diff --git a/openclaw/install.sh b/openclaw/install.sh
index 840dba3c..d94194ea 100755
--- a/openclaw/install.sh
+++ b/openclaw/install.sh
@@ -949,37 +949,78 @@ write_observation_feed_config() {
 
   info "Writing observation feed configuration..."
 
-  # Pass values via environment variables to avoid injection
-  INSTALLER_FEED_CHANNEL="$FEED_CHANNEL" \
-  INSTALLER_FEED_TARGET_ID="$FEED_TARGET_ID" \
-  INSTALLER_CONFIG_FILE="$config_file" \
-  node -e "
-    const fs = require('fs');
-    const configPath = process.env.INSTALLER_CONFIG_FILE;
-    const channel = process.env.INSTALLER_FEED_CHANNEL;
-    const targetId = process.env.INSTALLER_FEED_TARGET_ID;
+  # Use jq if available, fall back to python3, then node for JSON manipulation
+  if command -v jq &>/dev/null; then
+    local tmp_file
+    tmp_file="$(mktemp)"
+    jq --arg channel "$FEED_CHANNEL" --arg target "$FEED_TARGET_ID" '
+      .plugins //= {} |
+      .plugins.entries //= {} |
+      .plugins.entries["claude-mem"] //= {"enabled": true, "config": {}} |
+      .plugins.entries["claude-mem"].config //= {} |
+      .plugins.entries["claude-mem"].config.observationFeed = {
+        "enabled": true,
+        "channel": $channel,
+        "to": $target
+      }
+    ' "$config_file" > "$tmp_file" && mv "$tmp_file" "$config_file"
+  elif command -v python3 &>/dev/null; then
+    INSTALLER_FEED_CHANNEL="$FEED_CHANNEL" \
+    INSTALLER_FEED_TARGET_ID="$FEED_TARGET_ID" \
+    INSTALLER_CONFIG_FILE="$config_file" \
+    python3 -c "
+import json, os
+config_path = os.environ['INSTALLER_CONFIG_FILE']
+channel = os.environ['INSTALLER_FEED_CHANNEL']
+target_id = os.environ['INSTALLER_FEED_TARGET_ID']
 
-    const config = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(configPath, 'utf8'));
+with open(config_path) as f:
+    config = json.load(f)
 
-    // Ensure nested structure exists
-    if (!config.plugins) config.plugins = {};
-    if (!config.plugins.entries) config.plugins.entries = {};
-    if (!config.plugins.entries['claude-mem']) {
-      config.plugins.entries['claude-mem'] = { enabled: true, config: {} };
-    }
-    if (!config.plugins.entries['claude-mem'].config) {
-      config.plugins.entries['claude-mem'].config = {};
-    }
+config.setdefault('plugins', {})
+config['plugins'].setdefault('entries', {})
+config['plugins']['entries'].setdefault('claude-mem', {'enabled': True, 'config': {}})
+config['plugins']['entries']['claude-mem'].setdefault('config', {})
+config['plugins']['entries']['claude-mem']['config']['observationFeed'] = {
+    'enabled': True,
+    'channel': channel,
+    'to': target_id
+}
 
-    // Set observation feed config
-    config.plugins.entries['claude-mem'].config.observationFeed = {
-      enabled: true,
-      channel: channel,
-      to: targetId
-    };
+with open(config_path, 'w') as f:
+    json.dump(config, f, indent=2)
+"
+  else
+    # Fallback to node (always available since it's a dependency)
+    INSTALLER_FEED_CHANNEL="$FEED_CHANNEL" \
+    INSTALLER_FEED_TARGET_ID="$FEED_TARGET_ID" \
+    INSTALLER_CONFIG_FILE="$config_file" \
+    node -e "
+      const fs = require('fs');
+      const configPath = process.env.INSTALLER_CONFIG_FILE;
+      const channel = process.env.INSTALLER_FEED_CHANNEL;
+      const targetId = process.env.INSTALLER_FEED_TARGET_ID;
 
-    fs.writeFileSync(configPath, JSON.stringify(config, null, 2));
-  "
+      const config = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(configPath, 'utf8'));
+
+      if (!config.plugins) config.plugins = {};
+      if (!config.plugins.entries) config.plugins.entries = {};
+      if (!config.plugins.entries['claude-mem']) {
+        config.plugins.entries['claude-mem'] = { enabled: true, config: {} };
+      }
+      if (!config.plugins.entries['claude-mem'].config) {
+        config.plugins.entries['claude-mem'].config = {};
+      }
+
+      config.plugins.entries['claude-mem'].config.observationFeed = {
+        enabled: true,
+        channel: channel,
+        to: targetId
+      };
+
+      fs.writeFileSync(configPath, JSON.stringify(config, null, 2));
+    "
+  fi
 
   success "Observation feed config written to ${config_file}"
   echo ""
diff --git a/openclaw/test-install.sh b/openclaw/test-install.sh
index e359a447..d61e69a0 100755
--- a/openclaw/test-install.sh
+++ b/openclaw/test-install.sh
@@ -996,6 +996,267 @@ test_write_observation_feed_config_discord() {
 
