Claude Code v2.1.89 introduced /buddy, an ASCII terminal pet that hatches and comments on your coding sessions. If you'd rather work without it, here's how to turn it off.

Option 1: Hide It In-Session

The quickest way. Inside any Claude Code session, type:

/buddy off

This hides the pet for the current session. You'll need to do this each time you start a new session unless you use one of the permanent methods below.

Option 2: Set the Environment Variable (Recommended)

Setting DISABLE_NON_ESSENTIAL_MODEL_CALLS=1 disables the buddy's speech bubble reactions and other cosmetic model calls. There are two ways to do this.

Via Claude Code Settings (Cleanest)

Edit ~/.claude/settings.json and add the env key:

{
  "env": {
    "DISABLE_NON_ESSENTIAL_MODEL_CALLS": "1"
  }
}

If the file already has other keys, merge the env block into the existing JSON. This only affects Claude Code and doesn't touch your shell environment.

Via Shell Profile (Global)

Add this line to your shell startup file:

export DISABLE_NON_ESSENTIAL_MODEL_CALLS=1

Which file to edit depends on your shell:

  • macOS (zsh by default): ~/.zshrc
  • Linux (bash by default): ~/.bashrc

After saving, reload the config:

# For zsh
source ~/.zshrc

# For bash
source ~/.bashrc

Or just open a new terminal window.

Option 3: Remove the Buddy Data Entirely

The buddy's saved state (species, name, personality, stats) lives in ~/.claude.json under the companion key. To wipe it:

# Back up first
cp ~/.claude.json ~/.claude.json.bak

# Remove the companion key using jq
jq 'del(.companion)' ~/.claude.json > /tmp/claude-tmp.json && mv /tmp/claude-tmp.json ~/.claude.json

If you don't have jq installed, open ~/.claude.json in any text editor, find the "companion" key, and delete that entire block.

After removing it, avoid running /buddy again or it will re-hatch a new pet.

Notes

  • There is currently no buddyEnabled: false key in settings.json. A feature request exists for adding one.
  • DISABLE_NON_ESSENTIAL_MODEL_CALLS=1 is a broader setting — it disables all non-essential model calls, not just buddy reactions. This includes things like spinner tips and other cosmetic AI-generated text.
  • The buddy feature requires Claude Code v2.1.89+ and a Pro or Max subscription. If you're on an older version or using an API key directly, you won't see it anyway.
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