diff --git a/src/daemon/runtime-paths.test.ts b/src/daemon/runtime-paths.test.ts
index 432bb55a6..95849ca2f 100644
--- a/src/daemon/runtime-paths.test.ts
+++ b/src/daemon/runtime-paths.test.ts
@@ -21,6 +21,53 @@ afterEach(() => {
 
 describe("resolvePreferredNodePath", () => {
   const darwinNode = "/opt/homebrew/bin/node";
+  const fnmNode = "/Users/test/.fnm/node-versions/v24.11.1/installation/bin/node";
+
+  it("prefers execPath (version manager node) over system node", async () => {
+    fsMocks.access.mockImplementation(async (target: string) => {
+      if (target === darwinNode) {
+        return;
+      }
+      throw new Error("missing");
+    });
+
+    const execFile = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ stdout: "24.11.1\n", stderr: "" });
+
+    const result = await resolvePreferredNodePath({
+      env: {},
+      runtime: "node",
+      platform: "darwin",
+      execFile,
+      execPath: fnmNode,
+    });
+
+    expect(result).toBe(fnmNode);
+    expect(execFile).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+  });
+
+  it("falls back to system node when execPath version is unsupported", async () => {
+    fsMocks.access.mockImplementation(async (target: string) => {
+      if (target === darwinNode) {
+        return;
+      }
+      throw new Error("missing");
+    });
+
+    const execFile = vi.fn()
+      .mockResolvedValueOnce({ stdout: "18.0.0\n", stderr: "" }) // execPath too old
+      .mockResolvedValueOnce({ stdout: "22.12.0\n", stderr: "" }); // system node ok
+
+    const result = await resolvePreferredNodePath({
+      env: {},
+      runtime: "node",
+      platform: "darwin",
+      execFile,
+      execPath: "/some/old/node",
+    });
+
+    expect(result).toBe(darwinNode);
+    expect(execFile).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
+  });
 
   it("uses system node when it meets the minimum version", async () => {
     fsMocks.access.mockImplementation(async (target: string) => {
@@ -38,6 +85,7 @@ describe("resolvePreferredNodePath", () => {
       runtime: "node",
       platform: "darwin",
       execFile,
+      execPath: darwinNode,
     });
 
     expect(result).toBe(darwinNode);
@@ -60,6 +108,7 @@ describe("resolvePreferredNodePath", () => {
       runtime: "node",
       platform: "darwin",
       execFile,
+      execPath: "",
     });
 
     expect(result).toBeUndefined();
@@ -69,17 +118,17 @@ describe("resolvePreferredNodePath", () => {
   it("returns undefined when no system node is found", async () => {
     fsMocks.access.mockRejectedValue(new Error("missing"));
 
-    const execFile = vi.fn();
+    const execFile = vi.fn().mockRejectedValue(new Error("not found"));
 
     const result = await resolvePreferredNodePath({
       env: {},
       runtime: "node",
       platform: "darwin",
       execFile,
+      execPath: "",
     });
 
     expect(result).toBeUndefined();
-    expect(execFile).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
 });
 
diff --git a/src/daemon/runtime-paths.ts b/src/daemon/runtime-paths.ts
index c2c74b82f..eb00841cc 100644
--- a/src/daemon/runtime-paths.ts
+++ b/src/daemon/runtime-paths.ts
@@ -152,10 +152,24 @@ export async function resolvePreferredNodePath(params: {
   runtime?: string;
   platform?: NodeJS.Platform;
   execFile?: ExecFileAsync;
+  execPath?: string;
 }): Promise<string | undefined> {
   if (params.runtime !== "node") {
     return undefined;
   }
+
+  // Prefer the node that is currently running `openclaw gateway install`.
+  // This respects the user's active version manager (fnm/nvm/volta/etc.).
+  const currentExecPath = params.execPath ?? process.execPath;
+  if (currentExecPath) {
+    const execFileImpl = params.execFile ?? execFileAsync;
+    const version = await resolveNodeVersion(currentExecPath, execFileImpl);
+    if (isSupportedNodeVersion(version)) {
+      return currentExecPath;
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Fall back to system node.
   const systemNode = await resolveSystemNodeInfo(params);
   if (!systemNode?.supported) {
     return undefined;
diff --git a/src/daemon/service-env.test.ts b/src/daemon/service-env.test.ts
index 6a3b6a939..591096096 100644
--- a/src/daemon/service-env.test.ts
+++ b/src/daemon/service-env.test.ts
@@ -96,21 +96,66 @@ describe("getMinimalServicePathParts - Linux user directories", () => {
     expect(result).toContain("/opt/fnm/current/bin");
   });
 
