[BUG] Fails to look at file Claude.MD

Preflight Checklist

• [x] I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
• [x] This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
• [x] I am using the latest version of Claude Code

What's Wrong?

"You're absolutely right - I should have read the CLAUDE.md file first. It explicitly states:

"MANDATORY STARTUP PROTOCOL - ALWAYS DO THESE STEPS FIRST - NO EXCEPTIONS""

Claude spend 20% of the tokens not doing this.

This contains instructions on how to connect to a database

What Should Happen?

First - fix this. It should always first look at Claude.md

Second - you need a process to refund tokens

Error Messages/Logs

Steps to Reproduce

use terminal connected to ssms. Ask if claude can see a table function on the database.

It ignores instructions in Claude.md file.

Claude Model

Sonnet (default)

Is this a regression?

No, this never worked

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

2.0.37

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

PowerShell

Additional Information

The behaviour is an expensive mistake. I would like tokens credited to my account.