diff --git a/src/gateway/server-methods/chat.directive-tags.test.ts b/src/gateway/server-methods/chat.directive-tags.test.ts
index 1f72c5d15b5..2b675951561 100644
--- a/src/gateway/server-methods/chat.directive-tags.test.ts
+++ b/src/gateway/server-methods/chat.directive-tags.test.ts
@@ -148,6 +148,7 @@ async function runNonStreamingChatSend(params: {
   idempotencyKey: string;
   message?: string;
   sessionKey?: string;
+  deliver?: boolean;
   client?: unknown;
   expectBroadcast?: boolean;
 }) {
@@ -156,6 +157,7 @@ async function runNonStreamingChatSend(params: {
       sessionKey: params.sessionKey ?? "main",
       message: params.message ?? "hello",
       idempotencyKey: params.idempotencyKey,
+      deliver: params.deliver,
     },
     respond: params.respond as unknown as Parameters<
       (typeof chatHandlers)["chat.send"]
@@ -369,6 +371,7 @@ describe("chat directive tag stripping for non-streaming final payloads", () =>
       respond,
       idempotencyKey: "idem-origin-routing",
       sessionKey: "agent:main:telegram:direct:6812765697",
+      deliver: true,
       expectBroadcast: false,
     });
 
@@ -403,6 +406,7 @@ describe("chat directive tag stripping for non-streaming final payloads", () =>
       respond,
       idempotencyKey: "idem-feishu-origin-routing",
       sessionKey: "agent:main:feishu:direct:ou_feishu_direct_123",
+      deliver: true,
       expectBroadcast: false,
     });
 
@@ -436,6 +440,7 @@ describe("chat directive tag stripping for non-streaming final payloads", () =>
       respond,
       idempotencyKey: "idem-per-account-channel-peer-routing",
       sessionKey: "agent:main:telegram:account-a:direct:6812765697",
+      deliver: true,
       expectBroadcast: false,
     });
 
@@ -469,6 +474,7 @@ describe("chat directive tag stripping for non-streaming final payloads", () =>
       respond,
       idempotencyKey: "idem-legacy-channel-peer-routing",
       sessionKey: "agent:main:telegram:6812765697",
+      deliver: true,
       expectBroadcast: false,
     });
 
@@ -504,6 +510,7 @@ describe("chat directive tag stripping for non-streaming final payloads", () =>
       respond,
       idempotencyKey: "idem-legacy-thread-channel-peer-routing",
       sessionKey: "agent:main:telegram:6812765697:thread:42",
+      deliver: true,
       expectBroadcast: false,
     });
 
@@ -625,4 +632,38 @@ describe("chat directive tag stripping for non-streaming final payloads", () =>
       }),
     );
   });
+
+  it("chat.send keeps replies on the internal surface when deliver is not enabled", async () => {
+    createTranscriptFixture("openclaw-chat-send-no-deliver-internal-surface-");
+    mockState.finalText = "ok";
+    mockState.sessionEntry = {
+      deliveryContext: {
+        channel: "discord",
+        to: "user:1234567890",
+        accountId: "default",
+      },
+      lastChannel: "discord",
+      lastTo: "user:1234567890",
+      lastAccountId: "default",
+    };
+    const respond = vi.fn();
+    const context = createChatContext();
+
+    await runNonStreamingChatSend({
+      context,
+      respond,
+      idempotencyKey: "idem-no-deliver-internal-surface",
+      sessionKey: "agent:main:discord:direct:1234567890",
+      deliver: false,
+      expectBroadcast: false,
+    });
+
+    expect(mockState.lastDispatchCtx).toEqual(
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        OriginatingChannel: "webchat",
+        OriginatingTo: undefined,
+        AccountId: undefined,
+      }),
+    );
+  });
 });
diff --git a/src/gateway/server-methods/chat.ts b/src/gateway/server-methods/chat.ts
index e90fcf15611..26e702f2cc8 100644
--- a/src/gateway/server-methods/chat.ts
+++ b/src/gateway/server-methods/chat.ts
@@ -864,6 +864,7 @@ export const chatHandlers: GatewayRequestHandlers = {
       );
       const commandBody = injectThinking ? `/think ${p.thinking} ${parsedMessage}` : parsedMessage;
       const clientInfo = client?.connect?.client;
+      const shouldDeliverExternally = p.deliver === true;
       const routeChannelCandidate = normalizeMessageChannel(
         entry?.deliveryContext?.channel ?? entry?.lastChannel,
       );
@@ -902,6 +903,7 @@ export const chatHandlers: GatewayRequestHandlers = {
           (sessionChannelHint === "main" && client?.connect !== undefined && !isFromWebchatClient)),
       );
       const hasDeliverableRoute =
+        shouldDeliverExternally &&
         canInheritDeliverableRoute &&
         routeChannelCandidate &&
         routeChannelCandidate !== INTERNAL_MESSAGE_CHANNEL &&