diff --git a/src/infra/heartbeat-runner.ghost-reminder.test.ts b/src/infra/heartbeat-runner.ghost-reminder.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..917585137b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/infra/heartbeat-runner.ghost-reminder.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,170 @@
+import fs from "node:fs/promises";
+import os from "node:os";
+import path from "node:path";
+import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import type { OpenClawConfig } from "../config/config.js";
+import { telegramPlugin } from "../../extensions/telegram/src/channel.js";
+import { setTelegramRuntime } from "../../extensions/telegram/src/runtime.js";
+import { resolveMainSessionKey } from "../config/sessions.js";
+import { setActivePluginRegistry } from "../plugins/runtime.js";
+import { createPluginRuntime } from "../plugins/runtime/index.js";
+import { createTestRegistry } from "../test-utils/channel-plugins.js";
+import { enqueueSystemEvent } from "./system-events.js";
+import { runHeartbeatOnce } from "./heartbeat-runner.js";
+
+// Avoid pulling optional runtime deps during isolated runs.
+vi.mock("jiti", () => ({ createJiti: () => () => ({}) }));
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+  const runtime = createPluginRuntime();
+  setTelegramRuntime(runtime);
+  setActivePluginRegistry(
+    createTestRegistry([{ pluginId: "telegram", plugin: telegramPlugin, source: "test" }]),
+  );
+});
+
+describe("Ghost reminder bug (issue #13317)", () => {
+  it("should NOT trigger CRON_EVENT_PROMPT when only HEARTBEAT_OK is in system events", async () => {
+    const tmpDir = await fs.mkdtemp(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "openclaw-ghost-"));
+    const storePath = path.join(tmpDir, "sessions.json");
+    
+    try {
+      const cfg: OpenClawConfig = {
+        agents: {
+          defaults: {
+            workspace: tmpDir,
+            heartbeat: {
+              every: "5m",
+              target: "telegram",
+            },
+          },
+        },
+        channels: { telegram: { allowFrom: ["*"] } },
+        session: { store: storePath },
+      };
+      
+      const sessionKey = resolveMainSessionKey(cfg);
+
+      await fs.writeFile(
+        storePath,
+        JSON.stringify(
+          {
+            [sessionKey]: {
+              sessionId: "sid",
+              updatedAt: Date.now(),
+              lastChannel: "telegram",
+              lastProvider: "telegram",
+              lastTo: "155462274",
+            },
+          },
+          null,
+          2,
+        ),
+      );
+
+      // Simulate leftover HEARTBEAT_OK from previous heartbeat
+      enqueueSystemEvent("HEARTBEAT_OK", { sessionKey });
+
+      const sendTelegram = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({
+        messageId: "m1",
+        chatId: "155462274",
+      });
+
+      // Run heartbeat with cron: reason (simulating cron job firing)
+      const result = await runHeartbeatOnce({
+        cfg,
+        agentId: "main",
+        reason: "cron:test-job",
+        deps: {
+          sendTelegram,
+        },
+      });
+
+      expect(result.status).toBe("sent");
+      
+      // The bug: sendTelegram would be called with a message containing
+      // "scheduled reminder" even though no actual reminder content exists.
+      // The fix: should use regular heartbeat prompt, NOT CRON_EVENT_PROMPT.
+      
+      const calls = sendTelegram.mock.calls;
+      expect(calls.length).toBe(1);
+      const message = calls[0][0].message;
+      
+      // Should NOT contain the ghost reminder prompt
+      expect(message).not.toContain("scheduled reminder has been triggered");
+      expect(message).not.toContain("relay this reminder");
+      
+    } finally {
+      await fs.rm(tmpDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    }
+  });
+
+  it("should trigger CRON_EVENT_PROMPT when actual cron message exists", async () => {
+    const tmpDir = await fs.mkdtemp(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "openclaw-cron-"));
+    const storePath = path.join(tmpDir, "sessions.json");
+    
+    try {
+      const cfg: OpenClawConfig = {
+        agents: {
+          defaults: {
+            workspace: tmpDir,
+            heartbeat: {
+              every: "5m",
+              target: "telegram",
+            },
+          },
+        },
+        channels: { telegram: { allowFrom: ["*"] } },
+        session: { store: storePath },
+      };
+      
+      const sessionKey = resolveMainSessionKey(cfg);
+
+      await fs.writeFile(
+        storePath,
+        JSON.stringify(
+          {
+            [sessionKey]: {
+              sessionId: "sid",
+              updatedAt: Date.now(),
+              lastChannel: "telegram",
+              lastProvider: "telegram",
+              lastTo: "155462274",
+            },
+          },
+          null,
+          2,
+        ),
+      );
+
+      // Simulate real cron message (not HEARTBEAT_OK)
+      enqueueSystemEvent("Reminder: Check Base Scout results", { sessionKey });
+
+      const sendTelegram = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({
+        messageId: "m1",
+        chatId: "155462274",
+      });
+
+      const result = await runHeartbeatOnce({
+        cfg,
+        agentId: "main",
+        reason: "cron:reminder-job",
+        deps: {
+          sendTelegram,
+        },
+      });
+
+      expect(result.status).toBe("sent");
+      
+      const calls = sendTelegram.mock.calls;
+      expect(calls.length).toBe(1);
+      const message = calls[0][0].message;
+      
+      // SHOULD contain the cron reminder prompt
+      expect(message).toContain("scheduled reminder has been triggered");
+      
+    } finally {
+      await fs.rm(tmpDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    }
+  });
+});