Fix Slack Socket Mode Crash

Known Bug — Build 2026.2.19-2

This crash is a confirmed bug in the Slack plugin's EventEmitter initialization. The fix is to update to the latest version and regenerate your Slack App Token.

The Slack channel crashes immediately on startup with Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'listeners'). The gateway enters an exponential backoff retry loop but never recovers without a fix.

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The Error in Logs Fix: Update + Regenerate Token Verify Slack App Setup Required Scopes Still Crashing

The Error in Gateway Logs

Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'listeners')

[slack] channel exited

Retrying in 5000ms...

Retrying in 10000ms...

The crash happens during channel initialization before any messages are processed. The Slack socket connection never completes, and exponential backoff retries all fail the same way.

Fix: Update OpenClaw + Regenerate App Token

Step 1: Update to Latest Version

Update

npm install -g openclaw@latest

Step 2: Regenerate the Slack App-Level Token

Regenerate in Slack Developer Portal

1. Go to api.slack.com/apps
2. Select your OpenClaw app
3. Click Basic Information in the left sidebar
4. Scroll to App-Level Tokens
5. Find your token (or create one) with connections:write scope
6. Click Regenerate (or Generate Token and Scopes)
7. Copy the new xapp-... token

Step 3: Update Token in OpenClaw Config

Update App Token

openclaw config set channels.slack.appToken "xapp-YOUR-NEW-TOKEN"
openclaw gateway restart

Alternative: Rebuild the Slack App Configuration

If regenerating the token doesn't fix it, try creating a brand new Slack app and configuring it fresh. Some configuration combinations trigger the EventEmitter bug in ways that a token regeneration alone can't fix.

Verify Slack App Setup

Socket Mode is enabled

Slack App → Settings → Socket Mode → Enable Socket Mode

App-Level Token has connections:write

Basic Information → App-Level Tokens → Token must include connections:write scope

Bot Token Scopes are correct

OAuth & Permissions → Bot Token Scopes: chat:write, channels:read, channels:history, app_mentions:read

Event Subscriptions are enabled

Event Subscriptions → Enable Events → Subscribe to: message.channels, app_mention

Required Slack Scopes

Bot Token Scopes (xoxb-)

chat:write

channels:read

channels:history

app_mentions:read

im:read

im:history

im:write

App-Level Token Scopes (xapp-)

connections:write

App-Level Token is required for Socket Mode — it's different from the Bot Token.

Still Crashing?

Check the exact crash location in logs:

Debug Logs

openclaw logs --follow | grep -i slack

Run the Doctor

npx clawkit-doctor@latest

Checks channel configuration, token validity, and gateway health.

Related Channel Issues

Similar issues on other platforms:

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