diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 511887b8f..56c257710 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ Docs: https://docs.openclaw.ai
 ### Fixes
 
 - Sessions/idle reset correctness: preserve existing `updatedAt` during inbound metadata-only writes so idle-reset boundaries are not unintentionally refreshed before actual user turns. (#32379) Thanks @romeodiaz.
+- Slack/socket auth failure handling: fail fast on non-recoverable auth errors (`account_inactive`, `invalid_auth`, etc.) during startup and reconnect instead of retry-looping indefinitely, including `unable_to_socket_mode_start` error payload propagation. (#32377) Thanks @scoootscooob.
 - Gateway/message tool reliability: avoid false `Unknown channel` failures when `message.*` actions receive platform-specific channel ids by falling back to `toolContext.currentChannelProvider`, and prevent health-monitor restart thrash for channels that just (re)started by adding a per-channel startup-connect grace window. (from #32367) Thanks @MunemHashmi.
 - Discord/lifecycle startup status: push an immediate `connected` status snapshot when the gateway is already connected before lifecycle debug listeners attach, with abort-guarding to avoid contradictory status flips during pre-aborted startup. (#32336) Thanks @mitchmcalister.
 - Cron/isolated delivery target fallback: remove early unresolved-target return so cron delivery can flow through shared outbound target resolution (including per-channel `resolveDefaultTo` fallback) when `delivery.to` is omitted. (#32364) Thanks @hclsys.
diff --git a/src/slack/monitor/provider.reconnect.test.ts b/src/slack/monitor/provider.reconnect.test.ts
index f2e36ad1f..b3638a209 100644
--- a/src/slack/monitor/provider.reconnect.test.ts
+++ b/src/slack/monitor/provider.reconnect.test.ts
@@ -42,4 +42,18 @@ describe("slack socket reconnect helpers", () => {
 
     await expect(waiter).resolves.toEqual({ event: "error", error: err });
   });
+
+  it("preserves error payload from unable_to_socket_mode_start event", async () => {
+    const client = new FakeEmitter();
+    const app = { receiver: { client } };
+    const err = new Error("invalid_auth");
+
+    const waiter = __testing.waitForSlackSocketDisconnect(app as never);
+    client.emit("unable_to_socket_mode_start", err);
+
+    await expect(waiter).resolves.toEqual({
+      event: "unable_to_socket_mode_start",
+      error: err,
+    });
+  });
 });
diff --git a/src/slack/monitor/provider.ts b/src/slack/monitor/provider.ts
index 1a0a9f49f..60e772c9d 100644
--- a/src/slack/monitor/provider.ts
+++ b/src/slack/monitor/provider.ts
@@ -105,7 +105,8 @@ function waitForSlackSocketDisconnect(
     }
 
     const disconnectListener = () => resolveOnce({ event: "disconnect" });
-    const startFailListener = () => resolveOnce({ event: "unable_to_socket_mode_start" });
+    const startFailListener = (error?: unknown) =>
+      resolveOnce({ event: "unable_to_socket_mode_start", error });
     const errorListener = (error: unknown) => resolveOnce({ event: "error", error });
     const abortListener = () => resolveOnce({ event: "disconnect" });