--effort max CLI flag does not initialize session effort level

Bug

claude --effort max does not set the session effort level to max. The session starts at the default level. Only the interactive /effort max command during a session correctly sets effort.

Reproduction

1. Launch Claude Code with claude --effort max
2. Observe: status bar and thinking behavior do not reflect max effort
3. Run /effort interactively — it shows the effort was NOT set to max
4. Run /effort max interactively — effort correctly updates

Environment

• Claude Code v2.1.114
• macOS (Darwin 25.4.0, Apple Silicon)
• Shell: zsh

Related issues

• #23604 — CLAUDE_CODE_EFFORT_LEVEL env var also does not set session effort
• #30726 — same env var issue

Both the env var and the CLI flag fail to initialize effort. Only the interactive /effort command works.