diff --git a/src/openhuman/channels/controllers/mod.rs b/src/openhuman/channels/controllers/mod.rs
index deb1b3cde..809da0532 100644
--- a/src/openhuman/channels/controllers/mod.rs
+++ b/src/openhuman/channels/controllers/mod.rs
@@ -13,3 +13,8 @@ pub use schemas::{
     all_controller_schemas as all_channels_controller_schemas,
     all_registered_controllers as all_channels_registered_controllers,
 };
+
+/// Cross-module helpers from the channel controller layer that callers
+/// outside the controller registry need (e.g. the welcome agent's
+/// onboarding status snapshot).
+pub use ops::connected_channel_slugs;
diff --git a/src/openhuman/channels/controllers/ops.rs b/src/openhuman/channels/controllers/ops.rs
index a5393d456..0e3188aba 100644
--- a/src/openhuman/channels/controllers/ops.rs
+++ b/src/openhuman/channels/controllers/ops.rs
@@ -420,12 +420,15 @@ pub async fn channel_status(
     config: &Config,
     channel_id: Option<&str>,
 ) -> Result<RpcOutcome<Vec<ChannelStatusEntry>>, String> {
-    // List all stored credentials with "channel:" prefix.
-    let stored = credentials::ops::list_provider_credentials(config, Some("channel:".to_string()))
+    // List all stored credentials with "channel:" prefix. Uses the
+    // prefix-match helper because channel credentials are keyed as
+    // `channel:<id>:<mode>` and no single literal value matches them
+    // through `list_provider_credentials`'s exact-match filter.
+    let stored = credentials::ops::list_provider_credentials_by_prefix(config, "channel:")
         .await
         .map_err(|e| format!("failed to list credentials: {e}"))?;
 
-    let stored_providers: Vec<String> = stored.value.iter().map(|p| p.provider.clone()).collect();
+    let stored_providers: Vec<String> = stored.iter().map(|p| p.provider.clone()).collect();
 
     let defs = match channel_id {
         Some(id) => {
@@ -453,6 +456,92 @@ pub async fn channel_status(
     Ok(RpcOutcome::new(entries, vec![]))
 }
 
+/// Return the slugs of all messaging channels currently connected,
+/// merging the two storage layers OpenHuman uses for connection state.
+///
+/// Two equally-authoritative sources exist today:
+///
+/// * `config.channels_config.<slug>` — the legacy TOML field set by
+///   credential-mode connects that need a runtime listener
+///   (`bot_token` / `webhook` / `oauth`). These trigger
+///   `restart_required = true` on the connect call.
+/// * Provider credentials keyed `channel:<slug>:<mode>` — set by the
+///   newer managed-DM and OAuth flows that don't materialise a TOML
+///   block but do persist a credential marker.
+///
+/// Until both stores merge, any caller that only reads one will report
+/// stale state to the user (e.g. the agent will say "Telegram not
+/// connected" right after a managed-DM link succeeds — issue #1149).
+/// This helper centralises the merge so every consumer agrees.
+pub async fn connected_channel_slugs(config: &Config) -> Result<Vec<String>, String> {
+    use std::collections::BTreeSet;
+
+    let mut slugs: BTreeSet<String> = BTreeSet::new();
+
+    // Layer 1: credential-mode channels written to TOML config.
