diff --git a/.agents/skills/nemoclaw-get-started/SKILL.md b/.agents/skills/nemoclaw-get-started/SKILL.md
index e1e8c1b32e4..7c8d8eba98c 100644
--- a/.agents/skills/nemoclaw-get-started/SKILL.md
+++ b/.agents/skills/nemoclaw-get-started/SKILL.md
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ The sandbox image is approximately 2.4 GB compressed. During image push, the Doc
 | Dependency | Version                          |
 |------------|----------------------------------|
 | Linux      | Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or later |
-| Node.js    | 20 or later |
+| Node.js    | 22.16 or later |
 | npm        | 10 or later |
 | Container runtime | Supported runtime installed and running |
 | [OpenShell](https://github.com/NVIDIA/OpenShell) | Installed |
diff --git a/.agents/skills/nemoclaw-reference/references/troubleshooting.md b/.agents/skills/nemoclaw-reference/references/troubleshooting.md
index 12dd07c9e8f..8174ea589fe 100644
--- a/.agents/skills/nemoclaw-reference/references/troubleshooting.md
+++ b/.agents/skills/nemoclaw-reference/references/troubleshooting.md
@@ -21,19 +21,19 @@ If you see an unsupported platform error, verify that you are running on a suppo
 
 ### Node.js version is too old
 
-NemoClaw requires Node.js 20 or later.
+NemoClaw requires Node.js 22.16 or later.
 If the installer exits with a Node.js version error, check your current version:
 
 ```console
 $ node --version
 ```
 
-If the version is below 20, install a supported release.
+If the version is below 22.16, install a supported release.
 If you use nvm, run:
 
 ```console
-$ nvm install 20
-$ nvm use 20
+$ nvm install 22
+$ nvm use 22
 ```
 
 Then re-run the installer.
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 4f0f6137ca1..d5bddf7fd75 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ Open an issue when you encounter one of the following situations.
 
 Install the following before you begin.
 
-- Node.js 20+ and npm 10+
+- Node.js 22.16+ and npm 10+
 - Python 3.11+ (for blueprint and documentation builds)
 - Docker (running)
 - [uv](https://docs.astral.sh/uv/) (for Python dependency management)
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 77bcf0566e7..9097327f41b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ The sandbox image is approximately 2.4 GB compressed. During image push, the Doc
 | Dependency | Version                          |
 |------------|----------------------------------|
 | Linux      | Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or later |
-| Node.js    | 20 or later |
+| Node.js    | 22.16 or later |
 | npm        | 10 or later |
 | Container runtime | Supported runtime installed and running |
 | [OpenShell](https://github.com/NVIDIA/OpenShell) | Installed |
diff --git a/docs/reference/troubleshooting.md b/docs/reference/troubleshooting.md
index 4795fb52291..1a0ba5d7e19 100644
--- a/docs/reference/troubleshooting.md
+++ b/docs/reference/troubleshooting.md
@@ -47,19 +47,19 @@ If you see an unsupported platform error, verify that you are running on a suppo
 
 ### Node.js version is too old
 
-NemoClaw requires Node.js 20 or later.
+NemoClaw requires Node.js 22.16 or later.
 If the installer exits with a Node.js version error, check your current version:
 
 ```console
 $ node --version
 ```
 
-If the version is below 20, install a supported release.
+If the version is below 22.16, install a supported release.
 If you use nvm, run:
 
 ```console
-$ nvm install 20
-$ nvm use 20
+$ nvm install 22
+$ nvm use 22
 ```
 
 Then re-run the installer.
diff --git a/install.sh b/install.sh
index 67253287d5a..0f67d076609 100755
--- a/install.sh
+++ b/install.sh
@@ -213,15 +213,17 @@ spin() {
 
 command_exists() { command -v "$1" &>/dev/null; }
 
-MIN_NODE_MAJOR=20
+MIN_NODE_VERSION="22.16.0"
 MIN_NPM_MAJOR=10
-RECOMMENDED_NODE_MAJOR=22
-RUNTIME_REQUIREMENT_MSG="NemoClaw requires Node.js >=${MIN_NODE_MAJOR} and npm >=${MIN_NPM_MAJOR} (recommended Node.js ${RECOMMENDED_NODE_MAJOR})."
+RUNTIME_REQUIREMENT_MSG="NemoClaw requires Node.js >=${MIN_NODE_VERSION} and npm >=${MIN_NPM_MAJOR}."
 NEMOCLAW_SHIM_DIR="${HOME}/.local/bin"
 ORIGINAL_PATH="${PATH:-}"
 
