Kotlin annotation syntax highlighting invisible on dark terminal backgrounds

Description

Kotlin annotations (@Entity, @Enumerated(EnumType.STRING), etc.) in code blocks are rendered in a color that is identical or nearly identical to the background on dark terminal themes. The text is present (visible when selecting/highlighting) but completely unreadable without intervention.

Reproduction Steps

1. Use iTerm2 with a dark terminal theme (tested Solarized Dark and Catppuccin Mocha)
2. Have Claude Code output a Kotlin code block containing JPA annotations, e.g.:

``kotlin
@Entity
class Show(
@Enumerated(EnumType.STRING)
var state: ShowState = CREATED,
)
``

1. The @Entity and @Enumerated(EnumType.STRING) annotations are invisible against the background

Expected Behavior

Annotations should be rendered in a color with sufficient contrast against dark backgrounds.

Actual Behavior

Annotations are the same color as the background. Only visible when text is selected/highlighted.

Attempted Mitigations (none resolved the issue)

• COLORTERM=256color -- no change
• /theme set to dark-ansi -- no change
• CLAUDE_CODE_SYNTAX_HIGHLIGHT="Solarized (dark)" -- no change
• Switched terminal theme from Solarized Dark to Catppuccin Mocha -- no change

Workaround

Setting iTerm2 minimum contrast slider (Settings > Profiles > Colors) to ~25 forces iTerm2 to adjust low-contrast text, making annotations readable. This is a blunt workaround that affects all terminal output.

Environment

• Claude Code: 2.1.38
• macOS: 26.2
• Terminal: iTerm2
• Shell: fish
• TERM: xterm-256color
• COLORTERM: truecolor

Related Issues

• #911 -- Solarized Dark readability in iTerm2 (closed due to inactivity, unresolved)
• #14144 -- Syntax highlighting color regression in v2.0.70+
• #1302 -- Custom terminal theme support