diff --git a/gateway/run.py b/gateway/run.py
index 64eb8eb560e1..3527c2b09a5e 100644
--- a/gateway/run.py
+++ b/gateway/run.py
@@ -10623,8 +10623,17 @@ async def _handle_restart_command(self, event: MessageEvent) -> Union[str, Ephem
         # under systemd (KillMode=mixed kills the cgroup) or Docker (tini
         # exits when the gateway dies, taking the detached helper with it).
         _under_service = bool(os.environ.get("INVOCATION_ID"))  # systemd sets this
+        # launchd doesn't set INVOCATION_ID; it sets XPC_SERVICE_NAME to the job
+        # label (e.g. "ai.hermes.gateway-alex") for managed jobs, and "0" for
+        # shell-launched processes.  Without this, macOS LaunchAgents take the
+        # detached self-restart path, exit 0, and KeepAlive{SuccessfulExit=false}
+        # never relaunches them — the gateway stays dead until manual recovery.
+        # (NousResearch/hermes-agent #29180 / #9659 / #35043)
+        _under_launchd = sys.platform == "darwin" and os.environ.get(
+            "XPC_SERVICE_NAME", "0"
+        ) not in ("", "0")
         _in_container = os.path.exists("/.dockerenv") or os.path.exists("/run/.containerenv")
-        if _under_service or _in_container:
+        if _under_service or _under_launchd or _in_container:
             self.request_restart(detached=False, via_service=True)
         else:
             self.request_restart(detached=True, via_service=False)
diff --git a/tests/e2e/test_platform_commands.py b/tests/e2e/test_platform_commands.py
index 4924eed6a9e2..74fc16f1164e 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/test_platform_commands.py
+++ b/tests/e2e/test_platform_commands.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 """
 
 import asyncio
+import sys
 from unittest.mock import AsyncMock, MagicMock
 
 import pytest
@@ -114,6 +115,43 @@ async def test_plaintext_restart_gateway_in_group_stays_plain_text(self, adapter
         assert response_text == "agent-handled"
         runner.request_restart.assert_not_called()
 
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_plaintext_restart_gateway_uses_service_path_under_launchd(self, adapter, runner, platform, monkeypatch):
+        if platform != Platform.TELEGRAM:
+            pytest.skip("Plaintext restart shortcut is intentionally DM/Telegram-focused")
+
+        # macOS launchd sets XPC_SERVICE_NAME (not INVOCATION_ID).  The gateway
+        # must take the service-restart path (exit 75) so KeepAlive relaunches
+        # it; the detached path would exit 0 and the job would stay dead.
+        # (NousResearch/hermes-agent #29180 / #9659 / #35043)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(sys, "platform", "darwin")
+        monkeypatch.delenv("INVOCATION_ID", raising=False)
+        monkeypatch.setenv("XPC_SERVICE_NAME", "ai.hermes.gateway-test")
+        runner.request_restart = MagicMock(return_value=True)
+
+        send = await send_and_capture(adapter, "restart gateway", platform)
+
+        send.assert_called_once()
+        runner.request_restart.assert_called_once_with(detached=False, via_service=True)
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_plaintext_restart_gateway_bare_process_uses_detached_path(self, adapter, runner, platform, monkeypatch):
+        if platform != Platform.TELEGRAM:
+            pytest.skip("Plaintext restart shortcut is intentionally DM/Telegram-focused")
+
+        # No service manager: a shell-launched macOS process reports
+        # XPC_SERVICE_NAME="0" and no INVOCATION_ID, so the detached
+        # self-restart path must be kept (nothing else would relaunch it).
+        monkeypatch.setattr(sys, "platform", "darwin")
+        monkeypatch.delenv("INVOCATION_ID", raising=False)
+        monkeypatch.setenv("XPC_SERVICE_NAME", "0")
+        runner.request_restart = MagicMock(return_value=True)
+
+        send = await send_and_capture(adapter, "restart gateway", platform)
+
+        send.assert_called_once()
+        runner.request_restart.assert_called_once_with(detached=True, via_service=False)
+
     @pytest.mark.asyncio
     async def test_personality_lists_options(self, adapter, platform):
         send = await send_and_capture(adapter, "/personality", platform)