## Environment - Platform (select one): - [x] Anthropic API - [ ] AWS Bedrock - [ ] Google Vertex AI - [ ] Other: - Claude CLI version: Unable to check - `claude --version` returns "command not found" - Operating System: Ubuntu (Linux) - Terminal: bash ## Bug Description Claude Code intermittently becomes unavailable with "command not found" error after previously working correctly. The issue appears related to the auto-update mechanism or crashes leaving the installation in a corrupted

[BUG] Claude command intermittently becomes unavailable ("command not found") with ENOTEMPTY errors preventing reinstallation on Ubuntu 24.04

Resolved 💬 20 comments Opened Jun 6, 2025 by nkeilar Closed Jan 5, 2026

💡 Likely answer: A maintainer (wolffiex, collaborator) responded on this thread — see the highlighted reply below.

Environment

Platform (select one):
[x] Anthropic API
[ ] AWS Bedrock
[ ] Google Vertex AI
[ ] Other:
Claude CLI version: Unable to check - claude --version returns "command not found"
Operating System: Ubuntu (Linux)
Terminal: bash

Bug Description

Claude Code intermittently becomes unavailable with "command not found" error after previously working correctly. The issue appears related to the auto-update mechanism or crashes leaving the installation in a corrupted state. Reinstallation attempts fail with ENOTEMPTY errors.

Steps to Reproduce

Install Claude Code: npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code
Use Claude Code normally (it works initially)
Either: Claude crashes, auto-updates, or is exited normally
Attempt to run claude again
Receive "bash: claude: command not found" error
Try to reinstall: npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code
Installation fails with ENOTEMPTY error

Expected Behavior

Claude command should remain available after installation
Reinstallation should work cleanly if needed
Auto-updates should not break the installation

Actual Behavior

Claude command randomly becomes unavailable
Reinstallation fails with:

``npm ERR! code ENOTEMPTY npm ERR! syscall rename npm ERR! path /home/nathank/.npm-global/lib/node_modules/@anthropic-ai/claude-code npm ERR! dest /home/nathank/.npm-global/lib/node_modules/@anthropic-ai/.claude-code-A63a10Hr npm ERR! errno -39 npm ERR! ENOTEMPTY: directory not empty, rename``

Command randomly starts working again after some time
Multiple stuck npm processes remain running

Additional Context

npm global prefix: /home/nathank/.npm-global
PATH includes $HOME/.npm-global/bin
Manual cleanup required: rm -rf ~/.npm-global/lib/node_modules/@anthropic-ai/claude-code
Issue matches reported bug #471 affecting multiple users
Workaround: Use full path ~/.npm-global/bin/claude or wait for it to randomly fix itself
Shell command cache may be involved (requires hash -r to clear)

This appears to be a systematic issue with the package's installation/update mechanism leaving directories in an inconsistent state.

View original on GitHub ↗

20 Comments

antmoro · 1 year ago

This error also occurs in macOS Sequoia

npm ERR! code ENOTEMPTY
npm ERR! syscall rename
npm ERR! path /Users/antonio/Library/Application Support/fnm/node-versions/v20.13.1/installation/lib/node_modules/@anthropic-ai/claude-code
npm ERR! dest /Users/antonio/Library/Application Support/fnm/node-versions/v20.13.1/installation/lib/node_modules/@anthropic-ai/.claude-code-w74Lbl8P
npm ERR! errno -66
npm ERR! ENOTEMPTY: directory not empty, rename '/Users/username/Library/Application Support/fnm/node-versions/v20.13.1/installation/lib/node_modules/@anthropic-ai/claude-code' -> '/Users/username/Library/Application Support/fnm/node-versions/v20.13.1/installation/lib/node_modules/@anthropic-ai/.claude-code-w74Lbl8P'