-  it("does not include Linux user directories on macOS", () => {
+  it("includes version manager directories on macOS when HOME is set", () => {
     const result = getMinimalServicePathParts({
       platform: "darwin",
       home: "/Users/testuser",
     });
 
-    // Should not include Linux-specific user dirs even with HOME set
-    expect(result.some((p) => p.includes(".npm-global"))).toBe(false);
-    expect(result.some((p) => p.includes(".nvm"))).toBe(false);
+    // Should include common user bin directories
+    expect(result).toContain("/Users/testuser/.local/bin");
+    expect(result).toContain("/Users/testuser/.npm-global/bin");
+    expect(result).toContain("/Users/testuser/bin");
 
-    // Should only include macOS system directories
+    // Should include version manager paths (macOS specific)
+    // Note: nvm has no stable default path, relies on user's shell config
+    expect(result).toContain("/Users/testuser/Library/Application Support/fnm/aliases/default/bin"); // fnm default on macOS
+    expect(result).toContain("/Users/testuser/.fnm/aliases/default/bin"); // fnm if customized to ~/.fnm
+    expect(result).toContain("/Users/testuser/.volta/bin");
+    expect(result).toContain("/Users/testuser/.asdf/shims");
+    expect(result).toContain("/Users/testuser/Library/pnpm"); // pnpm default on macOS
+    expect(result).toContain("/Users/testuser/.local/share/pnpm"); // pnpm XDG fallback
+    expect(result).toContain("/Users/testuser/.bun/bin");
+
+    // Should also include macOS system directories
     expect(result).toContain("/opt/homebrew/bin");
     expect(result).toContain("/usr/local/bin");
   });
 
+  it("includes env-configured version manager dirs on macOS", () => {
+    const result = getMinimalServicePathPartsFromEnv({
+      platform: "darwin",
+      env: {
+        HOME: "/Users/testuser",
+        FNM_DIR: "/Users/testuser/Library/Application Support/fnm",
+        NVM_DIR: "/Users/testuser/.nvm",
+        PNPM_HOME: "/Users/testuser/Library/pnpm",
+      },
+    });
+
+    // fnm uses aliases/default/bin (not current)
+    expect(result).toContain("/Users/testuser/Library/Application Support/fnm/aliases/default/bin");
+    // nvm: relies on NVM_DIR env var (no stable default path)
+    expect(result).toContain("/Users/testuser/.nvm");
+    // pnpm: binary is directly in PNPM_HOME
+    expect(result).toContain("/Users/testuser/Library/pnpm");
+  });
+
+  it("places version manager dirs before system dirs on macOS", () => {
+    const result = getMinimalServicePathParts({
+      platform: "darwin",
+      home: "/Users/testuser",
+    });
+
+    // fnm on macOS defaults to ~/Library/Application Support/fnm
+    const fnmIndex = result.indexOf("/Users/testuser/Library/Application Support/fnm/aliases/default/bin");
+    const homebrewIndex = result.indexOf("/opt/homebrew/bin");
+
+    expect(fnmIndex).toBeGreaterThan(-1);
+    expect(homebrewIndex).toBeGreaterThan(-1);
+    expect(fnmIndex).toBeLessThan(homebrewIndex);
+  });
+
   it("does not include Linux user directories on Windows", () => {
     const result = getMinimalServicePathParts({
       platform: "win32",
diff --git a/src/daemon/service-env.ts b/src/daemon/service-env.ts
index d340b599c..e16e1d702 100644
--- a/src/daemon/service-env.ts
+++ b/src/daemon/service-env.ts
@@ -34,6 +34,71 @@ function resolveSystemPathDirs(platform: NodeJS.Platform): string[] {
   return [];
 }
 
