HTTP MCP server that requires OAuth freezes entire CLI
Open 💬 0 comments Opened Jun 11, 2026 by snorlax-imp
Bug
When an HTTP-based MCP server (e.g. https://mcp.linear.app/mcp) is enabled but hasn't completed OAuth authentication, the entire Claude Code CLI freezes. This happens when:
- Typing
/mcpto list MCP servers - Starting a new session (Claude Code attempts to connect to all enabled servers on startup)
The CLI becomes completely unresponsive — no timeout, no error message, no way to recover except killing the process.
Expected behavior
- HTTP MCP connections should have a reasonable timeout (e.g. 5s)
- If an MCP server fails to connect or requires auth, it should be marked as unavailable with an error message, not block the entire CLI
- Other MCP servers and core CLI functionality should continue working even when one server is unresponsive
Reproduction
- Enable an HTTP MCP server that requires OAuth:
claude mcp add linear-server --type http --url https://mcp.linear.app/mcp - Don't complete the OAuth flow
- Type
/mcp— CLI freezes indefinitely
Workaround
claude mcp disable linear-server (but you have to do this from a separate terminal since the CLI is frozen)
Environment
- macOS Darwin 25.4.0
- Claude Code CLI (latest)