From blog.szypowi.cz · Hitchhiking through raw bits · · 1m
Claude Code skips AGENTS.md without telemetry
Claude Code 2.1.277 ignores AGENTS.md when telemetry is off.
In brief
Claude Code 2.1.277 ignores AGENTS.md when telemetry is off. Claude Code 2.1.277 skips AGENTS.md files when telemetry is disabled, causing users to lose project instructions without warning. Originally reported by blog.szypowi.cz · Hitchhiking through raw bits.
Claude Code 2.1.277
Claude Code 2.1.277 announced support for AGENTS.md but only reads it when telemetry is on.
“AGENTS.md as project instructions: by default loaded where the project has no CLAUDE.md; ...”
The gate
The loader uses a feature flag called tengu_agents_md_mod that requires network access to check.
“W is the plugin's isOnByDefault value and it is false. B is isAvailable, and it asks a remote feature flag called tengu_agents_md_mod, with false as the fallback.”
How I tested it
I created an empty directory with AGENTS.md containing a canary word and ran claude -p to test the feature.
“echo 'The canary word is PERIWINKLE.' > AGENTS.md”
What I measured
CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_NONESSENTIAL_TRAFFIC=1 and DISABLE_TELEMETRY=1 both block AGENTS.md loading without session-level overrides.
“Setting either variable to 0 does not help. The block stays in place.”
The workaround
A one-line CLAUDE.md with @AGENTS.md imports the file without requiring telemetry.
“echo '@AGENTS.md' > CLAUDE.md”
Why it's unacceptable
Users who disable telemetry lose project instructions silently, causing confusion and wasted time.
“The silence is the worst part. I confirmed the cause with a canary word and a string search through the binary, and most people will not do that.”
What I'd like to see
A startup warning when AGENTS.md is skipped and native support for shared agent skills.
“Reading a local file should not depend on telemetry. If the gate has to stay for a gradual rollout, a startup warning when an AGENTS.md is present and skipped would save people the time I spent on a canary test.”
The headline
Claude Code 2.1.277 skips AGENTS.md files when telemetry is disabled, causing users to lose project instructions without warning.
