diff --git a/src/infra/outbound/delivery-queue.ts b/src/infra/outbound/delivery-queue.ts
index 897963f264b..e009f4c96d8 100644
--- a/src/infra/outbound/delivery-queue.ts
+++ b/src/infra/outbound/delivery-queue.ts
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ export async function recoverPendingDeliveries(opts: {
   log: RecoveryLogger;
   cfg: OpenClawConfig;
   stateDir?: string;
-  /** Maximum wall-clock time for recovery in ms. Remaining entries are deferred to next restart. Default: 60 000. */
+  /** Maximum wall-clock time for recovery in ms. Remaining entries are deferred to next startup. Default: 60 000. */
   maxRecoveryMs?: number;
 }): Promise<RecoverySummary> {
   const pending = await loadPendingDeliveries(opts.stateDir);
diff --git a/src/infra/outbound/outbound.test.ts b/src/infra/outbound/outbound.test.ts
index 4bb00b4db04..9ea7fd239e2 100644
--- a/src/infra/outbound/outbound.test.ts
+++ b/src/infra/outbound/outbound.test.ts
@@ -445,7 +445,7 @@ describe("delivery-queue", () => {
       expect(remaining).toHaveLength(3);
 
       // Should have logged a warning about deferred entries.
-      expect(log.warn).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.stringContaining("deferred to next restart"));
+      expect(log.warn).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.stringContaining("deferred to next startup"));
     });
 
     it("defers entries until backoff becomes eligible", async () => {