+    let cc = &config.channels_config;
+    if cc.telegram.is_some() {
+        slugs.insert("telegram".to_string());
+    }
+    if cc.discord.is_some() {
+        slugs.insert("discord".to_string());
+    }
+    if cc.slack.is_some() {
+        slugs.insert("slack".to_string());
+    }
+    if cc.mattermost.is_some() {
+        slugs.insert("mattermost".to_string());
+    }
+    if cc.email.is_some() {
+        slugs.insert("email".to_string());
+    }
+    if cc.whatsapp.is_some() {
+        slugs.insert("whatsapp".to_string());
+    }
+    if cc.signal.is_some() {
+        slugs.insert("signal".to_string());
+    }
+    if cc.matrix.is_some() {
+        slugs.insert("matrix".to_string());
+    }
+    if cc.imessage.is_some() {
+        slugs.insert("imessage".to_string());
+    }
+    if cc.irc.is_some() {
+        slugs.insert("irc".to_string());
+    }
+    if cc.lark.is_some() {
+        slugs.insert("lark".to_string());
+    }
+    if cc.dingtalk.is_some() {
+        slugs.insert("dingtalk".to_string());
+    }
+    if cc.linq.is_some() {
+        slugs.insert("linq".to_string());
+    }
+    if cc.qq.is_some() {
+        slugs.insert("qq".to_string());
+    }
+
+    // Layer 2: managed-DM / OAuth channels stored only as credentials
+    // under `channel:<slug>:<mode>`.
+    let stored = credentials::ops::list_provider_credentials_by_prefix(config, "channel:")
+        .await
+        .map_err(|e| format!("failed to list channel credentials: {e}"))?;
+    for entry in &stored {
+        // provider format: "channel:<slug>:<mode>" — extract slug.
+        if let Some(rest) = entry.provider.strip_prefix("channel:") {
+            if let Some((slug, _mode)) = rest.split_once(':') {
+                if !slug.is_empty() {
+                    slugs.insert(slug.to_string());
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    Ok(slugs.into_iter().collect())
+}
+
 /// Test a channel connection without persisting credentials.
 pub async fn test_channel(
     _config: &Config,
diff --git a/src/openhuman/channels/controllers/ops_tests.rs b/src/openhuman/channels/controllers/ops_tests.rs
index 1f7ed6fd7..669e04532 100644
--- a/src/openhuman/channels/controllers/ops_tests.rs
+++ b/src/openhuman/channels/controllers/ops_tests.rs
@@ -360,3 +360,123 @@ async fn disconnect_imessage_clears_runtime_config() {
         .and_then(|v| v.get("imessage"));
     assert!(im_entry.is_none(), "imessage config should be cleared");
 }
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Issue #1149: managed-DM / OAuth channels are stored only in the credential
+// layer (`channel:<slug>:<mode>`), not in `channels_config.<slug>`. Both
+// `channel_status` and `connected_channel_slugs` must surface them so the
+// chat agent stops reporting "Telegram not connected" right after a
+// managed-DM link succeeds.
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn channel_status_reports_managed_dm_credential_as_connected() {
+    let (_tmp, config) = isolated_test_config();
+
+    // Simulate the post-link state: `telegram_login_check` stored a
+    // credential marker under `channel:telegram:managed_dm` with no
+    // corresponding `channels_config.telegram` block.
+    crate::openhuman::credentials::ops::store_provider_credentials(
+        &config,
+        "channel:telegram:managed_dm",
+        None,
+        Some("managed".to_string()),
+        Some(serde_json::json!({ "linked": true })),
+        Some(true),
+    )
+    .await
+    .expect("seed managed-DM credential");
+
+    let result = channel_status(&config, Some("telegram"))
+        .await
+        .expect("channel_status should succeed");
+
+    let managed_dm = result
+        .value
+        .iter()
+        .find(|e| e.auth_mode == ChannelAuthMode::ManagedDm)
+        .expect("managed_dm entry");
+    assert!(
+        managed_dm.connected,
+        "managed-DM credential should report connected: {:?}",
+        result.value
+    );
+    assert!(managed_dm.has_credentials);
+}
+
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn connected_channel_slugs_merges_credentials_and_config() {
+    let (_tmp, mut config) = isolated_test_config();
+
+    // Layer 1: TOML-resident channel (e.g. discord bot_token).
+    config.channels_config.discord = Some(DiscordConfig {
+        bot_token: "tok".to_string(),
+        guild_id: None,
+        channel_id: None,
+        allowed_users: vec![],
+        listen_to_bots: false,
+        mention_only: false,
+    });
+
+    // Layer 2: credential-only channel (telegram managed_dm).
