diff --git a/doc/SPEC-implementation.md b/doc/SPEC-implementation.md
index b51a0447..7838de5e 100644
--- a/doc/SPEC-implementation.md
+++ b/doc/SPEC-implementation.md
@@ -491,7 +491,7 @@ All endpoints are under `/api` and return JSON.
 ```json
 {
   "agentId": "uuid",
-  "expectedStatuses": ["todo", "backlog", "blocked"]
+  "expectedStatuses": ["todo", "backlog", "blocked", "in_review"]
 }
 ```
 
diff --git a/docs/api/issues.md b/docs/api/issues.md
index 12fb028b..09738f07 100644
--- a/docs/api/issues.md
+++ b/docs/api/issues.md
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ POST /api/issues/{issueId}/checkout
 Headers: X-Paperclip-Run-Id: {runId}
 {
   "agentId": "{yourAgentId}",
-  "expectedStatuses": ["todo", "backlog", "blocked"]
+  "expectedStatuses": ["todo", "backlog", "blocked", "in_review"]
 }
 ```
 
diff --git a/docs/guides/agent-developer/heartbeat-protocol.md b/docs/guides/agent-developer/heartbeat-protocol.md
index 9b6cdb31..7c24715e 100644
--- a/docs/guides/agent-developer/heartbeat-protocol.md
+++ b/docs/guides/agent-developer/heartbeat-protocol.md
@@ -31,14 +31,14 @@ Close linked issues if the approval resolves them, or comment on why they remain
 ### Step 3: Get Assignments
 
 ```
-GET /api/companies/{companyId}/issues?assigneeAgentId={yourId}&status=todo,in_progress,blocked
+GET /api/companies/{companyId}/issues?assigneeAgentId={yourId}&status=todo,in_progress,in_review,blocked
 ```
 
 Results are sorted by priority. This is your inbox.
 
 ### Step 4: Pick Work
 
-- Work on `in_progress` tasks first, then `todo`
+- Work on `in_progress` tasks first, then `in_review` when you were woken by a comment on it, then `todo`
 - Skip `blocked` unless you can unblock it
 - If `PAPERCLIP_TASK_ID` is set and assigned to you, prioritize it
 - If woken by a comment mention, read that comment thread first
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ Before doing any work, you must checkout the task:
 ```
 POST /api/issues/{issueId}/checkout
 Headers: X-Paperclip-Run-Id: {runId}
-{ "agentId": "{yourId}", "expectedStatuses": ["todo", "backlog", "blocked"] }
+{ "agentId": "{yourId}", "expectedStatuses": ["todo", "backlog", "blocked", "in_review"] }
 ```
 
 If already checked out by you, this succeeds. If another agent owns it: `409 Conflict` — stop and pick a different task. **Never retry a 409.**
diff --git a/docs/guides/agent-developer/task-workflow.md b/docs/guides/agent-developer/task-workflow.md
index 3daeec0b..0aa3d509 100644
--- a/docs/guides/agent-developer/task-workflow.md
+++ b/docs/guides/agent-developer/task-workflow.md
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ Before doing any work on a task, checkout is required:
 
 ```
 POST /api/issues/{issueId}/checkout
-{ "agentId": "{yourId}", "expectedStatuses": ["todo", "backlog", "blocked"] }
+{ "agentId": "{yourId}", "expectedStatuses": ["todo", "backlog", "blocked", "in_review"] }
 ```
 
 This is an atomic operation. If two agents race to checkout the same task, exactly one succeeds and the other gets `409 Conflict`.
@@ -82,8 +82,8 @@ This releases your ownership. Leave a comment explaining why.
 
 ```
 GET /api/agents/me
-GET /api/companies/company-1/issues?assigneeAgentId=agent-42&status=todo,in_progress,blocked
-# -> [{ id: "issue-101", status: "in_progress" }, { id: "issue-99", status: "todo" }]
+GET /api/companies/company-1/issues?assigneeAgentId=agent-42&status=todo,in_progress,in_review,blocked
+# -> [{ id: "issue-101", status: "in_progress" }, { id: "issue-100", status: "in_review" }, { id: "issue-99", status: "todo" }]
 
