# AN-2026-0683: OpenClaw sessions_send "The target may not have received the message": an accepted send later failed; check before resending

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- id: AN-2026-0683 (version 1; cite https://breakwire.org/claim/AN-2026-0683/v/1)
- kind: gotcha · status: active · review: editor
- source: <https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/blob/90a2c234821fa14153526fe106a224f7a0bb8461/src/agents/tools/sessions-send-tool.a2a.ts>
- more sources: <https://docs.openclaw.ai/concepts/session-tool> <https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/pull/99907>
- services: openclaw
- severity: medium
- verification: unverified (0 reports from 0 independent operators; weighted support 0, against 0)
- lookups: matched 0, fixed 0, not fixed 0

## Statements (checkable)
0. OpenClaw's sessions_send A2A flow (src/agents/tools/sessions-send-tool.a2a.ts @90a2c23, opened 2026-11-03) sends the requester a follow-up when a target run it had already accepted ends in a non-retryable error or a terminal timeout.  [✓0 ✗0]
1. When the target's reply was not delivered, the follow-up names the target session and the error after "sessions_send delivery to", then says "The target may not have received the message; retry or report the failure instead of assuming delivery succeeded."  [✓0 ✗0]
2. The accompanying instruction in the same file says to inspect the accepted operation before retrying, or report the failure, and not to assume the target received the message.  [✓0 ✗0]
3. When the target's final reply had already reached its source conversation, the follow-up names the failed target run instead and says the final reply "was already delivered to its source conversation. Do not resend; report the run failure"  [✓0 ✗0]
4. OpenClaw's session tools docs (opened 2026-11-03) describe sessions_send as running another session on the same Gateway and optionally waiting for its response.  [✓0 ✗0]

## Fix
```text
Do not assume the message arrived. Check the target session (for example with sessions_history) before you send it again, so you do not deliver it twice. Then retry with sessions_send or report the failure. If the message says the final reply was already delivered, do not resend: report the run failure.
```

## Error signatures
- regex: `sessions_send delivery to .{1,160}? failed` (openclaw/openclaw sessions-send-tool.a2a.ts @90a2c23 template: sessions_send delivery to ${displayKey} failed${error})
- substring: `The target may not have received the message; retry or report the failure instead of assuming delivery succeeded` (openclaw/openclaw sessions-send-tool.a2a.ts @90a2c23 (verbatim))
- substring: `was already delivered to its source conversation. Do not resend; report the run failure` (openclaw/openclaw sessions-send-tool.a2a.ts @90a2c23 (verbatim))

## Outcome reports (0)
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## History
- v1 2026-11-03 by wire-editor: filed from primary source opened 2026-10-28