+    crate::openhuman::credentials::ops::store_provider_credentials(
+        &config,
+        "channel:telegram:managed_dm",
+        None,
+        Some("managed".to_string()),
+        Some(serde_json::json!({ "linked": true })),
+        Some(true),
+    )
+    .await
+    .expect("seed managed-DM credential");
+
+    let slugs = connected_channel_slugs(&config)
+        .await
+        .expect("connected_channel_slugs should succeed");
+
+    assert!(slugs.contains(&"discord".to_string()), "got {slugs:?}");
+    assert!(slugs.contains(&"telegram".to_string()), "got {slugs:?}");
+}
+
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn connected_channel_slugs_dedupes_when_both_layers_present() {
+    let (_tmp, mut config) = isolated_test_config();
+
+    config.channels_config.discord = Some(DiscordConfig {
+        bot_token: "tok".to_string(),
+        guild_id: None,
+        channel_id: None,
+        allowed_users: vec![],
+        listen_to_bots: false,
+        mention_only: false,
+    });
+
+    // Same slug appears in both layers — should collapse to one entry.
+    crate::openhuman::credentials::ops::store_provider_credentials(
+        &config,
+        "channel:discord:managed_dm",
+        None,
+        Some("managed".to_string()),
+        Some(serde_json::json!({ "linked": true })),
+        Some(true),
+    )
+    .await
+    .expect("seed managed-DM credential");
+
+    let slugs = connected_channel_slugs(&config)
+        .await
+        .expect("connected_channel_slugs should succeed");
+
+    let discord_count = slugs.iter().filter(|s| *s == "discord").count();
+    assert_eq!(discord_count, 1, "discord should appear once: {slugs:?}");
+}
+
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn connected_channel_slugs_empty_when_nothing_configured() {
+    let (_tmp, config) = isolated_test_config();
+    let slugs = connected_channel_slugs(&config).await.unwrap();
+    assert!(
+        slugs.is_empty(),
+        "fresh config should yield no channels: {slugs:?}"
+    );
+}
diff --git a/src/openhuman/credentials/ops.rs b/src/openhuman/credentials/ops.rs
index 46520295f..b396127bf 100644
--- a/src/openhuman/credentials/ops.rs
+++ b/src/openhuman/credentials/ops.rs
@@ -479,6 +479,35 @@ pub async fn list_provider_credentials(
     Ok(RpcOutcome::single_log(items, "provider credentials listed"))
 }
 
+/// List credentials whose provider key starts with `prefix`.
+///
+/// Pure prefix variant of [`list_provider_credentials`] for namespaces
+/// that group multiple providers under a common stem (e.g.
+/// `"channel:"` covers `channel:telegram:managed_dm`,
+/// `channel:slack:bot_token`, …). The exact-match filter on
+/// `list_provider_credentials` cannot express this without enumerating
+/// every concrete provider key up front.
+pub async fn list_provider_credentials_by_prefix(
+    config: &Config,
+    prefix: &str,
+) -> Result<Vec<super::responses::AuthProfileSummary>, String> {
+    let auth = AuthService::from_config(config);
+    let profiles = auth.load_profiles().map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+    let mut items = profiles
+        .profiles
+        .values()
+        .filter(|profile| profile.provider != APP_SESSION_PROVIDER)
+        .filter(|profile| profile.provider.starts_with(prefix))
+        .map(summarize_auth_profile)
+        .collect::<Vec<_>>();
+    items.sort_by(|a, b| {
+        a.provider
+            .cmp(&b.provider)
+            .then_with(|| a.profile_name.cmp(&b.profile_name))
+    });
+    Ok(items)
+}
+
 pub async fn oauth_connect(
     config: &Config,
     provider: &str,
diff --git a/src/openhuman/credentials/ops_tests.rs b/src/openhuman/credentials/ops_tests.rs
index 3df7df086..b9a20ba0f 100644
--- a/src/openhuman/credentials/ops_tests.rs
+++ b/src/openhuman/credentials/ops_tests.rs
@@ -390,3 +390,64 @@ async fn auth_get_me_errors_without_session() {
     let err = auth_get_me(&config).await.unwrap_err();
     assert!(err.contains("session JWT required"));
 }
+
+// ── list_provider_credentials_by_prefix ───────────────────────
+
+/// Issue #1149 root-cause regression: the exact-match filter on
+/// `list_provider_credentials` cannot enumerate provider keys grouped
+/// under a common stem (e.g. `channel:telegram:managed_dm`,
+/// `channel:slack:bot_token`). The prefix variant fixes that — without
+/// it, `channel_status` always returned `connected: false`.
