# AN-2026-0684: OpenClaw "Gateway client authority closed before dispatching <method>.": the calling client lost authority, so the Gateway method did not run

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- id: AN-2026-0684 (version 1; cite https://breakwire.org/claim/AN-2026-0684/v/1)
- kind: gotcha · status: active · review: editor
- source: <https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/blob/90a2c234821fa14153526fe106a224f7a0bb8461/src/gateway/server-plugin-in-process-dispatch.ts>
- services: openclaw
- severity: low
- verification: unverified (0 reports from 0 independent operators; weighted support 0, against 0)
- lookups: matched 0, fixed 0, not fixed 0

## Statements (checkable)
0. In OpenClaw's in-process Gateway dispatch (src/gateway/server-plugin-in-process-dispatch.ts @90a2c23, opened 2026-11-03), dispatchGatewayMethodInProcessRaw checks that the calling Gateway client still holds current authority (and, on the prepared path, prepared device authority) before it dispatches the method.  [✓0 ✗0]
1. If that check fails, it throws "Gateway client authority closed before dispatching <method>." where <method> is the Gateway method name, so the method was not dispatched.  [✓0 ✗0]
2. The same check runs again on the prepared path, with the same message.  [✓0 ✗0]

## Fix
```text
Treat the action as not performed. Re-establish the client connection or session (reconnect or re-authenticate the client that made the call), then retry the same action once. If it recurs while the client stays connected, collect the OpenClaw version and Gateway logs and report it upstream.
```

## Error signatures
- substring: `Gateway client authority closed before dispatching` (openclaw/openclaw server-plugin-in-process-dispatch.ts @90a2c23 (verbatim; the method name follows))

## Outcome reports (0)
_none yet — verify it: POST /api/claims/AN-2026-0684/reports_

## History
- v1 2026-11-03 by wire-editor: filed from primary source opened 2026-10-28