diff --git a/cron/scheduler.py b/cron/scheduler.py
index 52ae8e31..f73d6585 100644
--- a/cron/scheduler.py
+++ b/cron/scheduler.py
@@ -87,6 +87,22 @@ def _resolve_delivery_target(job: dict) -> Optional[dict]:
             chat_id, thread_id = rest.split(":", 1)
         else:
             chat_id, thread_id = rest, None
+
+        # Resolve human-friendly labels like "Alice (dm)" to real IDs.
+        # send_message(action="list") shows labels with display suffixes
+        # that aren't valid platform IDs (e.g. WhatsApp JIDs).
+        try:
+            from gateway.channel_directory import resolve_channel_name
+            target = chat_id
+            # Strip display suffix like " (dm)" or " (group)"
+            if target.endswith(")") and " (" in target:
+                target = target.rsplit(" (", 1)[0].strip()
+            resolved = resolve_channel_name(platform_name.lower(), target)
+            if resolved:
+                chat_id = resolved
+        except Exception:
+            pass
+
         return {
             "platform": platform_name,
             "chat_id": chat_id,
diff --git a/tests/cron/test_scheduler.py b/tests/cron/test_scheduler.py
index 12bd8043..afec21ce 100644
--- a/tests/cron/test_scheduler.py
+++ b/tests/cron/test_scheduler.py
@@ -84,6 +84,48 @@ class TestResolveDeliveryTarget:
             "thread_id": None,
         }
 
+    def test_human_friendly_label_resolved_via_channel_directory(self):
+        """deliver: 'whatsapp:Alice (dm)' resolves to the real JID."""
+        job = {"deliver": "whatsapp:Alice (dm)"}
+        with patch(
+            "gateway.channel_directory.resolve_channel_name",
+            return_value="12345678901234@lid",
+        ):
+            result = _resolve_delivery_target(job)
+        assert result == {
+            "platform": "whatsapp",
+            "chat_id": "12345678901234@lid",
+            "thread_id": None,
+        }
+
+    def test_human_friendly_label_without_suffix_resolved(self):
+        """deliver: 'telegram:My Group' resolves without display suffix."""
+        job = {"deliver": "telegram:My Group"}
+        with patch(
+            "gateway.channel_directory.resolve_channel_name",
+            return_value="-1009999",
+        ):
+            result = _resolve_delivery_target(job)
+        assert result == {
+            "platform": "telegram",
+            "chat_id": "-1009999",
+            "thread_id": None,
+        }
+
+    def test_raw_id_not_mangled_when_directory_returns_none(self):
+        """deliver: 'whatsapp:12345@lid' passes through when directory has no match."""
+        job = {"deliver": "whatsapp:12345@lid"}
+        with patch(
+            "gateway.channel_directory.resolve_channel_name",
+            return_value=None,
+        ):
+            result = _resolve_delivery_target(job)
+        assert result == {
+            "platform": "whatsapp",
+            "chat_id": "12345@lid",
+            "thread_id": None,
+        }
+
     def test_bare_platform_uses_matching_origin_chat(self):
         job = {
             "deliver": "telegram",