diff --git a/src/OpenClaw.Connection/GatewayClientFactory.cs b/src/OpenClaw.Connection/GatewayClientFactory.cs
index 5ea0c59d..9802579a 100644
--- a/src/OpenClaw.Connection/GatewayClientFactory.cs
+++ b/src/OpenClaw.Connection/GatewayClientFactory.cs
@@ -14,12 +14,16 @@ public IGatewayClientLifecycle Create(
         string identityPath,
         IOpenClawLogger logger)
     {
+        // bootstrapPairAsNode is always false for the operator (chat) client: the operator
+        // client must connect as "operator" role regardless of credential type so that chat
+        // works immediately after QR-code or setup-code pairing.  The node-platform client
+        // has its own creation path (NodeConnector) which sets bootstrapPairAsNode as needed.
         var client = new OpenClawGatewayClient(
             gatewayUrl,
             credential.Token,
             logger,
             tokenIsBootstrapToken: credential.IsBootstrapToken,
-            bootstrapPairAsNode: credential.IsBootstrapToken,
+            bootstrapPairAsNode: false,
             identityPath: identityPath);
 
         return new GatewayClientLifecycleAdapter(client);
diff --git a/tests/OpenClaw.Connection.Tests/GatewayClientFactoryTests.cs b/tests/OpenClaw.Connection.Tests/GatewayClientFactoryTests.cs
index 73b6a2b8..318d31e4 100644
--- a/tests/OpenClaw.Connection.Tests/GatewayClientFactoryTests.cs
+++ b/tests/OpenClaw.Connection.Tests/GatewayClientFactoryTests.cs
@@ -6,8 +6,13 @@ namespace OpenClaw.Connection.Tests;
 
 public sealed class GatewayClientFactoryTests
 {
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Regression test for issue #720: the operator (chat) client must connect as "operator"
+    /// role even when the credential is a bootstrap token.  Setting bootstrapPairAsNode: false
+    /// for the operator client ensures chat works immediately after QR-code or setup-code pairing.
+    /// </summary>
     [Fact]
-    public void Create_BootstrapCredential_PairsAsNode()
+    public void Create_BootstrapCredential_PairsAsOperator()
     {
         var tempDir = Path.Combine(Path.GetTempPath(), "openclaw-gateway-factory-" + Guid.NewGuid().ToString("N"));
         Directory.CreateDirectory(tempDir);
@@ -20,7 +25,8 @@ public void Create_BootstrapCredential_PairsAsNode()
                 tempDir,
                 NullLogger.Instance);
 
-            Assert.Equal("node", GetConnectRole(lifecycle.DataClient));
+            // Operator client always connects as "operator", even with a bootstrap token.
+            Assert.Equal("operator", GetConnectRole(lifecycle.DataClient));
         }
         finally
         {
diff --git a/tests/OpenClaw.Shared.Tests/OpenClawGatewayClientTests.cs b/tests/OpenClaw.Shared.Tests/OpenClawGatewayClientTests.cs
index ea9d62bc..8dba7368 100644
--- a/tests/OpenClaw.Shared.Tests/OpenClawGatewayClientTests.cs
+++ b/tests/OpenClaw.Shared.Tests/OpenClawGatewayClientTests.cs
@@ -598,6 +598,31 @@ public void BootstrapNodeHandoff_FreshDevice_RequestsNodeRoleWithoutScopes()
         Assert.False(auth.ContainsKey("deviceToken"));
     }
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Regression test for issue #720: the operator (chat) client must connect as "operator"
+    /// role even when the credential is a bootstrap token (QR-code or setup-code pairing).
+    /// GatewayClientFactory always passes bootstrapPairAsNode: false for the operator client.
+    /// </summary>
+    [Fact]
+    public void OperatorClient_WithBootstrapToken_ConnectsAsOperatorRole()
+    {
+        // bootstrapPairAsNode: false — this is what GatewayClientFactory now passes for the operator client.
+        var helper = new GatewayClientTestHelper(
+            tokenIsBootstrapToken: true,
+            bootstrapPairAsNode: false,
+            identityPath: CreateTempIdentityPath());
+        helper.SetDeviceTokenForTest(null);
+
+        var auth = helper.BuildAuthPayload();
+
+        // Must request "operator" role so chat works immediately after QR-code pairing.
+        Assert.Equal("operator", helper.GetConnectRole());
+        // Must send bootstrapToken (not plain token) so the gateway performs bootstrap pairing.
+        Assert.Equal("test-token", auth["bootstrapToken"]);
+        Assert.False(auth.ContainsKey("token"));
+        Assert.False(auth.ContainsKey("deviceToken"));
+    }
+
     [Fact]
     public void BootstrapNodeHandoff_HelloOkWithNodeRole_DoesNotStorePrimaryNodeTokenAsOperator()
     {