Asentrixx · 1 year ago

Got this randomly too on my dedicated server, same reproduction steps as OP

zeocax · 1 year ago

Same issue

nowhereman1999 · 1 year ago

same in ubuntu 20.04 of wsl2

perryn · 1 year ago

This just happened to me on OSX

wolffiex collaborator · 1 year ago

Hi everyone, sorry about this—it's a result of npm updates not being atomic. We are ready to start testing a new install solution that does not rely on npm at all. This is our new native builds feature. If you are _brave_ and you _feel confident debugging your system_ I'd love to invite you try our new install experience. When you are ready try this:

curl -fsSL claude.ai/install.sh | bash

we'll get some documentation up about this soon, but if anyone wants to test this and report back, @sid374 and I would love to hear how it goes!

liby · 1 year ago

Thanks for the new native installer!

One observation: the native build appears to be a few versions behind:

npm version: 1.0.40
native installer version: 1.0.38

❯ npm list -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code
/Users/bryan/.npm-global/lib
└── @anthropic-ai/claude-code@1.0.40

❯  curl -fsSL claude.ai/install.sh | bash
Downloaded to: /Users/bryan/.claude/downloads/claude-1.0.38-darwin-arm64
Setting up Claude Code...

Setting up launcher and shell integration...

✅ Installation complete!

❯  claude --version
1.0.38 (Claude Code)

❯ which claude
/Users/bryan/.local/bin/claude

Is this version lag expected, or will both distribution methods be kept in sync going forward?

wolffiex collaborator · 1 year ago

thanks for testing it! We are being a little cautious promoting native versions. we'll try to keep parity going forward though.

wolffiex collaborator · 1 year ago

if you are extra brave, you can try curl -fsSL claude.ai/install.sh | bash -s latest

liby · 1 year ago

Update: I tried with the latest flag as you suggested:

curl -fsSL claude.ai/install.sh | bash -s latest

But now I'm seeing an even stranger issue:

❯ curl -fsSL claude.ai/install.sh | bash -s latest
Downloaded to: /Users/bryan/.claude/downloads/claude-1.0.38-darwin-arm64
Setting up Claude Code...

Setting up launcher and shell integration...

✅ Installation complete!

❯ claude --version
1.0.41 (Claude Code)

Downloaded: claude-1.0.38-darwin-arm64 (same as before)
Running claude --version: 1.0.41 (Claude Code)

This seems like the installer might be downloading a different binary than what's indicated in the filename?

sid374 contributor · 1 year ago

Ahh yes sorry for the confusion, but what you're seeing here is actually ok. The first download is just a temporary shell and doesn't represent the final version being installed. We're going to make this less confusing.

brentlemons · 1 year ago

Making liby's experience a little more confusing...

Like liby, the tool said it downloaded claude-1.0.38-darwin-arm64, and when I ran claude --version I got 1.0.41 (Claude Code). Then I ran claude, and immediately /quit. Now if I run claude --version, I get 1.0.38 (Claude Code).

liby · 1 year ago

Now if I run claude --version, I get 1.0.38 (Claude Code).

It was precisely this that prompted me to eventually switch back to using npm for installation.

However, I ran into an issue when trying to remove the native installation. Even after deleting:

rm ~/.local/bin/claude
rm -rf ~/.local/state/claude

Claude Code kept recreating these files on every launch, resulting in persistent "Multiple installations found" warnings.

Claude CLI Diagnostic
Currently running: unknown (1.0.44)
Path: /Users/bryan/.proto/tools/node/22.17.0/bin/node
Invoked: /Users/bryan/.npm-global/bin/claude
Auto-updates: No
Config install method: native
Config auto-updates: true
Warning: Multiple installations found
  - npm-global at /Users/bryan/.npm-global/bin/claude
  - native at /Users/bryan/.local/bin/claude
Press Enter to continue…

The root cause was _~/.claude.json_ still had "installMethod": "native". After changing it to "npm" and removing the directories again, the issue was resolved.

