() { throw new Error("skip
     clearPluginCommands();
   });
 
+  it("does not replace the active memory prompt section during non-activating loads", () => {
+    useNoBundledPlugins();
+    registerMemoryPromptSection(() => ["active memory section"]);
+    const plugin = writePlugin({
+      id: "snapshot-memory",
+      filename: "snapshot-memory.cjs",
+      body: `module.exports = {
+        id: "snapshot-memory",
+        kind: "memory",
+        register(api) {
+          api.registerMemoryPromptSection(() => ["snapshot memory section"]);
+        },
+      };`,
+    });
+
+    const scoped = loadOpenClawPlugins({
+      cache: false,
+      activate: false,
+      workspaceDir: plugin.dir,
+      config: {
+        plugins: {
+          load: { paths: [plugin.file] },
+          allow: ["snapshot-memory"],
+          slots: { memory: "snapshot-memory" },
+        },
+      },
+      onlyPluginIds: ["snapshot-memory"],
+    });
+
+    expect(scoped.plugins.find((entry) => entry.id === "snapshot-memory")?.status).toBe("loaded");
+    expect(buildMemoryPromptSection({ availableTools: new Set() })).toEqual([
+      "active memory section",
+    ]);
+  });
+
+  it("clears a newly-registered memory prompt section when plugin register fails", () => {
+    useNoBundledPlugins();
+    const plugin = writePlugin({
+      id: "failing-memory",
+      filename: "failing-memory.cjs",
+      body: `module.exports = {
+        id: "failing-memory",
+        kind: "memory",
+        register(api) {
+          api.registerMemoryPromptSection(() => ["stale failure section"]);
+          throw new Error("memory register failed");
+        },
+      };`,
+    });
+
+    const registry = loadOpenClawPlugins({
+      cache: false,
+      workspaceDir: plugin.dir,
+      config: {
+        plugins: {
+          load: { paths: [plugin.file] },
+          allow: ["failing-memory"],
+          slots: { memory: "failing-memory" },
+        },
+      },
+      onlyPluginIds: ["failing-memory"],
+    });
+
+    expect(registry.plugins.find((entry) => entry.id === "failing-memory")?.status).toBe("error");
+    expect(buildMemoryPromptSection({ availableTools: new Set() })).toEqual([]);
+  });
+
   it("throws when activate:false is used without cache:false", () => {
     expect(() => loadOpenClawPlugins({ activate: false })).toThrow(
       "activate:false requires cache:false",
diff --git a/src/plugins/loader.ts b/src/plugins/loader.ts
index e0d5374a6d8..e0a0d746e1c 100644
--- a/src/plugins/loader.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/loader.ts
@@ -1252,6 +1252,7 @@ export function loadOpenClawPlugins(options: PluginLoadOptions = {}): PluginRegi
       hookPolicy: entry?.hooks,
       registrationMode,
     });
+    const previousMemoryPromptBuilder = getMemoryPromptSectionBuilder();
 
     try {
       const result = register(api);
@@ -1263,9 +1264,14 @@ export function loadOpenClawPlugins(options: PluginLoadOptions = {}): PluginRegi
           message: "plugin register returned a promise; async registration is ignored",
         });
       }
+      // Snapshot loads should not replace process-global runtime prompt state.
+      if (!shouldActivate) {
+        restoreMemoryPromptSection(previousMemoryPromptBuilder);
+      }
       registry.plugins.push(record);
       seenIds.set(pluginId, candidate.origin);
     } catch (err) {
+      restoreMemoryPromptSection(previousMemoryPromptBuilder);
       recordPluginError({
         logger,
         registry,