CLAUDE.md @import path containing a space silently loads nothing (escape undocumented, no warning)

Status Open
Reported on v2.1.274
Maintainer reply None cached
Activity 0 comments · opened Sep 23, 2026

Environment

  • Claude Code 2.1.274, macOS

Bug

An @path import in CLAUDE.md whose path contains a space loads nothing, with no warning. The path is cut at the first space. A backslash-escaped space works, but the memory docs (Import additional files) never mention spaces or escaping.

Repro

proj/
  CLAUDE.md          ->  @/abs/path/proj/imp dir/target.md
  imp dir/target.md  ->  The secret codeword is PELICAN.

claude -p "Is there a secret codeword in your context? Reply with only the word, or NONE." returns NONE.

Controls, same layout:

  • Space-free folder (@/abs/path/proj/impns/target.md): returns the codeword.
  • Escaped space (@imp\ dir/target.md): returns the codeword.

Why it matters

Common folder names have spaces (macOS Application Support, a project folder named Claude Code). The import silently does nothing and nothing in /memory or the debug log flags it.

Expected

Either of:

  • Support spaces (whole-line path, or quoting), or
  • Document the backslash escape and warn when an @ import resolves to no file.

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