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.