Summary

The documentation states "If the file is missing, the heartbeat still runs and the model decides what to do." However, the actual behaviour is: A missing HEARTBEAT.md disables the heartbeat completely because openclaw silently creates an empty one.

Steps to reproduce

1. Delete HEARTBEAT.md
2. (optional) Configure heartbeat prompt to tell your agent what to do that doesn#t involve HEARTBEAT.md

Expected behavior

Heartbeat executed

Actual behavior

Heartbeat silently disabled

Environment

• Clawdbot version: 2026.2.2-3
• OS: Linux
• Install method (pnpm/npx/docker/etc): npm

Logs or screenshots

n/a, no logs