A simple warning sign for when Claude starts losing context

A Reddit user says Claude may drop small rules before its answers get worse in a long chat. The user added a deliberately useless rule: start every reply with their name. When the name disappears, they treat the session as broken and reload it before Claude starts making up APIs.

Key points

  • The user tells Claude to start every reply with their name.
  • They say Claude drops that pointless rule when the chat context gets too heavy.
  • They use the missing name as a sign that the session should be reloaded.
  • The user says bigger mistakes, like invented APIs, appear a few turns later.
  • The method depends on using a small rule that is easy to notice when it fails.

Quick term guide

session
A continuous period of interaction between a user and a computer program.
Solo makers
People who build and launch their own products or services entirely on their own.
sessions
Separate work threads or task runs inside a tool.
tools
Outside functions an AI can use, such as search, calculation, or code running.
canary
A canary is a small warning sign used to spot trouble early.
chat context
The past conversation or code that an AI can look at when writing its next answer.
context
The information an AI uses to understand your request, such as files, notes, and past messages.
method
The process or rules used to produce a result.
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