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn list_provider_credentials_by_prefix_matches_namespaced_keys() {
+    let tmp = TempDir::new().unwrap();
+    let config = test_config(&tmp);
+
+    for provider in [
+        "channel:telegram:managed_dm",
+        "channel:slack:bot_token",
+        "skill:notion",
+    ] {
+        store_provider_credentials(
+            &config,
+            provider,
+            None,
+            Some("token-x".to_string()),
+            None,
+            Some(true),
+        )
+        .await
+        .expect("seed credential");
+    }
+
+    let channels = list_provider_credentials_by_prefix(&config, "channel:")
+        .await
+        .expect("prefix list should succeed");
+    let providers: Vec<&str> = channels.iter().map(|p| p.provider.as_str()).collect();
+
+    assert_eq!(channels.len(), 2, "got {providers:?}");
+    assert!(providers.contains(&"channel:slack:bot_token"));
+    assert!(providers.contains(&"channel:telegram:managed_dm"));
+}
+
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn list_provider_credentials_by_prefix_returns_empty_when_no_match() {
+    let tmp = TempDir::new().unwrap();
+    let config = test_config(&tmp);
+
+    store_provider_credentials(
+        &config,
+        "skill:notion",
+        None,
+        Some("token-x".to_string()),
+        None,
+        Some(true),
+    )
+    .await
+    .expect("seed credential");
+
+    let result = list_provider_credentials_by_prefix(&config, "channel:")
+        .await
+        .expect("prefix list should succeed");
+    assert!(result.is_empty(), "got {result:?}");
+}
diff --git a/src/openhuman/tools/impl/agent/check_onboarding_status.rs b/src/openhuman/tools/impl/agent/check_onboarding_status.rs
index fbb3c246e..6fd7091ad 100644
--- a/src/openhuman/tools/impl/agent/check_onboarding_status.rs
+++ b/src/openhuman/tools/impl/agent/check_onboarding_status.rs
@@ -125,6 +125,7 @@ async fn check_status() -> anyhow::Result<ToolResult> {
         state.ready_to_complete,
         &state.ready_to_complete_reason,
         &state.composio_connected_toolkits,
+        &state.connected_channels,
         &webview_logins,
     );
 
diff --git a/src/openhuman/tools/impl/agent/onboarding_status.rs b/src/openhuman/tools/impl/agent/onboarding_status.rs
index a0e180d65..ce0d5e88e 100644
--- a/src/openhuman/tools/impl/agent/onboarding_status.rs
+++ b/src/openhuman/tools/impl/agent/onboarding_status.rs
@@ -130,57 +130,12 @@ pub(crate) fn detect_auth(config: &Config) -> (bool, Value) {
 ///   for that provider. See `openhuman::webview_accounts`.
 /// * `exchange_count` / `ready_to_complete` / `ready_to_complete_reason`
 ///   — the gate the finalizer enforces.
-/// Walk `config.channels_config` and return the connected messaging-channel
-/// slugs in a stable order. Shared between `build_status_snapshot` and
-/// `format_status_markdown` so the channel list can't drift between the
-/// JSON and markdown views.
