Linux Setup Issues in OpenClaw
From the OpenClaw cheat sheet · Linux Install Fixes · verified Jul 2026
Linux Setup Issues
Fix PATH, gateway mode, and systemd issues on Linux installs.
bash
# Fix PATH for npm global installs (Ubuntu)
echo 'export PATH="$HOME/.npm-global/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc
# Set required gateway mode for self-hosted installs
openclaw config set gateway.mode "local"
# Enable systemd lingering (keeps gateway alive after logout)
sudo loginctl enable-linger $USER💡 Without gateway.mode "local", the gateway silently exits with code 78
⚡ Without systemd lingering, the gateway dies when you disconnect from SSH
📌 The onboarding wizard (openclaw onboard) may crash on Ubuntu — use CLI config instead
🟢 Always run "source ~/.bashrc" after fixing PATH or open a new terminal
linuxubuntuinstallsystemd