[BUG] Voice mode requires disable/enable cycle on startup to register Space key

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 launching Claude Code from the terminal, voice mode
does not respond to the Space key (hold-to-record) until
you toggle it off and back on.

Steps to reproduce:

1. Open a new terminal session
2. Launch Claude Code (claude)
3. Try holding Space to record — nothing happens
4. Run /voice (disables voice mode)
5. Run /voice again (re-enables voice mode)
6. Hold Space to record — now it works

Expected behavior:
Voice mode should register Space key input immediately on
first enable.

Actual behavior:
Space key is not registered until voice mode is toggled
off and back on.

Environment:

• macOS (Darwin 24.6.0)
• Shell: zsh
• Terminal: VS Code integrated terminal
• Claude Code (latest)

Additional context:
This may be specific to the VS Code integrated terminal.
VS Code captures certain keybindings (including Space in
some contexts) which could interfere with Claude Code's
key listener on initial startup. The disable/enable cycle
may re-register the listener in a way that bypasses this
conflict.

What Should Happen?

Voice mode should register the Space key (hold-to-record)
immediately upon first enable, without requiring a
disable/enable cycle. The key listener should be fully
initialized when voice mode is activated, regardless of
whether it's the first activation in the session or a
subsequent toggle.

Error Messages/Logs

Steps to Reproduce

Steps to reproduce:

1. Open a new terminal session
2. Launch Claude Code (claude)
3. Try holding Space to record — nothing happens
4. Run /voice (disables voice mode)
5. Run /voice again (re-enables voice mode)
6. Hold Space to record — now it works

Claude Model

Opus

Is this a regression?

I don't know

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

2.1.80

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

macOS

Terminal/Shell

VS Code integrated terminal

Additional Information

_No response_