-fn detect_channels(config: &Config) -> Vec<&'static str> {
-    let cc = &config.channels_config;
-    let mut out: Vec<&'static str> = Vec::new();
-    if cc.telegram.is_some() {
-        out.push("telegram");
-    }
-    if cc.discord.is_some() {
-        out.push("discord");
-    }
-    if cc.slack.is_some() {
-        out.push("slack");
-    }
-    if cc.mattermost.is_some() {
-        out.push("mattermost");
-    }
-    if cc.email.is_some() {
-        out.push("email");
-    }
-    if cc.whatsapp.is_some() {
-        out.push("whatsapp");
-    }
-    if cc.signal.is_some() {
-        out.push("signal");
-    }
-    if cc.matrix.is_some() {
-        out.push("matrix");
-    }
-    if cc.imessage.is_some() {
-        out.push("imessage");
-    }
-    if cc.irc.is_some() {
-        out.push("irc");
-    }
-    if cc.lark.is_some() {
-        out.push("lark");
-    }
-    if cc.dingtalk.is_some() {
-        out.push("dingtalk");
-    }
-    if cc.linq.is_some() {
-        out.push("linq");
-    }
-    if cc.qq.is_some() {
-        out.push("qq");
-    }
-    out
-}
+// Channel detection now lives in
+// `crate::openhuman::channels::controllers::ops::connected_channel_slugs`
+// (precomputed in `compute_state` because it needs to read the
+// credential store), so the welcome-agent surface honors managed-DM /
+// OAuth connections that don't materialise a TOML
+// `channels_config.<slug>` block (issue #1149).
 
 pub(crate) fn build_status_snapshot(
     config: &Config,
@@ -189,10 +144,11 @@ pub(crate) fn build_status_snapshot(
     ready_to_complete: bool,
     ready_to_complete_reason: &str,
     composio_connected_toolkits: &[String],
+    connected_channels: &[String],
     webview_logins: Value,
 ) -> Value {
     let (is_authenticated, auth_source) = detect_auth(config);
-    let channels_connected = detect_channels(config);
+    let channels_connected: Vec<&str> = connected_channels.iter().map(|s| s.as_str()).collect();
 
     let composio_enabled = config.composio.enabled;
     let delegate_agents: Vec<&str> = config.agents.keys().map(|s| s.as_str()).collect();
@@ -246,10 +202,11 @@ pub(crate) fn format_status_markdown(
     ready_to_complete: bool,
     ready_to_complete_reason: &str,
     composio_connected_toolkits: &[String],
+    connected_channels: &[String],
     webview_logins: &Value,
 ) -> String {
     let (is_authenticated, auth_source) = detect_auth(config);
-    let channels = detect_channels(config);
+    let channels: Vec<&str> = connected_channels.iter().map(|s| s.as_str()).collect();
 
     let active_channel = config
         .channels_config
@@ -321,6 +278,11 @@ pub(crate) struct OnboardingState {
     pub is_authenticated: bool,
     pub exchange_count: u32,
     pub composio_connected_toolkits: Vec<String>,
+    /// Slugs of messaging channels currently connected, merged across
+    /// the legacy `channels_config.<slug>` TOML store and the
+    /// `channel:<slug>:<mode>` credential store. Computed in
+    /// [`compute_state`] (issue #1149).
+    pub connected_channels: Vec<String>,
     pub onboarding_status: &'static str,
     pub ready_to_complete: bool,
     pub ready_to_complete_reason: String,
@@ -340,6 +302,22 @@ pub(crate) async fn compute_state(
         .collect();
     let composio_connections = composio_connected_toolkits.len() as u32;
 
+    // Merge legacy `channels_config.<slug>` with the credential store
+    // so managed-DM / OAuth channels (e.g. Telegram managed_dm) report
+    // as connected to the welcome agent (issue #1149). Best-effort —
+    // a credential-store read failure logs and falls back to empty
+    // rather than masking the rest of the snapshot.
