diff --git a/plugins/platforms/telegram/adapter.py b/plugins/platforms/telegram/adapter.py
index 1258c83fd8..f8f1f3774b 100644
--- a/plugins/platforms/telegram/adapter.py
+++ b/plugins/platforms/telegram/adapter.py
@@ -6392,10 +6392,19 @@ class TelegramAdapter(BasePlatformAdapter):
     # -- Message reactions (processing lifecycle) --
 
     def _reactions_enabled(self) -> bool:
-        """Reactions enabled via ``extra.reactions`` (YAML, per profile) or TELEGRAM_REACTIONS."""
-        configured = self.config.extra.get("reactions")
+        """Reactions enabled via TELEGRAM_REACTIONS or ``extra.reactions`` (YAML, per profile).
+
+        An explicitly set env var wins over YAML — the same rule ``yaml_env_setter`` documents for
+        the YAML→env bridge — so the stock ``reactions: false`` every install materializes cannot
+        silently kill a documented ``TELEGRAM_REACTIONS=true`` (#109032). Under multiplex a scoped
+        miss returns the default instead of another profile's process-env value (#72348), so only
+        a scoped/env hit counts as explicit; otherwise the profile's own YAML decides.
+        """
+        configured = _scoped_gate_env("TELEGRAM_REACTIONS", "")
+        if not configured:
+            configured = self.config.extra.get("reactions")
         if configured is None:
-            configured = _scoped_gate_env("TELEGRAM_REACTIONS", "false")
+            return False
         return str(configured).lower() not in {"false", "0", "no"}
 
     async def _set_reaction(self, chat_id: str, message_id: str, emoji: Optional[str]) -> bool:
diff --git a/tests/gateway/test_telegram_reactions.py b/tests/gateway/test_telegram_reactions.py
index 4c2377db37..38d8512293 100644
--- a/tests/gateway/test_telegram_reactions.py
+++ b/tests/gateway/test_telegram_reactions.py
@@ -53,6 +53,75 @@ def test_reactions_enabled_when_set_true(monkeypatch):
     assert adapter._reactions_enabled() is True
 
 
+def test_explicit_env_wins_over_materialized_yaml_default(monkeypatch):
+    """TELEGRAM_REACTIONS=true must beat the stock ``reactions: false`` in config.yaml (#109032).
+
+    Fresh installs materialize the whole default config tree, so ``_apply_yaml_config`` seeds
+    ``extra["reactions"] = False`` even when the user never chose a value; the reader must still
+    honour the explicitly set env var, like ``yaml_env_setter`` documents for the bridge.
+    """
+    monkeypatch.setenv("TELEGRAM_REACTIONS", "true")
+    adapter = _make_adapter()
+    adapter.config.extra["reactions"] = False
+    assert adapter._reactions_enabled() is True
+
+
+def test_bridged_yaml_false_without_explicit_env_still_disables(monkeypatch):
+    """With no explicit env the YAML→env bridge writes 'false'; reactions stay off."""
+    monkeypatch.setenv("TELEGRAM_REACTIONS", "false")
+    adapter = _make_adapter()
+    adapter.config.extra["reactions"] = False
+    assert adapter._reactions_enabled() is False
+
+
+def test_yaml_true_enables_when_env_unset(monkeypatch):
+    """An explicit ``reactions: true`` in config.yaml enables reactions without any env var."""
+    monkeypatch.delenv("TELEGRAM_REACTIONS", raising=False)
+    adapter = _make_adapter()
+    adapter.config.extra["reactions"] = True
+    assert adapter._reactions_enabled() is True
+
+
+def test_explicit_env_false_wins_over_yaml_true(monkeypatch):
+    """An explicit TELEGRAM_REACTIONS=false also wins over a YAML ``reactions: true``."""
+    monkeypatch.setenv("TELEGRAM_REACTIONS", "false")
+    adapter = _make_adapter()
+    adapter.config.extra["reactions"] = True
+    assert adapter._reactions_enabled() is False
+
+
+def test_scoped_miss_does_not_leak_default_profile_env(monkeypatch):
+    """Under multiplex a scoped miss must not read another profile's process-env value (#72348)."""
+    from agent.secret_scope import reset_secret_scope, set_multiplex_active, set_secret_scope
+
+    monkeypatch.setenv("TELEGRAM_REACTIONS", "true")  # default profile's bridged value
+    adapter = _make_adapter()
+    adapter.config.extra["reactions"] = False  # this profile's own YAML
+    set_multiplex_active(True)
+    token = set_secret_scope({"TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN": "222:b2"})
+    try:
+        assert adapter._reactions_enabled() is False
+    finally:
+        reset_secret_scope(token)
+        set_multiplex_active(False)
+
+
+def test_scoped_env_hit_wins_over_own_yaml(monkeypatch):
+    """A secondary profile's own scoped TELEGRAM_REACTIONS=true beats its YAML ``reactions: false``."""
+    from agent.secret_scope import reset_secret_scope, set_multiplex_active, set_secret_scope
+
+    monkeypatch.setenv("TELEGRAM_REACTIONS", "false")  # default profile's value
+    adapter = _make_adapter()
+    adapter.config.extra["reactions"] = False
+    set_multiplex_active(True)
+    token = set_secret_scope({"TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN": "222:b2", "TELEGRAM_REACTIONS": "true"})
+    try:
+        assert adapter._reactions_enabled() is True
+    finally:
+        reset_secret_scope(token)
+        set_multiplex_active(False)
+
+
 # ── _set_reaction ────────────────────────────────────────────────────