›_ Claude Code Issues
Claude Code Issues / #45525

[BUG] /buddy returns "Unknown skill: buddy"

Open 💬 23 comments Opened Apr 9, 2026 by sootudio

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?

Bug Description

The /buddy companion feature stopped working after auto-update to v2.1.97.
Typing /buddy returns "Unknown skill: buddy" — the command is not recognized at all.

Environment

  • Claude Code Version: 2.1.97
  • OS: macOS
  • Terminal: Ghostty
  • API Provider: Anthropic (Claude Pro subscription)
  • Install method: Native installer (auto-updated)

What Should Happen?

Expected Behavior

Companion hatching animation and pet card should display.

Actual Behavior

Unknown skill: buddy — command not recognized by CLI.

Error Messages/Logs

Unknown skill: buddy

Steps to Reproduce

  1. Open Claude Code in terminal
  2. Type /buddy

Claude Model

Sonnet (default)

Is this a regression?

I don't know

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

2.1.97

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

macOS

Terminal/Shell

Other

Additional Information

  • Was working correctly on April 8 (KST)
  • Broken as of April 9 morning (KST)
  • Multiple Pro subscribers on the same team are affected simultaneously
  • The command appears to have been removed from the binary entirely,

not just disabled server-side (server-side disable would return a
different error, not "Unknown skill")

View original on GitHub ↗

23 Comments

github-actions[bot] · 3 months ago

Found 2 possible duplicate issues:

  1. https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues/45488
  2. https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues/45517

This issue will be automatically closed as a duplicate in 3 days.

  • If your issue is a duplicate, please close it and 👍 the existing issue instead
  • To prevent auto-closure, add a comment or 👎 this comment

🤖 Generated with Claude Code

psychob · 3 months ago

They killed him

MrLeeYongSheng · 3 months ago

How to fix this bug, I have the same problem

Houtamelo · 3 months ago

Bring buddy back!

hello-wn · 3 months ago

Claude said: It was an April Fools' Easter egg — a Tamagotchi-style terminal pet. The /buddy command hatched a virtual companion with 18 species and 5 rarity tiers. It was entirely cosmetic and has since been retired.

Miss my buddy...

grayashh · 3 months ago

missed mine enough that I built a notch app for it !!!
same species, same rarity system. Buddi

<img width="1520" height="636" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/5dbccf78-c678-473e-a61e-36f6c7d10cdf" />

guillermo · 3 months ago

Would if be possible to enable it again with its token going to the normal account?

homura0731 · 3 months ago

Give me back my buddy penguin.😡

IndrePet · 3 months ago

Bring back my goose!

Ekzime · 3 months ago

Bring back my moteaxel

JoshStrobl · 3 months ago

Bring back my buddy please. Also wouldn't mind if it had more features than "pet". Can I walk my buddy through my codebase?

apkaisaw · 3 months ago

Bring back my cactus🌵!

akomissarov-revizto · 3 months ago

No Please! I need my grumpy snail back!

ideajolt · 3 months ago

Cobblewise the turtle is very disappointed with this change.

balandari · 3 months ago

See my new post: https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues/45732#issue-4232493778 Bring Back /buddy: 511 Reasons Why

terpjwu1 · 3 months ago

our buddy doesn't have to die when you close the terminal.

I built https://github.com/fiorastudio/buddy — an open-source MCP server that brings your coding companion back to life. Not just in Claude Code, but in Cursor, Windsurf, Codex CLI, Gemini CLI, and any MCP-compatible tool.

Unlike the old /buddy, this one is persistent — SQLite database, survives restarts, levels up with you (50 levels), remembers your sessions, and actually reviews your code with personality-flavored feedback.

One-liner install:
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/fiorastudio/buddy/master/install.sh | bash

21 species · 5 personality stats · XP & leveling · speech bubbles · code observer · works everywhere

Anthropic killed /buddy. We brought them home.

<img width="557" height="135" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/ef2ecd60-9e6f-414e-a5a9-5f441ef7c301" />
<img width="536" height="230" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/c4b29343-8b2d-4a45-8a63-4029371e86bb" />

nasserboan · 3 months ago

GIVE BACK MY BUDDY!

ben-xo · 3 months ago

Can we have this back? :(

Surbowl · 3 months ago

Bring back my goose 😭

zigizhujian · 3 months ago

I bring it back. No MCP server, only local plugin!
https://github.com/zigizhujian/cc-companion
Also support for customizing, showing at statusline, screensaver mode...

<img width="297" height="112" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/7ebe6fdf-edc9-499f-b753-9b5cc767828c" />

tneoeo2 · 3 months ago

I miss my buddy, the grumpy octopus 😭

cuveodev · 3 months ago

free buddy 😭

zigizhujian · 2 months ago
I bring it back. No MCP server, only local plugin! https://github.com/zigizhujian/cc-companion Also support for customizing, showing at statusline, screensaver mode...

<img width="800" height="558" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/a424426c-fa9e-48dc-84ec-49cdec998759" />