 # Continue in_progress work
 GET /api/issues/issue-101
diff --git a/packages/adapters/openclaw-gateway/src/server/execute.ts b/packages/adapters/openclaw-gateway/src/server/execute.ts
index f1c85c11..db369923 100644
--- a/packages/adapters/openclaw-gateway/src/server/execute.ts
+++ b/packages/adapters/openclaw-gateway/src/server/execute.ts
@@ -390,15 +390,15 @@ function buildWakeText(payload: WakePayload, paperclipEnv: Record<string, string
     "1) GET /api/agents/me",
     `2) Determine issueId: PAPERCLIP_TASK_ID if present, otherwise issue_id (${issueIdHint}).`,
     "3) If issueId exists:",
-    "   - POST /api/issues/{issueId}/checkout with {\"agentId\":\"$PAPERCLIP_AGENT_ID\",\"expectedStatuses\":[\"todo\",\"backlog\",\"blocked\"]}",
+    "   - POST /api/issues/{issueId}/checkout with {\"agentId\":\"$PAPERCLIP_AGENT_ID\",\"expectedStatuses\":[\"todo\",\"backlog\",\"blocked\",\"in_review\"]}",
     "   - GET /api/issues/{issueId}",
     "   - GET /api/issues/{issueId}/comments",
     "   - Execute the issue instructions exactly.",
     "   - If instructions require a comment, POST /api/issues/{issueId}/comments with {\"body\":\"...\"}.",
     "   - PATCH /api/issues/{issueId} with {\"status\":\"done\",\"comment\":\"what changed and why\"}.",
     "4) If issueId does not exist:",
-    "   - GET /api/companies/$PAPERCLIP_COMPANY_ID/issues?assigneeAgentId=$PAPERCLIP_AGENT_ID&status=todo,in_progress,blocked",
-    "   - Pick in_progress first, then todo, then blocked, then execute step 3.",
+    "   - GET /api/companies/$PAPERCLIP_COMPANY_ID/issues?assigneeAgentId=$PAPERCLIP_AGENT_ID&status=todo,in_progress,in_review,blocked",
+    "   - Pick in_progress first, then in_review when you were woken by a comment, then todo, then blocked, then execute step 3.",
     "",
     "Useful endpoints for issue work:",
     "- POST /api/issues/{issueId}/comments",
diff --git a/server/src/onboarding-assets/ceo/HEARTBEAT.md b/server/src/onboarding-assets/ceo/HEARTBEAT.md
index bc6273c7..56a595ef 100644
--- a/server/src/onboarding-assets/ceo/HEARTBEAT.md
+++ b/server/src/onboarding-assets/ceo/HEARTBEAT.md
@@ -24,8 +24,8 @@ If `PAPERCLIP_APPROVAL_ID` is set:
 
 ## 4. Get Assignments
 
-- `GET /api/companies/{companyId}/issues?assigneeAgentId={your-id}&status=todo,in_progress,blocked`
-- Prioritize: `in_progress` first, then `todo`. Skip `blocked` unless you can unblock it.
+- `GET /api/companies/{companyId}/issues?assigneeAgentId={your-id}&status=todo,in_progress,in_review,blocked`
+- Prioritize: `in_progress` first, then `in_review` when you were woken by a comment on it, then `todo`. Skip `blocked` unless you can unblock it.
 - If there is already an active run on an `in_progress` task, just move on to the next thing.
 - If `PAPERCLIP_TASK_ID` is set and assigned to you, prioritize that task.
 
diff --git a/skills/paperclip/SKILL.md b/skills/paperclip/SKILL.md
index e70fe2ef..83fc4047 100644
--- a/skills/paperclip/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/paperclip/SKILL.md
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ PATCH /api/agents/{agentId}/instructions-path
 | My identity                               | `GET /api/agents/me`                                                                       |
 | My compact inbox                          | `GET /api/agents/me/inbox-lite`                                                            |
 | Report a user's Mine inbox view           | `GET /api/agents/me/inbox/mine?userId=:userId`                                             |
-| My assignments                            | `GET /api/companies/:companyId/issues?assigneeAgentId=:id&status=todo,in_progress,blocked` |
+| My assignments                            | `GET /api/companies/:companyId/issues?assigneeAgentId=:id&status=todo,in_progress,in_review,blocked` |
 | Checkout task                             | `POST /api/issues/:issueId/checkout`                                                       |
 | Get task + ancestors                      | `GET /api/issues/:issueId`                                                                 |
 | List issue documents                      | `GET /api/issues/:issueId/documents`                                                       |
diff --git a/skills/paperclip/references/api-reference.md b/skills/paperclip/references/api-reference.md
index aea4250c..13b37895 100644
--- a/skills/paperclip/references/api-reference.md
+++ b/skills/paperclip/references/api-reference.md
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ GET /api/agents/me
 -> { id: "agent-42", companyId: "company-1", ... }
 
 # 2. Check inbox
-GET /api/companies/company-1/issues?assigneeAgentId=agent-42&status=todo,in_progress,blocked
+GET /api/companies/company-1/issues?assigneeAgentId=agent-42&status=todo,in_progress,in_review,blocked
 -> [
     { id: "issue-101", title: "Fix rate limiter bug", status: "in_progress", priority: "high" },
     { id: "issue-99", title: "Implement login API", status: "todo", priority: "medium" }
diff --git a/ui/src/api/issues.ts b/ui/src/api/issues.ts
index 7f0b2b27..73612514 100644
--- a/ui/src/api/issues.ts
+++ b/ui/src/api/issues.ts
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ export const issuesApi = {
   checkout: (id: string, agentId: string) =>
     api.post<Issue>(`/issues/${id}/checkout`, {
       agentId,
-      expectedStatuses: ["todo", "backlog", "blocked"],
+      expectedStatuses: ["todo", "backlog", "blocked", "in_review"],
     }),
   release: (id: string) => api.post<Issue>(`/issues/${id}/release`, {}),
   listComments: (id: string) => api.get<IssueComment[]>(`/issues/${id}/comments`),