diff --git a/src/telegram/bot.create-telegram-bot.accepts-group-messages-mentionpatterns-match-without-botusername.test.ts b/src/telegram/bot.create-telegram-bot.accepts-group-messages-mentionpatterns-match-without-botusername.test.ts
index 7b3a1cb9038..5768753b4f9 100644
--- a/src/telegram/bot.create-telegram-bot.accepts-group-messages-mentionpatterns-match-without-botusername.test.ts
+++ b/src/telegram/bot.create-telegram-bot.accepts-group-messages-mentionpatterns-match-without-botusername.test.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,31 @@ const loadConfig = getLoadConfigMock();
 
 const ORIGINAL_TZ = process.env.TZ;
 describe("createTelegramBot", () => {
+  function resetHarnessSpies() {
+    onSpy.mockReset();
+    replySpy.mockReset();
+    sendMessageSpy.mockReset();
+    setMessageReactionSpy.mockReset();
+    setMyCommandsSpy.mockReset();
+  }
+
+  function getMessageHandler() {
+    createTelegramBot({ token: "tok" });
+    return getOnHandler("message") as (ctx: Record<string, unknown>) => Promise<void>;
+  }
+
+  async function dispatchMessage(params: {
+    message: Record<string, unknown>;
+    me?: Record<string, unknown>;
+  }) {
+    const handler = getMessageHandler();
+    await handler({
+      message: params.message,
+      me: params.me ?? { username: "openclaw_bot" },
+      getFile: async () => ({ download: async () => new Uint8Array() }),
+    });
+  }
+
   beforeEach(() => {
     process.env.TZ = "UTC";
   });
@@ -25,8 +50,7 @@ describe("createTelegramBot", () => {
   // groupPolicy tests
 
   it("accepts group messages when mentionPatterns match (without @botUsername)", async () => {
-    onSpy.mockReset();
-    replySpy.mockReset();
+    resetHarnessSpies();
 
     loadConfig.mockReturnValue({
       agents: {
@@ -44,10 +68,7 @@ describe("createTelegramBot", () => {
       },
     });
 
-    createTelegramBot({ token: "tok" });
-    const handler = getOnHandler("message") as (ctx: Record<string, unknown>) => Promise<void>;
-
-    await handler({
+    await dispatchMessage({
       message: {
         chat: { id: 7, type: "group", title: "Test Group" },
         text: "bert: introduce yourself",
@@ -55,8 +76,6 @@ describe("createTelegramBot", () => {
         message_id: 1,
         from: { id: 9, first_name: "Ada" },
       },
-      me: { username: "openclaw_bot" },
-      getFile: async () => ({ download: async () => new Uint8Array() }),
     });
 
     expect(replySpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
@@ -72,8 +91,7 @@ describe("createTelegramBot", () => {
   });
 
   it("accepts group messages when mentionPatterns match even if another user is mentioned", async () => {
-    onSpy.mockReset();
-    replySpy.mockReset();
+    resetHarnessSpies();
 
     loadConfig.mockReturnValue({
       agents: {
@@ -91,10 +109,7 @@ describe("createTelegramBot", () => {
       },
     });
 
-    createTelegramBot({ token: "tok" });
-    const handler = getOnHandler("message") as (ctx: Record<string, unknown>) => Promise<void>;
-
-    await handler({
+    await dispatchMessage({
       message: {
         chat: { id: 7, type: "group", title: "Test Group" },
         text: "bert: hello @alice",
@@ -103,8 +118,6 @@ describe("createTelegramBot", () => {
         message_id: 3,
         from: { id: 9, first_name: "Ada" },
       },
-      me: { username: "openclaw_bot" },
-      getFile: async () => ({ download: async () => new Uint8Array() }),
     });
 
     expect(replySpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
@@ -112,8 +125,7 @@ describe("createTelegramBot", () => {
   });
 
   it("keeps group envelope headers stable (sender identity is separate)", async () => {
-    onSpy.mockReset();
-    replySpy.mockReset();
+    resetHarnessSpies();
 
     loadConfig.mockReturnValue({
       agents: {
@@ -129,10 +141,7 @@ describe("createTelegramBot", () => {
       },
     });
 
