[BUG] Error: Bad substitution: [function name]

Resolved 💬 3 comments Opened Jul 3, 2025 by shanev Closed Jan 8, 2026

Environment

  • Platform (select one):
  • [ ] Anthropic API
  • [ ] AWS Bedrock
  • [ ] Google Vertex AI
  • [ ] Other: <!-- specify -->
  • Claude CLI version: 1.0.41 (Claude Code)
  • Operating System: macOS 15.5 (24F74)
  • Terminal: Ghostty 1.1.3

Bug Description

Claude consistently throws an error because it tries to create a script in /tmp which it does not have access to.

Steps to Reproduce

  1. Ask it to debug an issue that requires writing a script

Expected Behavior

Claude creates the script in the local directory which it has access to.

Actual Behavior

Claude tried to create the script in /tmp and crashed, with the bad substitution error.

Additional Context

You can work around this by explicitly asking Claude to create debug scripts in the local directory.

Trace:

Error: Bad substitution: [function name]
    at H (file:///Users/blockshane/.claude/local/node_modules/@anthropic-ai/claude-code/cli.js:7:2204)
    at file:///Users/blockshane/.claude/local/node_modules/@anthropic-ai/claude-code/cli.js:7:2863
    at Array.map (<anonymous>)
    at vi2 (file:///Users/blockshane/.claude/local/node_modules/@anthropic-ai/claude-code/cli.js:7:1942)
    at Object.A (file:///Users/blockshane/.claude/local/node_modules/@anthropic-ai/claude-code/cli.js:7:3027)
    at i1A (file:///Users/blockshane/.claude/local/node_modules/@anthropic-ai/claude-code/cli.js:1512:3494)
    at iy (file:///Users/blockshane/.claude/local/node_modules/@anthropic-ai/claude-code/cli.js:1518:77)
    at Object.isReadOnly (file:///Users/blockshane/.claude/local/node_modules/@anthropic-ai/claude-code/cli.js:1590:3316)
    at Object.isConcurrencySafe (file:///Users/blockshane/.claude/local/node_modules/@anthropic-ai/claude-code/cli.js:1590:3232)
    at file:///Users/blockshane/.claude/local/node_modules/@anthropic-ai/claude-code/cli.js:1931:7014

Node.js v22.16.0

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