claude-code - 💡(How to fix) Fix [Feature Request] Add fallback prompt for auto-mode classifier soft-denials instead of returning denial to model [1 comments, 2 participants]

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anthropics/claude-code#52902Fetched 2026-04-25 06:17:49
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Root Cause

Bug Description When permissions.defaultMode is set to "auto" and the auto-mode classifier soft-denies a tool call, the denial reason is returned to the model, which then attempts to work around the block — often producing subpar results (retrying with degraded approaches, abandoning the task, or silently skipping steps) instead of completing the user's actual intent.

Fix Action

Fix / Workaround

The existing mitigations don't address this well:

  • /permissions → r (retry) requires the user to notice the workaround after the fact.
  • The 3-consecutive / 20-total denial threshold triggers too late; a single bad workaround can already have been committed.
  • Switching to defaultMode: "default" loses all the ergonomic benefits of auto mode.
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Bug Description When permissions.defaultMode is set to "auto" and the auto-mode classifier soft-denies a tool call, the denial reason is returned to the model, which then attempts to work around the block — often producing subpar results (retrying with degraded approaches, abandoning the task, or silently skipping steps) instead of completing the user's actual intent.

The existing mitigations don't address this well:

  • /permissions → r (retry) requires the user to notice the workaround after the fact.
  • The 3-consecutive / 20-total denial threshold triggers too late; a single bad workaround can already have been committed.
  • Switching to defaultMode: "default" loses all the ergonomic benefits of auto mode.

Proposed: a setting (e.g., permissions.autoModeFallback: "ask") that, on classifier soft-deny, interrupts and surfaces the standard interactive permission prompt to the user instead of returning the denial to the model. This preserves auto mode's low-friction default while ensuring legitimate actions aren't silently degraded when the classifier is wrong

Environment Info

  • Platform: linux
  • Terminal: WezTerm
  • Version: 2.1.118
  • Feedback ID: a0cda5af-e0a2-4847-8d28-a14a9a1c3147

extent analysis

TL;DR

Implementing a permissions.autoModeFallback setting to interrupt and prompt the user on classifier soft-denies could address the issue of subpar results due to auto-mode workarounds.

Guidance

  • Introduce a new setting, permissions.autoModeFallback, with options like "ask" to handle classifier soft-denies by interrupting and prompting the user.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of this setting in preventing subpar results and silent skipping of steps.
  • Consider the trade-offs between the ergonomic benefits of auto mode and the need for explicit user confirmation in certain cases.
  • Test this setting with various scenarios to ensure it triggers the interactive permission prompt as expected.

Example

No code snippet is provided as the issue does not contain specific code references.

Notes

The proposed solution relies on the introduction of a new setting, which may require updates to the existing permissions system. The effectiveness of this solution depends on the specific implementation and user interaction.

Recommendation

Apply workaround: Implement the proposed permissions.autoModeFallback setting to address the issue of subpar results due to auto-mode workarounds, as it provides a more immediate and user-centric solution.

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claude-code - 💡(How to fix) Fix [Feature Request] Add fallback prompt for auto-mode classifier soft-denials instead of returning denial to model [1 comments, 2 participants]