[BUG] System prompt wastes >10k tokens on large git repos that cannot be disabled

[verbraucher]

Preflight Checklist

• I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
• This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
• I am using the latest version of Claude Code

What's Wrong?

Problem

Claude Code automatically loads git repository information into the system prompt.
In large repos/monorepos, this consumes >20k tokens that cannot be disabled.

Evidence

Using /context command shows:

• With .git: System prompt 23.7k tokens
• Without .git: System prompt 3.1k tokens
• Impact: ~20k tokens wasted

Current Behavior

Setting permissions.deny has no effect:

json

{
  "permissions": {
    "deny": ["Read(./.git/**)", "Read(./.git)", "Write(./.git/**)", "Write(./.git)"]
  }
}

The git context is loaded during initialization, before permission rules are evaluated.

Why This Matters

• Performance: Slower startup, unnecessary API calls
• Context: 10%+ of available context consumed before any work
• Workaround: Must rename .git folder, breaking git workflow

What Should Happen?

Claude Code should respect permissions.deny rules BEFORE loading git context, or provide a configuration option to disable git loading entirely.

Expected behavior:

• When .git is in permissions.deny, no git data should be loaded
• System prompt should be ~3k tokens, not 23k+ tokens
• OR a --no-git or sth. else flag should be available to skip git detection

Error Messages/Logs

No errors - silent token consumption in system prompt.
See /context output screenshots showing 20k+ token difference.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Clone any large repository with 10000+ commits
2. Add to .claude/settings.json:

   {"permissions": {"deny": ["Read(./.git/**)", "Read(./.git)"]}}

3. Start Claude Code: claude
4. Run /context command
5. Note "System prompt" size (will be >20k tokens)
6. Exit Claude, rename: mv .git .git.bak
7. Start Claude Code again: claude
8. Run /context command
9. Compare system prompt (now ~3k tokens)
10. Difference = wasted git context tokens

Claude Model

Sonnet (default)

Claude Code Version

1.0.127

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Ubuntu/Debian Linux

Terminal/Shell

WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux)

Additional Information

Related Issues

• [Feature Request] Add .claudecodeignore file support or option to disable Git indexing #1104 - Closed incorrectly, deny patterns don't prevent git loading

[github-actions]

Found 3 possible duplicate issues:

1. [Feature Request] Add .claudecodeignore file support or option to disable Git indexing #1104
2. [BUG] @ command includes .git files in autocomplete #7781
3. Feature request: flags for other parts of system prompt: memory, tools, environment #1857

This issue will be automatically closed as a duplicate in 3 days.

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🤖 Generated with Claude Code

[sebastiancarlos]

+1

[KJ7LNW]

+1

[LadislavSopko]

The same problem here: It add me more then 10k tokens in prompt.

[perhmm]

While I don't have this specific issue. I wish there was an option to disable this behavior.

When I ask Claude Code to review recent code changes based on a diff I find it having the commit messages in its context gives it a bias to confirm what the git messages is claiming the changes are doing rather then just looking at the code.

[PaulRBerg]

I just wasted 10% of my weekly context usage because of this behavior (loading gitStatus in context, by default, without any ability to turn it off).

Claude has accidentally produced a large git commit message (2000 lines long), which was being loaded in every single chat.

Please make it possible to disable this behavior 🙏 Loading the git status is not necessary for most tasks!