diff --git a/.openclaw-sync/source.json b/.openclaw-sync/source.json
index 670a9e9bc..6adb6c835 100644
--- a/.openclaw-sync/source.json
+++ b/.openclaw-sync/source.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
   "repository": "openclaw/openclaw",
-  "sha": "f8a677bcfd03284e3aaf7c790213233fe2f61e0e",
-  "syncedAt": "2026-04-26T02:47:36.870Z"
+  "sha": "1231f21679c88fba3fdb690c985a12930dad4261",
+  "syncedAt": "2026-04-26T02:51:37.798Z"
 }
diff --git a/docs/automation/tasks.md b/docs/automation/tasks.md
index 73c567ace..686cfc057 100644
--- a/docs/automation/tasks.md
+++ b/docs/automation/tasks.md
@@ -194,14 +194,14 @@ openclaw tasks audit [--json]
 
 Surfaces operational issues. Findings also appear in `openclaw status` when issues are detected.
 
-| Finding                   | Severity | Trigger                                               |
-| ------------------------- | -------- | ----------------------------------------------------- |
-| `stale_queued`            | warn     | Queued for more than 10 minutes                       |
-| `stale_running`           | error    | Running for more than 30 minutes                      |
-| `lost`                    | error    | Runtime-backed task ownership disappeared             |
-| `delivery_failed`         | warn     | Delivery failed and notify policy is not `silent`     |
-| `missing_cleanup`         | warn     | Terminal task with no cleanup timestamp               |
-| `inconsistent_timestamps` | warn     | Timeline violation (for example ended before started) |
+| Finding                   | Severity   | Trigger                                                                                                      |
+| ------------------------- | ---------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
+| `stale_queued`            | warn       | Queued for more than 10 minutes                                                                              |
+| `stale_running`           | error      | Running for more than 30 minutes                                                                             |
+| `lost`                    | warn/error | Runtime-backed task ownership disappeared; retained lost tasks warn until `cleanupAfter`, then become errors |
+| `delivery_failed`         | warn       | Delivery failed and notify policy is not `silent`                                                            |
+| `missing_cleanup`         | warn       | Terminal task with no cleanup timestamp                                                                      |
+| `inconsistent_timestamps` | warn       | Timeline violation (for example ended before started)                                                        |
 
 ### `tasks maintenance`
 
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ The registry loads into memory at gateway start and syncs writes to SQLite for d
 A sweeper runs every **60 seconds** and handles three things:
 
 1. **Reconciliation** — checks whether active tasks still have authoritative runtime backing. ACP/subagent tasks use child-session state, cron tasks use active-job ownership, and chat-backed CLI tasks use the owning run context. If that backing state is gone for more than 5 minutes, the task is marked `lost`.
-2. **Cleanup stamping** — sets a `cleanupAfter` timestamp on terminal tasks (endedAt + 7 days).
+2. **Cleanup stamping** — sets a `cleanupAfter` timestamp on terminal tasks (endedAt + 7 days). During retention, lost tasks still appear in audit as warnings; after `cleanupAfter` expires or when cleanup metadata is missing, they are errors.
 3. **Pruning** — deletes records past their `cleanupAfter` date.
 
 **Retention**: terminal task records are kept for **7 days**, then automatically pruned. No configuration needed.
diff --git a/docs/cli/tasks.md b/docs/cli/tasks.md
index fdc76d1bc..58ea07f97 100644
--- a/docs/cli/tasks.md
+++ b/docs/cli/tasks.md
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ Cancels a running background task.
 openclaw tasks audit [--severity <warn|error>] [--code <name>] [--limit <n>] [--json]
 ```
 
-Surfaces stale, lost, delivery-failed, or otherwise inconsistent task and Task Flow records.
+Surfaces stale, lost, delivery-failed, or otherwise inconsistent task and Task Flow records. Lost tasks retained until `cleanupAfter` are warnings; expired or unstamped lost tasks are errors.
 
 ### `maintenance`