+    let connected_channels =
+        crate::openhuman::channels::controllers::connected_channel_slugs(config)
+            .await
+            .unwrap_or_else(|err| {
+                tracing::warn!(
+                    error = %err,
+                    "[onboarding] connected_channel_slugs failed; reporting empty channel list"
+                );
+                Vec::new()
+            });
+
     let onboarding_status = if !is_authenticated {
         "unauthenticated"
     } else if config.chat_onboarding_completed {
@@ -365,6 +343,7 @@ pub(crate) async fn compute_state(
         is_authenticated,
         exchange_count,
         composio_connected_toolkits,
+        connected_channels,
         onboarding_status,
         ready_to_complete,
         ready_to_complete_reason,
@@ -385,6 +364,7 @@ mod tests {
             false,
             "no_apps_connected",
             &[],
+            &[],
             json!({"gmail": false}),
         );
         assert_eq!(snap["onboarding_status"], "pending");
@@ -400,6 +380,8 @@ mod tests {
             0
         );
         assert_eq!(snap["webview_logins"]["gmail"], false);
+        assert!(snap["channels_connected"].is_array());
+        assert_eq!(snap["channels_connected"].as_array().unwrap().len(), 0);
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -412,6 +394,7 @@ mod tests {
             false,
             "no_apps_connected",
             &["gmail".to_string(), "github".to_string()],
+            &[],
             json!({"gmail": true, "whatsapp": false}),
         );
         let toolkits = snap["composio_connected_toolkits"].as_array().unwrap();
@@ -421,6 +404,51 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(snap["webview_logins"]["whatsapp"], false);
     }
 
+    /// Issue #1149: managed-DM / OAuth channels are stored in the
+    /// credential layer, not in `channels_config`. The snapshot must
+    /// reflect them so the welcome agent doesn't say "Telegram not
+    /// connected" right after a managed-DM link succeeds.
+    #[test]
+    fn build_status_snapshot_surfaces_credential_only_channels() {
+        let config = Config::default();
+        // `channels_config.telegram` is None — the channel was linked
+        // via the managed-DM flow which only writes a credential entry.
+        // The merged slug list (built upstream by `compute_state`) is
+        // what `build_status_snapshot` consumes.
+        let snap = build_status_snapshot(
+            &config,
+            "pending",
+            1,
+            false,
+            "no_apps_connected",
+            &[],
+            &["telegram".to_string()],
+            json!({}),
+        );
+        let channels = snap["channels_connected"].as_array().unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(channels.len(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(channels[0], "telegram");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn format_status_markdown_surfaces_credential_only_channels() {
+        let config = Config::default();
+        let md = format_status_markdown(
+            &config,
+            "pending",
+            1,
+            false,
+            "no_apps_connected",
+            &[],
+            &["telegram".to_string()],
+            &json!({}),
+        );
+        assert!(
+            md.contains("**channels:** telegram"),
+            "markdown should surface credential-stored channel: {md}"
+        );
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn detect_auth_on_default_config_is_unauthenticated() {
         let config = Config::default();
diff --git a/tests/json_rpc_e2e.rs b/tests/json_rpc_e2e.rs
index c2bc73fa8..ca5cb6c8e 100644
--- a/tests/json_rpc_e2e.rs
+++ b/tests/json_rpc_e2e.rs
@@ -3273,3 +3273,111 @@ async fn external_process_with_guessed_token_is_rejected() {
 
     rpc_join.abort();
 }
+
+/// End-to-end coverage for issue #1149: storing a managed-DM channel
+/// credential under `channel:<slug>:<mode>` and immediately observing
+/// `connected:true` from `openhuman.channels_status`.
+///
+/// Before the fix, `channels_status` always returned `connected:false`
+/// because the underlying `list_provider_credentials` call used an
+/// exact-match filter (`provider == "channel:"`) that never matched
+/// the real credential keys (`channel:telegram:managed_dm`,
+/// `channel:slack:bot_token`, …). The user could connect Telegram in
+/// the UI but the chat / Settings page would still report it
+/// disconnected on the next reload.
