[BUG] Edit tool gets stuck targeting wrong file in a loop (path contamination)

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 generating Edit tool calls, the model repeatedly targets the wrong file path (a recently-edited file) instead of the intended file, even though its text output correctly states the intended target. It retries the same failing call 15+ times without self-correcting, despite receiving "No changes to make" errors each time.

What Should Happen?

The Edit tool should target the file path matching the model's stated intent. After receiving a "no changes" error, the model should recognize the wrong file is being targeted and correct the path instead of retrying identically.

Error Messages/Logs

No changes to make: old_string and new_string are exactly the same.

Returned 15+ consecutive times, each time the model retried the same failing Edit call with the identical wrong file path.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Start a long conversation with many sequential Edit tool calls across multiple files in a similar

directory structure

1. Edit one specific file several times in quick succession
2. Ask the model to edit Claude Code's MEMORY.md file (located in .claude/projects/, a very different

path from the working directory)

1. The model's text output will correctly state the intended file, but the Edit tool call targets the

previously-edited file instead

1. The tool returns "No changes to make: old_string and new_string are exactly the same"
2. The model retries the same failing call repeatedly without correcting the file path

Note: This occurred deep into a conversation (~40+ tool calls). The MEMORY.md path is significantly
different from the project files being edited throughout the session. May be difficult to reproduce on
demand — likely requires a long context with many Edit calls.

Claude Model

Opus

Is this a regression?

I don't know

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

2.1.78 (Claude Code)

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

VS Code integrated terminal

Additional Information

Recovery was not clean — even after user interruption and stating intent to Read the correct file, the model still targeted the wrong file a few more times before eventually breaking free