API Error: tool_reference.tool_name exceeds 64 characters in long conversations with MCP tools
Resolved 💬 4 comments Opened Jan 29, 2026 by danielraffel Closed Mar 11, 2026
Description
After approximately 116 messages in a conversation using MCP tools, all subsequent MCP tool calls fail with an API validation error related to tool name length.
Error Message
API Error: 400 {"type":"error","error":{"type":"invalid_request_error","message":"messages.116.content.0.tool_result.content.0.tool_reference.tool_name: String should have at most 64 characters"},"request_id":"req_011CXbVTreDNnLEycry4qgrM"}
Reproduction Steps
- Install the
worktree-managerplugin from the marketplace:
````
/plugin marketplace add danielraffel/generous-corp-marketplace
/plugin install worktree-manager@generous-corp-marketplace
- Use Claude Code in a long conversation (~100+ messages)
- Invoke any MCP tool from the plugin (e.g.,
/worktree-manager:list) - Observe the API error
Observations
- The MCP tool names themselves are within the 64-character limit (longest is
mcp__plugin_worktree-manager_worktree__worktree_delete_branchat 61 characters) - The tool actually executes successfully (returns
"success": true) before the error occurs - The error appears to be in how tool results are formatted/referenced in the conversation history
- Starting a new session resolves the issue
- The error persists across all MCP tool calls once it starts occurring
Environment
- Plugin:
worktree-managerfromgenerous-corp-marketplace - Marketplace repo: https://github.com/danielraffel/generous-corp-marketplace
- The issue appears to affect MCP tool result formatting, not the plugin itself
Expected Behavior
MCP tools should continue to work regardless of conversation length.
Actual Behavior
After ~116 messages, all MCP tool calls fail with tool_reference.tool_name: String should have at most 64 characters error.
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