diff --git a/packages/adapters/openclaw/src/server/execute.ts b/packages/adapters/openclaw/src/server/execute.ts
index 1a77b928..dca12b90 100644
--- a/packages/adapters/openclaw/src/server/execute.ts
+++ b/packages/adapters/openclaw/src/server/execute.ts
@@ -146,6 +146,7 @@ type WakePayload = {
 };
 
 function buildWakeText(payload: WakePayload, paperclipEnv: Record<string, string>): string {
+  const claimedApiKeyPath = "~/.openclaw/workspace/paperclip-claimed-api-key.json";
   const orderedKeys = [
     "PAPERCLIP_RUN_ID",
     "PAPERCLIP_AGENT_ID",
@@ -171,6 +172,9 @@ function buildWakeText(payload: WakePayload, paperclipEnv: Record<string, string
     "",
     "Set these values in your run context:",
     ...envLines,
+    `PAPERCLIP_API_KEY=<token from ${claimedApiKeyPath}>`,
+    "",
+    `Load PAPERCLIP_API_KEY from ${claimedApiKeyPath} (the token you saved after claim-api-key).`,
     "",
     `task_id=${payload.taskId ?? ""}`,
     `issue_id=${payload.issueId ?? ""}`,
diff --git a/server/src/__tests__/invite-onboarding-text.test.ts b/server/src/__tests__/invite-onboarding-text.test.ts
index 914f092e..6f22c2d5 100644
--- a/server/src/__tests__/invite-onboarding-text.test.ts
+++ b/server/src/__tests__/invite-onboarding-text.test.ts
@@ -49,6 +49,9 @@ describe("buildInviteOnboardingTextDocument", () => {
     expect(text).toContain("You MUST include agentDefaultsPayload.headers.x-openclaw-auth");
     expect(text).toContain("will fail with 401 Unauthorized");
     expect(text).toContain("set the first reachable candidate as agentDefaultsPayload.paperclipApiUrl");
+    expect(text).toContain("~/.openclaw/workspace/paperclip-claimed-api-key.json");
+    expect(text).toContain("PAPERCLIP_API_KEY");
+    expect(text).toContain("saved token field");
   });
 
   it("includes loopback diagnostics for authenticated/private onboarding", () => {
diff --git a/server/src/__tests__/openclaw-adapter.test.ts b/server/src/__tests__/openclaw-adapter.test.ts
index 9922c85c..c8c38900 100644
--- a/server/src/__tests__/openclaw-adapter.test.ts
+++ b/server/src/__tests__/openclaw-adapter.test.ts
@@ -196,6 +196,8 @@ describe("openclaw adapter execute", () => {
     expect(text).toContain("PAPERCLIP_TASK_ID=task-123");
     expect(text).toContain("PAPERCLIP_WAKE_REASON=issue_assigned");
     expect(text).toContain("PAPERCLIP_LINKED_ISSUE_IDS=issue-123");
+    expect(text).toContain("PAPERCLIP_API_KEY=<token from ~/.openclaw/workspace/paperclip-claimed-api-key.json>");
+    expect(text).toContain("Load PAPERCLIP_API_KEY from ~/.openclaw/workspace/paperclip-claimed-api-key.json");
   });
 
   it("uses paperclipApiUrl override when provided", async () => {
@@ -379,6 +381,7 @@ describe("openclaw adapter execute", () => {
     expect(body.model).toBe("openclaw");
     expect(typeof body.input).toBe("string");
     expect(String(body.input)).toContain("PAPERCLIP_RUN_ID=run-123");
+    expect(String(body.input)).toContain("PAPERCLIP_API_KEY=<token from ~/.openclaw/workspace/paperclip-claimed-api-key.json>");
     expect(body.metadata).toBeTypeOf("object");
     expect((body.metadata as Record<string, unknown>).PAPERCLIP_RUN_ID).toBe("run-123");
     expect(body.text).toBeUndefined();
diff --git a/server/src/routes/access.ts b/server/src/routes/access.ts
index 4eda1ad7..ebf86ee1 100644
--- a/server/src/routes/access.ts
+++ b/server/src/routes/access.ts
@@ -662,7 +662,7 @@ function buildInviteOnboardingManifest(
     invite: toInviteSummaryResponse(req, token, invite),
     onboarding: {
       instructions:
-        "Join as an OpenClaw agent, save your one-time claim secret, wait for board approval, then claim your API key and install the Paperclip skill before starting heartbeat loops. You MUST include agentDefaultsPayload.headers.x-openclaw-auth in your join request so Paperclip can authenticate callback requests.",
+        "Join as an OpenClaw agent, save your one-time claim secret, wait for board approval, then claim your API key. Save the claim response token to ~/.openclaw/workspace/paperclip-claimed-api-key.json and load PAPERCLIP_API_KEY from that file before starting heartbeat loops. You MUST include agentDefaultsPayload.headers.x-openclaw-auth in your join request so Paperclip can authenticate callback requests.",
       inviteMessage: extractInviteMessage(invite),
       recommendedAdapterType: "openclaw",
       requiredFields: {
@@ -805,6 +805,10 @@ export function buildInviteOnboardingTextDocument(
     '  "claimSecret": "<one-time-claim-secret>"',
     "}",
     "",
+    "On successful claim, save the full JSON response to:",
+    "- ~/.openclaw/workspace/paperclip-claimed-api-key.json",
+    "Then set PAPERCLIP_API_KEY from the saved token field for every heartbeat run.",
+    "",
     "Important:",
     "- claim secrets expire",
     "- claim secrets are single-use",