 # Compare two semver strings (major.minor.patch). Returns 0 if $1 >= $2.
+# Rejects prerelease suffixes (e.g. "22.16.0-rc.1") to avoid arithmetic errors.
 version_gte() {
+  [[ "$1" =~ ^[0-9]+(\.[0-9]+){0,2}$ ]] || return 1
+  [[ "$2" =~ ^[0-9]+(\.[0-9]+){0,2}$ ]] || return 1
   local -a a b
   IFS=. read -ra a <<<"$1"
   IFS=. read -ra b <<<"$2"
@@ -300,7 +302,7 @@ ensure_supported_runtime() {
   [[ "$node_major" =~ ^[0-9]+$ ]] || error "Could not determine Node.js version from '${node_version}'. ${RUNTIME_REQUIREMENT_MSG}"
   [[ "$npm_major" =~ ^[0-9]+$ ]] || error "Could not determine npm version from '${npm_version}'. ${RUNTIME_REQUIREMENT_MSG}"
 
-  if ((node_major < MIN_NODE_MAJOR || npm_major < MIN_NPM_MAJOR)); then
+  if ! version_gte "${node_version#v}" "$MIN_NODE_VERSION" || ((npm_major < MIN_NPM_MAJOR)); then
     error "Unsupported runtime detected: Node.js ${node_version:-unknown}, npm ${npm_version:-unknown}. ${RUNTIME_REQUIREMENT_MSG} Upgrade Node.js and rerun the installer."
   fi
 
@@ -344,9 +346,9 @@ install_nodejs() {
   spin "Installing nvm..." bash "$nvm_tmp"
   rm -f "$nvm_tmp"
   ensure_nvm_loaded
-  spin "Installing Node.js ${RECOMMENDED_NODE_MAJOR}..." bash -c ". \"$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh\" && nvm install ${RECOMMENDED_NODE_MAJOR} --no-progress"
+  spin "Installing Node.js 22..." bash -c ". \"$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh\" && nvm install 22 --no-progress"
   ensure_nvm_loaded
-  nvm use "${RECOMMENDED_NODE_MAJOR}" --silent
+  nvm use 22 --silent
   info "Node.js installed: $(node --version)"
 }
 
diff --git a/nemoclaw/package-lock.json b/nemoclaw/package-lock.json
index 7a44e78cba9..2a8023b9c82 100644
--- a/nemoclaw/package-lock.json
+++ b/nemoclaw/package-lock.json
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
         "yaml": "^2.4.0"
       },
       "devDependencies": {
-        "@types/node": "^20.19.37",
+        "@types/node": "^22.0.0",
         "@typescript-eslint/eslint-plugin": "^8.57.0",
         "@typescript-eslint/parser": "^8.57.0",
         "eslint": "^9.39.4",
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
         "vitest": "^4.1.0"
       },
       "engines": {
-        "node": ">=22.0.0"
+        "node": ">=22.16.0"
       }
     },
     "node_modules/@emnapi/core": {
@@ -691,9 +691,9 @@
       "license": "MIT"
     },
     "node_modules/@types/node": {
-      "version": "20.19.37",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@types/node/-/node-20.19.37.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-8kzdPJ3FsNsVIurqBs7oodNnCEVbni9yUEkaHbgptDACOPW04jimGagZ51E6+lXUwJjgnBw+hyko/lkFWCldqw==",
+      "version": "22.19.15",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@types/node/-/node-22.19.15.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-F0R/h2+dsy5wJAUe3tAU6oqa2qbWY5TpNfL/RGmo1y38hiyO1w3x2jPtt76wmuaJI4DQnOBu21cNXQ2STIUUWg==",
       "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
diff --git a/nemoclaw/package.json b/nemoclaw/package.json
index 0493fe15210..d338ee78566 100644
--- a/nemoclaw/package.json
+++ b/nemoclaw/package.json
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
     "yaml": "^2.4.0"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
-    "@types/node": "^20.19.37",
+    "@types/node": "^22.0.0",
     "@typescript-eslint/eslint-plugin": "^8.57.0",
     "@typescript-eslint/parser": "^8.57.0",
     "eslint": "^9.39.4",
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
     "vitest": "^4.1.0"
   },
   "engines": {
-    "node": ">=22.0.0"
+    "node": ">=22.16.0"
   },
   "files": [
     "dist/",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index b58159f406a..3eec63a48f8 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
     ".dockerignore"
   ],
   "engines": {
-    "node": ">=22.0.0"
+    "node": ">=22.16.0"
   },
   "repository": {
     "type": "git",
diff --git a/scripts/install.sh b/scripts/install.sh
index 20481380607..e94becca3c1 100755
--- a/scripts/install.sh
+++ b/scripts/install.sh
@@ -126,10 +126,9 @@ refresh_path() {
   fi
 }
 
-MIN_NODE_MAJOR=20
+MIN_NODE_VERSION="22.16.0"
 MIN_NPM_MAJOR=10
-RECOMMENDED_NODE_MAJOR=22
-RUNTIME_REQUIREMENT_MSG="NemoClaw requires Node.js >=${MIN_NODE_MAJOR} and npm >=${MIN_NPM_MAJOR} (recommended Node.js ${RECOMMENDED_NODE_MAJOR})."
+RUNTIME_REQUIREMENT_MSG="NemoClaw requires Node.js >=${MIN_NODE_VERSION} and npm >=${MIN_NPM_MAJOR}."
 