-    createTelegramBot({ token: "tok" });
-    const handler = getOnHandler("message") as (ctx: Record<string, unknown>) => Promise<void>;
-
-    await handler({
+    await dispatchMessage({
       message: {
         chat: { id: 42, type: "group", title: "Ops" },
         text: "hello",
@@ -145,8 +154,6 @@ describe("createTelegramBot", () => {
           username: "ada",
         },
       },
-      me: { username: "openclaw_bot" },
-      getFile: async () => ({ download: async () => new Uint8Array() }),
     });
 
     expect(replySpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
@@ -161,9 +168,7 @@ describe("createTelegramBot", () => {
     );
   });
   it("reacts to mention-gated group messages when ackReaction is enabled", async () => {
-    onSpy.mockReset();
-    setMessageReactionSpy.mockReset();
-    replySpy.mockReset();
+    resetHarnessSpies();
 
     loadConfig.mockReturnValue({
       messages: {
@@ -179,10 +184,7 @@ describe("createTelegramBot", () => {
       },
     });
 
-    createTelegramBot({ token: "tok" });
-    const handler = getOnHandler("message") as (ctx: Record<string, unknown>) => Promise<void>;
-
-    await handler({
+    await dispatchMessage({
       message: {
         chat: { id: 7, type: "group", title: "Test Group" },
         text: "bert hello",
@@ -190,13 +192,12 @@ describe("createTelegramBot", () => {
         message_id: 123,
         from: { id: 9, first_name: "Ada" },
       },
-      me: { username: "openclaw_bot" },
-      getFile: async () => ({ download: async () => new Uint8Array() }),
     });
 
     expect(setMessageReactionSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(7, 123, [{ type: "emoji", emoji: "👀" }]);
   });
   it("clears native commands when disabled", () => {
+    resetHarnessSpies();
     loadConfig.mockReturnValue({
       commands: { native: false },
     });
@@ -206,8 +207,7 @@ describe("createTelegramBot", () => {
     expect(setMyCommandsSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith([]);
   });
   it("skips group messages when requireMention is enabled and no mention matches", async () => {
-    onSpy.mockReset();
-    replySpy.mockReset();
+    resetHarnessSpies();
 
     loadConfig.mockReturnValue({
       messages: { groupChat: { mentionPatterns: ["\\bbert\\b"] } },
@@ -219,10 +219,7 @@ describe("createTelegramBot", () => {
       },
     });
 
-    createTelegramBot({ token: "tok" });
-    const handler = getOnHandler("message") as (ctx: Record<string, unknown>) => Promise<void>;
-
-    await handler({
+    await dispatchMessage({
       message: {
         chat: { id: 7, type: "group", title: "Test Group" },
         text: "hello everyone",
@@ -230,15 +227,12 @@ describe("createTelegramBot", () => {
         message_id: 2,
         from: { id: 9, first_name: "Ada" },
       },
-      me: { username: "openclaw_bot" },
-      getFile: async () => ({ download: async () => new Uint8Array() }),
     });
 
     expect(replySpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
   it("allows group messages when requireMention is enabled but mentions cannot be detected", async () => {
-    onSpy.mockReset();
-    replySpy.mockReset();
+    resetHarnessSpies();
 
     loadConfig.mockReturnValue({
       messages: { groupChat: { mentionPatterns: [] } },
@@ -250,10 +244,7 @@ describe("createTelegramBot", () => {
       },
     });
 
-    createTelegramBot({ token: "tok" });
-    const handler = getOnHandler("message") as (ctx: Record<string, unknown>) => Promise<void>;
-
-    await handler({
+    await dispatchMessage({
       message: {
         chat: { id: 7, type: "group", title: "Test Group" },
         text: "hello everyone",
@@ -262,7 +253,6 @@ describe("createTelegramBot", () => {
         from: { id: 9, first_name: "Ada" },
       },
       me: {},
-      getFile: async () => ({ download: async () => new Uint8Array() }),
     });
 
     expect(replySpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
@@ -270,14 +260,9 @@ describe("createTelegramBot", () => {
     expect(payload.WasMentioned).toBe(false);
   });
   it("includes reply-to context when a Telegram reply is received", async () => {
-    onSpy.mockReset();
-    sendMessageSpy.mockReset();
-    replySpy.mockReset();
+    resetHarnessSpies();
 
-    createTelegramBot({ token: "tok" });
-    const handler = getOnHandler("message") as (ctx: Record<string, unknown>) => Promise<void>;
-
-    await handler({
+    await dispatchMessage({
       message: {
         chat: { id: 7, type: "private" },
         text: "Sure, see below",
@@ -288,8 +273,6 @@ describe("createTelegramBot", () => {
           from: { first_name: "Ada" },
         },
       },
-      me: { username: "openclaw_bot" },
-      getFile: async () => ({ download: async () => new Uint8Array() }),
     });
 
     expect(replySpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);