{"version":"2.1.288","anchor":"agent-tool-withheld-at-max-subagent-depth","canonical_anchor":"agent-tool-withheld-at-max-subagent-depth","heading":"Subagents lose the Agent tool once the nesting limit is reached","tier":"notice","area":"Subagents","scope":"individual","heads_up":false,"url":"https:\/\/changelogs.core-directive.com\/v\/2.1.288\/e\/agent-tool-withheld-at-max-subagent-depth","release_url":"https:\/\/changelogs.core-directive.com\/v\/2.1.288","markdown":"### Subagents lose the Agent tool once the nesting limit is reached\n\nWhen subagents are nested as deep as allowed, the Agent tool is taken away from the next one, even if its definition asks for it\n\n**Unclear.** The depth limit is not stated, and it is not clear where the record that the tool was withheld shows up.\n\n**What**\n\nA subagent is a helper agent that Claude starts to work on part of a task, and subagents can start their own subagents. When this nesting reaches its depth limit, Claude Code now removes the Agent tool from the deeper agent, even if that agent's definition lists the tool. Claude Code also records that the tool was withheld for this reason.\n\n**Why**\n\nThis limits how deep chains of subagents can go. An agent that expects to start its own helpers may not be able to when it is already deeply nested.\n\n- Area: Subagents\n- Tier: You'll notice\n- Useful: 2\/5\n- Signal: 2\/5\n- Scope: individual\n- Heads-up: no"}