[BUG] Input cursor becomes nonresponsive after hundreds of rate limit errors

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?

When a Claude Code session receives 429 rate limit errors from the API, the TUI input becomes completely nonresponsive. The cursor
freezes and no keystrokes are accepted. The session must be killed externally.

Actual behavior:
The UI enters a render loop with 100% full-screen redraws (zero incremental blits) and the input prompt becomes permanently
nonresponsive. The process stays alive but unusable.

Debug log evidence:
[ERROR] API error (attempt 1/11): 429 {"type":"error","error":{"type":"rate_limit_error","message":"This request would exceed your
account's rate limit."}}
[DEBUG] High write ratio: blit=0, write=13534 (100.0% writes), screen=160x133
[ERROR] Operation timed out.
[ERROR] 1P event logging: 56 events failed to export (code=ECONNABORTED, timeout of 10000ms exceeded)

After the 429, the session shows continuous High write ratio: blit=0, write=N (100.0% writes) entries with no recovery.

Environment:

• Claude Code version: 2.1.34
• OS: Fedora 43 (Linux 6.18.6-200.fc43.x86_64)
• Terminal: default terminal emulator
• 5 concurrent sessions were running at the time

What Should Happen?

Expected behavior:
Claude Code should display a "rate limited, please try again later" message and return the cursor to a usable input prompt, with a
visible retry countdown.

Error Messages/Logs

Steps to Reproduce

Steps to reproduce:

1. Have multiple concurrent Claude Code sessions running (3-4+)
2. Actively use them until the account rate limit is hit
3. The session that triggers the 429 gets a frozen input cursor

Claude Model

Opus

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

2.1.34

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Other Linux

Terminal/Shell

Other

Additional Information

Fedora 43