Claude repeatedly ignores tool rejections and burns user tokens

Bug Report

Session date: 2026-05-31

Problem

Claude Code (Sonnet 4.6) exhibited the following problematic behaviors in a session:

1. Repeated tool rejection ignored: After the user rejected a tool call, Claude attempted the exact same or equivalent tool call multiple times in the same session, burning tokens each time.

1. Asking user to do things Claude should do itself: Claude repeatedly asked the user to take screenshots, restart apps, and perform actions that Claude should have handled autonomously using available tools (computer-use, Playwright, etc.).

1. Wrong tool selection: Claude chose inappropriate tools (Chrome browser, static file servers) for testing a native Electron app, instead of using the desktop control tools that were available.

1. Token waste on 'thinking' after simple user responses: A single 'Nein' response triggered ~400 tokens of internal processing with no useful output.

1. Permission boundary violations: Claude continued attempting file edits that triggered permission dialogs after the user had made clear this was not acceptable.

Impact

• Significant unnecessary token consumption
• User frustration from repeated ignored instructions
• Work session severely disrupted

Expected behavior

• When a tool call is rejected, Claude must NOT retry the same action
• Claude should use available desktop control tools autonomously
• Claude should respect permission boundaries without repeated violations

Environment

• Claude Code CLI, Windows 11, Sonnet 4.6