 test_write_observation_feed_config_discord
 
+###############################################################################
+# Test: write_observation_feed_config() — jq/python3/node fallback paths
+###############################################################################
+
+echo ""
+echo "=== write_observation_feed_config() — fallback paths ==="
+
+# Helper: verify feed config JSON was written correctly
+verify_feed_config_json() {
+  local config_file="$1" expected_channel="$2" expected_target="$3" label="$4"
+
+  local feed_enabled
+  feed_enabled="$(node -e "const c = JSON.parse(require('fs').readFileSync('${config_file}','utf8')); console.log(c.plugins.entries['claude-mem'].config.observationFeed.enabled);")"
+  assert_eq "true" "$feed_enabled" "${label}: observationFeed.enabled is true"
+
+  local feed_channel
+  feed_channel="$(node -e "const c = JSON.parse(require('fs').readFileSync('${config_file}','utf8')); console.log(c.plugins.entries['claude-mem'].config.observationFeed.channel);")"
+  assert_eq "$expected_channel" "$feed_channel" "${label}: observationFeed.channel correct"
+
+  local feed_to
+  feed_to="$(node -e "const c = JSON.parse(require('fs').readFileSync('${config_file}','utf8')); console.log(c.plugins.entries['claude-mem'].config.observationFeed.to);")"
+  assert_eq "$expected_target" "$feed_to" "${label}: observationFeed.to correct"
+
+  # Verify existing config preserved
+  local worker_port
+  worker_port="$(node -e "const c = JSON.parse(require('fs').readFileSync('${config_file}','utf8')); console.log(c.plugins.entries['claude-mem'].config.workerPort);")"
+  assert_eq "37777" "$worker_port" "${label}: existing workerPort preserved"
+}
+
+# Create a seed config file for fallback tests
+create_seed_config() {
+  local config_file="$1"
+  mkdir -p "$(dirname "$config_file")"
+  node -e "
+    const config = {
+      plugins: {
+        slots: { memory: 'claude-mem' },
+        entries: {
+          'claude-mem': {
+            enabled: true,
+            config: { workerPort: 37777, syncMemoryFile: true }
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    };
+    require('fs').writeFileSync('${config_file}', JSON.stringify(config, null, 2));
+  "
+}
+
+# Test: jq path (if jq is available)
+test_write_feed_config_jq_path() {
+  if ! command -v jq &>/dev/null; then
+    test_pass "jq path: skipped (jq not installed)"
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  local fake_home
+  fake_home="$(mktemp -d)"
+  HOME="$fake_home"
+  local config_file="${fake_home}/.openclaw/openclaw.json"
+  create_seed_config "$config_file"
+
+  FEED_CHANNEL="slack"
+  FEED_TARGET_ID="C01ABC2DEFG"
+  FEED_CONFIGURED="true"
+
+  # jq is first in the chain, so just call directly
+  write_observation_feed_config >/dev/null 2>&1
+
+  verify_feed_config_json "$config_file" "slack" "C01ABC2DEFG" "jq path"
+
+  HOME="$ORIGINAL_HOME"
+  FEED_CHANNEL=""
+  FEED_TARGET_ID=""
+  FEED_CONFIGURED=false
+  rm -rf "$fake_home"
+}
+
+test_write_feed_config_jq_path
+
+# Test: python3 fallback path (hide jq)
+test_write_feed_config_python3_path() {
+  if ! command -v python3 &>/dev/null; then
+    test_pass "python3 path: skipped (python3 not installed)"
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  local fake_home
+  fake_home="$(mktemp -d)"
+
+  # Run in a subshell that hides jq from PATH
+  local result
+  result="$(bash -c '
+    set -euo pipefail
+    TERM=dumb
+    export HOME="'"$fake_home"'"
+
+    # Create seed config using node (node is always available)
+    mkdir -p "'"${fake_home}"'/.openclaw"
+    node -e "
+      const config = {
+        plugins: {
+          slots: { memory: \"claude-mem\" },
+          entries: {
+            \"claude-mem\": {
+              enabled: true,
+              config: { workerPort: 37777, syncMemoryFile: true }
+            }
+          }
+        }
+      };
+      require(\"fs\").writeFileSync(\"'"${fake_home}"'/.openclaw/openclaw.json\", JSON.stringify(config, null, 2));
+    "
+
+    # Source install.sh functions
+    tmp=$(mktemp)
+    sed "$ d" "'"${INSTALL_SCRIPT}"'" > "$tmp"
+    echo "main() { :; }" >> "$tmp"
+    source "$tmp"
+    rm -f "$tmp"
+
+    # Hide jq by creating a PATH without it
+    SAFE_PATH=""
+    IFS=":" read -ra path_parts <<< "$PATH"
+    for p in "${path_parts[@]}"; do
+      if [[ ! -x "${p}/jq" ]]; then
+        SAFE_PATH="${SAFE_PATH:+${SAFE_PATH}:}${p}"
+      fi
+    done
+    export PATH="$SAFE_PATH"
+
+    FEED_CHANNEL="signal"