 OS="$(uname -s)"
 ARCH="$(uname -m)"
@@ -170,6 +169,22 @@ fi
 
 info "Node.js manager: $NODE_MGR"
 
+# Compare two semver strings (major.minor.patch). Returns 0 if $1 >= $2.
+# Rejects prerelease suffixes (e.g. "22.16.0-rc.1") to avoid arithmetic errors.
+version_gte() {
+  [[ "$1" =~ ^[0-9]+(\.[0-9]+){0,2}$ ]] || return 1
+  [[ "$2" =~ ^[0-9]+(\.[0-9]+){0,2}$ ]] || return 1
+  local -a a b
+  IFS=. read -ra a <<<"$1"
+  IFS=. read -ra b <<<"$2"
+  for i in 0 1 2; do
+    local ai=${a[$i]:-0} bi=${b[$i]:-0}
+    if ((ai > bi)); then return 0; fi
+    if ((ai < bi)); then return 1; fi
+  done
+  return 0
+}
+
 version_major() {
   printf '%s\n' "${1#v}" | cut -d. -f1
 }
@@ -187,7 +202,7 @@ ensure_supported_runtime() {
   [[ "$node_major" =~ ^[0-9]+$ ]] || fail "Could not determine Node.js version from '${node_version}'. ${RUNTIME_REQUIREMENT_MSG}"
   [[ "$npm_major" =~ ^[0-9]+$ ]] || fail "Could not determine npm version from '${npm_version}'. ${RUNTIME_REQUIREMENT_MSG}"
 
-  if ((node_major < MIN_NODE_MAJOR || npm_major < MIN_NPM_MAJOR)); then
+  if ! version_gte "${node_version#v}" "$MIN_NODE_VERSION" || ((npm_major < MIN_NPM_MAJOR)); then
     fail "Unsupported runtime detected: Node.js ${node_version:-unknown}, npm ${npm_version:-unknown}. ${RUNTIME_REQUIREMENT_MSG} Upgrade Node.js and rerun the installer."
   fi
 
@@ -197,13 +212,13 @@ ensure_supported_runtime() {
 # ── Install Node.js 22 if needed ────────────────────────────────
 
 install_node() {
-  local current_major=""
+  local current_version=""
   if command -v node >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    current_major="$(node -v 2>/dev/null | sed 's/^v//' | cut -d. -f1)"
+    current_version="$(node -v 2>/dev/null | sed 's/^v//')"
   fi
 
-  if [ "$current_major" = "22" ]; then
-    info "Node.js 22 already installed: $(node -v)"
+  if [ -n "$current_version" ] && version_gte "$current_version" "$MIN_NODE_VERSION"; then
+    info "Node.js v${current_version} meets minimum requirement (>= v${MIN_NODE_VERSION})"
     return 0
   fi
 
@@ -239,7 +254,7 @@ install_node() {
       sudo apt-get install -y -qq nodejs >/dev/null 2>&1
       ;;
     none)
-      fail "No Node.js version manager found. Install Node.js 22 manually, then re-run."
+      fail "No Node.js version manager found. Install Node.js >=${MIN_NODE_VERSION} manually, then re-run."
       ;;
   esac
 
