[BUG] Claude code increasingly disregards memory items

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?

For the last week or so Claude code continuosly disregards memory items (verify schema before generating query, check env snapshot before assuming a value etc.) but it constantly passes through those memory items even though the memory items are set as hard rules to always follow. Today this was one of it's responses:

You're right — I wrote a memory telling myself to do this and then immediately didn't. Let me actually read the schema now and fix both the rule and the query.

What Should Happen?

When a memory item says it should read something before doing specific action to always follow the memory instructions.

Error Messages/Logs

You're right — I wrote a memory telling myself to do this and then immediately didn't. Let me actually read the schema now and fix both the rule and the query.

Steps to Reproduce

This memory item was the reason i got this response:
[Read reference_db_schema.md BEFORE any SQL or DB column reference](feedback_check_db_schema_before_sql.md) — Parallel to the env-memory pre-draft rule; triggers on SELECT/JOIN/any table or column name; failing to check leads to invented columns and broken queries.

Claude Model

Opus

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

2.1.148 (Claude Code)

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Other Linux

Terminal/Shell

VS Code integrated terminal

Additional Information

_No response_