One remaining question: The diagnostic now shows Currently running: unknown (1.0.44) - is this "unknown" status expected for npm installations?

Claude CLI Diagnostic
Currently running: unknown (1.0.44)
Path: /Users/bryan/.proto/tools/node/22.17.0/bin/node
Invoked: /Users/bryan/.npm-global/bin/claude
Auto-updates: No
Config install method: npm
Config auto-updates: true

wolffiex collaborator · 1 year ago

The "unknown" means our heuristic for figuring out if you are running the global install is incomplete. We can improve that, but this install looks healthy

joor0x · 1 year ago

Adding another issue confirmation for Ubuntu 24.04. The temporary workaround below is effective. Hope this helps others while the native installer is being finalized.

rm -rf ~/.npm-global/lib/node_modules/@anthropic-ai/claude-code
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

Williamleejx · 12 months ago

Adding another issue confirmation for Ubuntu 24.04. The temporary workaround below is effective. Hope this helps others while the native installer is being finalized. rm -rf ~/.npm-global/lib/node_modules/@anthropic-ai/claude-code npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

This method work well in my Mac. Thanks!

MGreenZ · 11 months ago

When you are ready try this: `` curl -fsSL claude.ai/install.sh | bash ``

I noticed that Claude Code gave a warning that the auto update failed, and provided the command to try from the CLI, which failed in the same way as the OP:

> npm update -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code
npm error code ENOTEMPTY
npm error syscall rename
npm error path /Users/mike/.nvm/versions/node/v22.14.0/lib/node_modules/@anthropic-ai/claude-code
npm error dest /Users/mike/.nvm/versions/node/v22.14.0/lib/node_modules/@anthropic-ai/.claude-code-L07bEh9A
npm error errno -66
npm error ENOTEMPTY: directory not empty, rename '/Users/mike/.nvm/versions/node/v22.14.0/lib/node_modules/@anthropic-ai/claude-code' -> '/Users/mike/.nvm/versions/node/v22.14.0/lib/node_modules/@anthropic-ai/.claude-code-L07bEh9A'

> which claude
/Users/mike/.nvm/versions/node/v22.14.0/bin/claude

> claude doctor

 Claude CLI Diagnostic
 Currently running: npm-global (1.0.61)
 Path: /Users/mike/.nvm/versions/node/v22.14.0/bin/node
 Invoked: /Users/mike/.nvm/versions/node/v22.14.0/bin/claude
 Config install method: unknown
 Auto-updates enabled: true
 Update permissions: Yes
 Press Enter to continue…

So used the new install method:

> rm -rf /Users/mike/.nvm/versions/node/v22.14.0/lib/node_modules/@anthropic-ai/claude-code
> curl -fsSL claude.ai/install.sh | bash
Setting up Claude Code...

✔  Claude Code successfully installed!

  Version: 1.0.62

  Location: ~/.local/bin/claude


  Next: Run claude --help to get started

✅ Installation complete!

> which claude
/Users/mike/.local/bin/claude

> claude doctor

 Claude CLI Diagnostic
 Currently running: native (1.0.62)
 Path: /Users/mike/.local/bin/claude
 Invoked: /$bunfs/root/claude
 Config install method: native
 Auto-updates enabled: true
 Press Enter to continue…

> uname -mv
Darwin Kernel Version 24.5.0: Tue Apr 22 19:54:43 PDT 2025; root:xnu-11417.121.6~2/RELEASE_ARM64_T8132 arm64

Worked like a charm on a Mac. No issues with VSCode plugin either.

Is auto-update happening on invocation of Claude Code? I also see the update option:

> claude update
Current version: 1.0.62
Checking for updates...
Claude Code is up to date (1.0.62)

Thanks @sid374 and @wolffiex 👏🏼

github-actions[bot] · 7 months ago

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github-actions[bot] · 6 months ago

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github-actions[bot] · 6 months ago

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