Error thrash

Key: error_thrash

What it is

The agent keeps calling a tool that keeps failing, usually the same command with small variations, without the information it needs to fix the cause.

How it’s detected

An episode starts when the same tool fails 3 times in a row within a stream. Any success of that tool ends the run.

Waste = the priced input of the model calls that issued the 3rd and later failing attempts.

How to fix it

• Interrupt, and give the agent the missing context (an env var, a service that isn’t running, the right command).
• Put the fix in CLAUDE.md so it doesn’t happen again.
• Add a hook that stops after repeated failures.