diff --git a/test/install-preflight.test.js b/test/install-preflight.test.js
index daed033a798..2d5e115049b 100644
--- a/test/install-preflight.test.js
+++ b/test/install-preflight.test.js
@@ -20,12 +20,12 @@ function writeExecutable(target, contents) {
 // Helpers shared across suites
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-/** Fake node that reports v22.14.0. */
+/** Fake node that reports v22.16.0. */
 function writeNodeStub(fakeBin) {
   writeExecutable(
     path.join(fakeBin, "node"),
     `#!/usr/bin/env bash
-if [ "$1" = "--version" ] || [ "$1" = "-v" ]; then echo "v22.14.0"; exit 0; fi
+if [ "$1" = "--version" ] || [ "$1" = "-v" ]; then echo "v22.16.0"; exit 0; fi
 if [ "$1" = "-e" ]; then
   if [[ "$2" == *"dependencies.openclaw"* ]]; then
     echo "2026.3.11"
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ exit 98
     const output = `${result.stdout}${result.stderr}`;
     expect(result.status).not.toBe(0);
     expect(output).toMatch(/Unsupported runtime detected/);
-    expect(output).toMatch(/Node\.js >=20 and npm >=10/);
+    expect(output).toMatch(/Node\.js >=22\.16\.0 and npm >=10/);
     expect(output).toMatch(/v18\.19\.1/);
     expect(output).toMatch(/9\.8\.1/);
   });
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ exit 98
       path.join(fakeBin, "node"),
       `#!/usr/bin/env bash
 if [ "$1" = "--version" ]; then
-  echo "v22.14.0"
+  echo "v22.16.0"
   exit 0
 fi
 if [ "$1" = "-e" ]; then
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ exit 98
       path.join(fakeBin, "node"),
       `#!/usr/bin/env bash
 if [ "$1" = "--version" ]; then
-  echo "v22.14.0"
+  echo "v22.16.0"
   exit 0
 fi
 if [ "$1" = "-e" ]; then
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ exit 98
       path.join(fakeBin, "node"),
       `#!/usr/bin/env bash
 if [ "$1" = "-v" ] || [ "$1" = "--version" ]; then
-  echo "v22.14.0"
+  echo "v22.16.0"
   exit 0
 fi
 exit 99
@@ -375,7 +375,7 @@ echo "Darwin"
       path.join(fakeBin, "node"),
       `#!/usr/bin/env bash
 if [ "$1" = "-v" ] || [ "$1" = "--version" ]; then
-  echo "v22.14.0"
+  echo "v22.16.0"
   exit 0
 fi
 if [ "$1" = "-e" ]; then
@@ -641,7 +641,7 @@ fi`,
       path.join(fakeBin, "node"),
       `#!/usr/bin/env bash
 if [ "$1" = "-v" ] || [ "$1" = "--version" ]; then
-  echo "v22.14.0"
+  echo "v22.16.0"
   exit 0
 fi
 if [ "$1" = "-e" ]; then
@@ -1277,7 +1277,7 @@ exit 0`,
     expect(`${result.stdout}${result.stderr}`).toMatch(/npm was not found on PATH/);
   });
 
-  it("succeeds with acceptable Node.js 20 and npm 10", () => {
+  it("succeeds with acceptable Node.js 22.16 and npm 10", () => {
     const tmp = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "nemoclaw-runtime-ok-"));
     const fakeBin = path.join(tmp, "bin");
     fs.mkdirSync(fakeBin);
@@ -1285,7 +1285,7 @@ exit 0`,
     writeExecutable(
       path.join(fakeBin, "node"),
       `#!/usr/bin/env bash
-if [ "$1" = "--version" ]; then echo "v20.0.0"; exit 0; fi
+if [ "$1" = "--version" ]; then echo "v22.16.0"; exit 0; fi
 exit 0`,
     );
     writeExecutable(
@@ -1301,6 +1301,32 @@ exit 0`,
     expect(`${result.stdout}${result.stderr}`).toMatch(/Runtime OK/);
   });
 
+  it("rejects Node.js 20 which is below the 22.16 minimum", () => {
+    const tmp = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "nemoclaw-runtime-node20-"));
+    const fakeBin = path.join(tmp, "bin");
+    fs.mkdirSync(fakeBin);
+
+    writeExecutable(
+      path.join(fakeBin, "node"),
+      `#!/usr/bin/env bash
+if [ "$1" = "--version" ]; then echo "v20.18.0"; exit 0; fi
+exit 0`,
+    );
+    writeExecutable(
+      path.join(fakeBin, "npm"),
+      `#!/usr/bin/env bash
+if [ "$1" = "--version" ]; then echo "10.9.2"; exit 0; fi
+exit 0`,
+    );
+
+    const result = callEnsureSupportedRuntime(fakeBin);
+
+    expect(result.status).not.toBe(0);
+    const output = `${result.stdout}${result.stderr}`;
+    expect(output).toMatch(/Unsupported runtime detected/);
+    expect(output).toMatch(/v20\.18\.0/);
+  });
+
   it("rejects node that returns a non-numeric version", () => {
     const tmp = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "nemoclaw-runtime-badver-"));
     const fakeBin = path.join(tmp, "bin");
@@ -1346,7 +1372,7 @@ describe("curl-pipe installer release-tag resolution", () => {
     writeExecutable(
       path.join(fakeBin, "node"),
       `#!/usr/bin/env bash
-if [ "$1" = "-v" ] || [ "$1" = "--version" ]; then echo "v22.14.0"; exit 0; fi
+if [ "$1" = "-v" ] || [ "$1" = "--version" ]; then echo "v22.16.0"; exit 0; fi
 if [ "$1" = "-e" ]; then exit 1; fi
 exit 99`,
     );