diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index e144051215c..31eaf0a02dc 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ Docs: https://docs.openclaw.ai
 
 - Providers/Copilot: add `claude-sonnet-4.6` and `claude-sonnet-4.5` to the default GitHub Copilot model catalog and add coverage for model-list/definition helpers. (#20270, fixes #20091) Thanks @Clawborn.
 - Dependencies/Agents: bump embedded Pi SDK packages (`@mariozechner/pi-agent-core`, `@mariozechner/pi-ai`, `@mariozechner/pi-coding-agent`, `@mariozechner/pi-tui`) to `0.54.0`. (#21578) Thanks @Takhoffman.
+- Gateway/Config: allow `gateway.customBindHost` in strict config validation when `gateway.bind="custom"` so valid custom bind-host configurations no longer fail startup. (#20318, fixes #20289) Thanks @MisterGuy420.
 - Config/Agents: expose Pi compaction tuning values `agents.defaults.compaction.reserveTokens` and `agents.defaults.compaction.keepRecentTokens` in config schema/types and apply them in embedded Pi runner settings overrides with floor enforcement via `reserveTokensFloor`. (#21568) Thanks @Takhoffman.
 - Auto-reply/WebChat: avoid defaulting inbound runtime channel labels to unrelated providers (for example `whatsapp`) for webchat sessions so channel-specific formatting guidance stays accurate. (#21534) Thanks @lbo728.
 - Status: include persisted `cacheRead`/`cacheWrite` in session summaries so compact `/status` output consistently shows cache hit percentages from real session data.
diff --git a/src/config/zod-schema.ts b/src/config/zod-schema.ts
index e8395fe9834..ce6f683122b 100644
--- a/src/config/zod-schema.ts
+++ b/src/config/zod-schema.ts
@@ -404,6 +404,7 @@ export const OpenClawSchema = z
             z.literal("tailnet"),
           ])
           .optional(),
+        customBindHost: z.string().optional(),
         controlUi: z
           .object({
             enabled: z.boolean().optional(),