diff --git a/backend/services/bot_service.py b/backend/services/bot_service.py
index 639ce6e..457163d 100644
--- a/backend/services/bot_service.py
+++ b/backend/services/bot_service.py
@@ -465,6 +465,10 @@ def serialize_bot_list_entry(bot: BotInstance) -> Dict[str, Any]:
     }
 
 
+def _has_bot_workspace_config(bot_id: str) -> bool:
+    return (Path(BOTS_WORKSPACE_ROOT) / bot_id / ".nanobot" / "config.json").is_file()
+
+
 def sync_bot_workspace_channels(
     session: Session,
     bot_id: str,
@@ -476,8 +480,14 @@ def sync_bot_workspace_channels(
     if not bot:
         raise RuntimeError(f"Bot not found: {bot_id}")
 
-    snapshot = read_bot_runtime_snapshot(bot)
-    bot_data: Dict[str, Any] = dict(snapshot)
+    has_existing_config = _has_bot_workspace_config(bot_id)
+    if has_existing_config:
+        snapshot = read_bot_runtime_snapshot(bot)
+        bot_data: Dict[str, Any] = dict(snapshot)
+    else:
+        if not isinstance(runtime_overrides, dict):
+            raise RuntimeError(f"Missing required bot config for workspace sync: {bot_id}")
+        bot_data = {}
     if isinstance(runtime_overrides, dict):
         bot_data.update(runtime_overrides)
 
@@ -495,7 +505,12 @@ def sync_bot_workspace_channels(
         if "sendToolHints" in global_delivery_override:
             send_tool_hints = bool(global_delivery_override.get("sendToolHints"))
 
-    channels_data = channels_override if channels_override is not None else list_bot_channels_from_config(bot)
+    if channels_override is not None:
+        channels_data = channels_override
+    elif has_existing_config:
+        channels_data = list_bot_channels_from_config(bot)
+    else:
+        channels_data = []
     bot_data["send_progress"] = send_progress
     bot_data["send_tool_hints"] = send_tool_hints
     normalized_channels: List[Dict[str, Any]] = []