+/**
+ * Resolve common user bin directories for macOS.
+ * These are paths where npm global installs and node version managers typically place binaries.
+ *
+ * Key differences from Linux:
+ * - fnm: macOS uses ~/Library/Application Support/fnm (not ~/.local/share/fnm)
+ * - pnpm: macOS uses ~/Library/pnpm (not ~/.local/share/pnpm)
+ */
+export function resolveDarwinUserBinDirs(
+  home: string | undefined,
+  env?: Record<string, string | undefined>,
+): string[] {
+  if (!home) {
+    return [];
+  }
+
+  const dirs: string[] = [];
+
+  const add = (dir: string | undefined) => {
+    if (dir) {
+      dirs.push(dir);
+    }
+  };
+  const appendSubdir = (base: string | undefined, subdir: string) => {
+    if (!base) {
+      return undefined;
+    }
+    return base.endsWith(`/${subdir}`) ? base : path.posix.join(base, subdir);
+  };
+
+  // Env-configured bin roots (override defaults when present).
+  // Note: FNM_DIR on macOS defaults to ~/Library/Application Support/fnm
+  // Note: PNPM_HOME on macOS defaults to ~/Library/pnpm
+  add(env?.PNPM_HOME);
+  add(appendSubdir(env?.NPM_CONFIG_PREFIX, "bin"));
+  add(appendSubdir(env?.BUN_INSTALL, "bin"));
+  add(appendSubdir(env?.VOLTA_HOME, "bin"));
+  add(appendSubdir(env?.ASDF_DATA_DIR, "shims"));
+  // nvm: no stable default path, relies on env or user's shell config
+  // User must set NVM_DIR and source nvm.sh for it to work
+  add(env?.NVM_DIR);
+  // fnm: use aliases/default (not current)
+  add(appendSubdir(env?.FNM_DIR, "aliases/default/bin"));
+  // pnpm: binary is directly in PNPM_HOME (not in bin subdirectory)
+
+  // Common user bin directories
+  dirs.push(`${home}/.local/bin`); // XDG standard, pip, etc.
+  dirs.push(`${home}/.npm-global/bin`); // npm custom prefix
+  dirs.push(`${home}/bin`); // User's personal bin
+
+  // Node version managers - macOS specific paths
+  // nvm: no stable default path, depends on user's shell configuration
+  // fnm: macOS default is ~/Library/Application Support/fnm, not ~/.fnm
+  dirs.push(`${home}/Library/Application Support/fnm/aliases/default/bin`); // fnm default
+  dirs.push(`${home}/.fnm/aliases/default/bin`); // fnm if customized to ~/.fnm
+  dirs.push(`${home}/.volta/bin`); // Volta (same on all platforms)
+  dirs.push(`${home}/.asdf/shims`); // asdf (same on all platforms)
+  // pnpm: macOS default is ~/Library/pnpm, not ~/.local/share/pnpm
+  dirs.push(`${home}/Library/pnpm`); // pnpm default
+  dirs.push(`${home}/.local/share/pnpm`); // pnpm XDG fallback
+  dirs.push(`${home}/.bun/bin`); // Bun (same on all platforms)
+
+  return dirs;
+}
+
 /**
  * Resolve common user bin directories for Linux.
  * These are paths where npm global installs and node version managers typically place binaries.
@@ -95,9 +160,13 @@ export function getMinimalServicePathParts(options: MinimalServicePathOptions =
   const extraDirs = options.extraDirs ?? [];
   const systemDirs = resolveSystemPathDirs(platform);
 
-  // Add Linux user bin directories (npm global, nvm, fnm, volta, etc.)
-  const linuxUserDirs =
-    platform === "linux" ? resolveLinuxUserBinDirs(options.home, options.env) : [];
+  // Add user bin directories for version managers (npm global, nvm, fnm, volta, etc.)
+  const userDirs =
+    platform === "linux"
+      ? resolveLinuxUserBinDirs(options.home, options.env)
+      : platform === "darwin"
+        ? resolveDarwinUserBinDirs(options.home, options.env)
+        : [];
 
   const add = (dir: string) => {
     if (!dir) {
@@ -112,7 +181,7 @@ export function getMinimalServicePathParts(options: MinimalServicePathOptions =
     add(dir);
   }
   // User dirs first so user-installed binaries take precedence
-  for (const dir of linuxUserDirs) {
+  for (const dir of userDirs) {
     add(dir);
   }
   for (const dir of systemDirs) {