### Preflight Checklist - [x] I have searched [existing issues](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues?q=is%3Aissue%20state%3Aopen%20label%3Abug) 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? Tested on both Linux and macOS, TL;DR: ``` $ claude --version 2.1.140 (Claude Code) $ mkdir 'a\nb' && cd a\\nb $ claude ``` This freeze Claude Code and

[BUG] Claude Code can't start in a directory whose name has a newline character

Status Closed — not planned

Reported on v2.1.140

Maintainer reply None cached

Activity 2 comments · opened May 13, 2026 · closed Jun 11, 2026

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?

Tested on both Linux and macOS, TL;DR:

$ claude --version
2.1.140 (Claude Code)

$ mkdir 'a\nb' && cd a\\nb

$ claude

This freeze Claude Code and it never starts.

What Should Happen?

Claude Code should open as usual.

Error Messages/Logs

There is no output, Claude just freezes.

Steps to Reproduce

Execute those commands in shell:

mkdir 'a\nb' && cd a\\nb
claude

Claude Model

None

Is this a regression?

I don't know

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

2.1.140

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Ubuntu/Debian Linux

Terminal/Shell

iTerm2

Additional Information