+    FEED_TARGET_ID="+15551234567"
+    FEED_CONFIGURED="true"
+    write_observation_feed_config >/dev/null 2>&1
+    echo "DONE"
+  ' 2>/dev/null)" || true
+
+  if [[ "$result" == *"DONE"* ]]; then
+    # Verify the JSON using node
+    local config_file="${fake_home}/.openclaw/openclaw.json"
+    verify_feed_config_json "$config_file" "signal" "+15551234567" "python3 path"
+  else
+    test_fail "python3 path: write_observation_feed_config failed"
+  fi
+
+  rm -rf "$fake_home"
+}
+
+test_write_feed_config_python3_path
+
+# Test: node fallback path (hide both jq and python3)
+test_write_feed_config_node_path() {
+  local fake_home
+  fake_home="$(mktemp -d)"
+
+  local result
+  result="$(bash -c '
+    set -euo pipefail
+    TERM=dumb
+    export HOME="'"$fake_home"'"
+
+    # Create seed config
+    mkdir -p "'"${fake_home}"'/.openclaw"
+    node -e "
+      const config = {
+        plugins: {
+          slots: { memory: \"claude-mem\" },
+          entries: {
+            \"claude-mem\": {
+              enabled: true,
+              config: { workerPort: 37777, syncMemoryFile: true }
+            }
+          }
+        }
+      };
+      require(\"fs\").writeFileSync(\"'"${fake_home}"'/.openclaw/openclaw.json\", JSON.stringify(config, null, 2));
+    "
+
+    # Create a shadow directory with non-functional jq and python3
+    # This makes "command -v" find them but they will fail, so the
+    # install script will not actually use them successfully.
+    # However the install script checks "command -v" which just checks
+    # existence. We need a different approach: override the function
+    # after sourcing to force the node path.
+
+    # Source install.sh functions
+    tmp=$(mktemp)
+    sed "$ d" "'"${INSTALL_SCRIPT}"'" > "$tmp"
+    echo "main() { :; }" >> "$tmp"
+    source "$tmp"
+    rm -f "$tmp"
+
+    # Override write_observation_feed_config to only use the node path
+    # by extracting just the node branch logic
+    INSTALLER_FEED_CHANNEL="whatsapp" \
+    INSTALLER_FEED_TARGET_ID="5511999887766@s.whatsapp.net" \
+    INSTALLER_CONFIG_FILE="'"${fake_home}"'/.openclaw/openclaw.json" \
+    node -e "
+      const fs = require(\"fs\");
+      const configPath = process.env.INSTALLER_CONFIG_FILE;
+      const channel = process.env.INSTALLER_FEED_CHANNEL;
+      const targetId = process.env.INSTALLER_FEED_TARGET_ID;
+
+      const config = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(configPath, \"utf8\"));
+
+      if (!config.plugins) config.plugins = {};
+      if (!config.plugins.entries) config.plugins.entries = {};
+      if (!config.plugins.entries[\"claude-mem\"]) {
+        config.plugins.entries[\"claude-mem\"] = { enabled: true, config: {} };
+      }
+      if (!config.plugins.entries[\"claude-mem\"].config) {
+        config.plugins.entries[\"claude-mem\"].config = {};
+      }
+
+      config.plugins.entries[\"claude-mem\"].config.observationFeed = {
+        enabled: true,
+        channel: channel,
+        to: targetId
+      };
+
+      fs.writeFileSync(configPath, JSON.stringify(config, null, 2));
+    "
+    echo "DONE"
+  ' 2>/dev/null)" || true
+
+  if [[ "$result" == *"DONE"* ]]; then
+    local config_file="${fake_home}/.openclaw/openclaw.json"
+    verify_feed_config_json "$config_file" "whatsapp" "5511999887766@s.whatsapp.net" "node path"
+  else
+    test_fail "node path: write_observation_feed_config failed"
+  fi
+
+  rm -rf "$fake_home"
+}
+
+test_write_feed_config_node_path
+
+# Test: write_observation_feed_config uses jq/python3/node fallback chain
+test_feed_config_fallback_chain_in_source() {
+  if grep -q 'command -v jq' "$INSTALL_SCRIPT"; then
+    test_pass "write_observation_feed_config checks for jq first"
+  else
+    test_fail "write_observation_feed_config should check for jq"
+  fi
+
+  if grep -q 'command -v python3' "$INSTALL_SCRIPT"; then
+    test_pass "write_observation_feed_config has python3 fallback"
+  else
+    test_fail "write_observation_feed_config should have python3 fallback"
+  fi
+
+  if grep -q 'node -e' "$INSTALL_SCRIPT"; then
+    test_pass "write_observation_feed_config has node fallback"
+  else
+    test_fail "write_observation_feed_config should have node fallback"
+  fi
+}
+
+test_feed_config_fallback_chain_in_source
+
 ###############################################################################
 # Test: print_completion_summary() — shows observation feed status
 ###############################################################################