+///
+/// This test exercises the full RPC wire path so a regression in
+/// either the prefix helper or the channels controller is caught at
+/// the transport layer, not just at the unit level.
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn channels_status_reflects_managed_dm_credential_e2e() {
+    let _env_lock = json_rpc_e2e_env_lock();
+    let tmp = tempdir().expect("tempdir");
+    let home = tmp.path();
+    let openhuman_home = home.join(".openhuman");
+
+    let _home_guard = EnvVarGuard::set_to_path("HOME", home);
+    let _workspace_guard = EnvVarGuard::unset("OPENHUMAN_WORKSPACE");
+    let _backend_url_guard = EnvVarGuard::unset("BACKEND_URL");
+    let _vite_backend_guard = EnvVarGuard::unset("VITE_BACKEND_URL");
+
+    let (mock_addr, mock_join) = serve_on_ephemeral(mock_upstream_router()).await;
+    let mock_origin = format!("http://{}", mock_addr);
+    write_min_config(&openhuman_home, &mock_origin);
+
+    let (rpc_addr, rpc_join) = serve_on_ephemeral(build_core_http_router(false)).await;
+    let rpc_base = format!("http://{}", rpc_addr);
+    tokio::time::sleep(Duration::from_millis(100)).await;
+
+    // ── 1. baseline: telegram should report disconnected ────────────────────
+    let baseline = post_json_rpc(
+        &rpc_base,
+        7001,
+        "openhuman.channels_status",
+        json!({ "channel": "telegram" }),
+    )
+    .await;
+    let baseline_outer = assert_no_jsonrpc_error(&baseline, "channels_status (baseline)");
+    let baseline_result = baseline_outer.get("result").unwrap_or(baseline_outer);
+    let baseline_entries = baseline_result
+        .as_array()
+        .unwrap_or_else(|| panic!("expected array: {baseline_result}"));
+    let baseline_managed = baseline_entries
+        .iter()
+        .find(|e| e.get("auth_mode").and_then(Value::as_str) == Some("managed_dm"))
+        .expect("managed_dm entry should exist for telegram");
+    assert_eq!(
+        baseline_managed.get("connected").and_then(Value::as_bool),
+        Some(false),
+        "fresh config should report telegram managed_dm disconnected: {baseline_managed}"
+    );
+
+    // ── 2. simulate a successful managed-DM link by storing the credential
+    //      marker the way `telegram_login_check` does in production ─────────
+    let store = post_json_rpc(
+        &rpc_base,
+        7002,
+        "openhuman.auth_store_provider_credentials",
+        json!({
+            "provider": "channel:telegram:managed_dm",
+            "profile": "default",
+            "token": "managed",
+            "fields": { "linked": true },
+            "setActive": true,
+        }),
+    )
+    .await;
+    assert_no_jsonrpc_error(&store, "auth_store_provider_credentials");
+
+    // ── 3. channels_status must now report telegram managed_dm connected ─
+    let after = post_json_rpc(
+        &rpc_base,
+        7003,
+        "openhuman.channels_status",
+        json!({ "channel": "telegram" }),
+    )
+    .await;
+    let after_outer = assert_no_jsonrpc_error(&after, "channels_status (after link)");
+    let after_result = after_outer.get("result").unwrap_or(after_outer);
+    let after_entries = after_result
+        .as_array()
+        .unwrap_or_else(|| panic!("expected array: {after_result}"));
+    let after_managed = after_entries
+        .iter()
+        .find(|e| e.get("auth_mode").and_then(Value::as_str) == Some("managed_dm"))
+        .expect("managed_dm entry should exist for telegram");
+    assert_eq!(
+        after_managed.get("connected").and_then(Value::as_bool),
+        Some(true),
+        "managed-DM credential should surface as connected: {after_managed}"
+    );
+    assert_eq!(
+        after_managed
+            .get("has_credentials")
+            .and_then(Value::as_bool),
+        Some(true)
+    );
+
+    mock_join.abort();
+    rpc_join.abort();
+}