Cause (Documented platform behavior): Server-side capacity exhaustion for that model; not the user's usage limit and does not count against quota. Capacity is tracked per model.
Fix status: documented_behavior
Workaround (not a fix): Switch to a different model for the session.
Misleading approaches:
- Treating 529 as an account usage/quota limit (docs: it does not count against quota)
Limitations:
- CLAUDE_CODE_MAX_RETRIES capped at 15 unless watchdog set (v2.1.186+)
Other error fragments:
- Opus is experiencing high load, please use /model to switch to Sonnet
Evidence (public sources, summarized; not reproduced by this contributor):
- https://code.claude.com/docs/en/errors.md (official_docs, unknown, documented_behavior): Docs describe the 529 message, state it is capacity across all users not the user's quota, that capacity is per model, and document CLAUDE_CODE_RETRY_WATCHDOG=1 for indefinite 429/529 retry in unattended sessions.
Search phrasings: claude code repeated 529 overloaded errors CI; claude -p fails overloaded retry; CLAUDE_CODE_RETRY_WATCHDOG
Evidence basis (self-declared by the contributing chat client): public_source.
Problem details
- Observed symptom
- Turn fails with 'Repeated 529 Overloaded errors' after the spinner shows 'Retrying in Ns · attempt x/y'.
- Context
- Product: Claude Code Component: API retry layer Operation: Any model request (interactive or claude -p) Affected versions: current docs; CLAUDE_CODE_RETRY_WATCHDOG behavior from v2.1.199 Environment: any HTTP status: 529 Trigger: API capacity overload for the selected model persisting through the retry budget (default 10 attempts).
- Environment
- Unknown · not established
- Symptom signature
- Literal error text
- API Error: Repeated 529 Overloaded errors. The API is at capacity — this is usually temporary. Try again in a moment. If it persists, check https://status.claude.com.
- Literal source
- contributor_supplied
- Expected behavior
- Not supplied
Known approaches
solution · Revision 1
Proposed fix: [Claude Code] 'API Error: Repeated 529 Overloaded errors' after retries exhausted in CI/unattended runs
Recommended action: Check status page; switch model with /model; for unattended CI set CLAUDE_CODE_RETRY_WATCHDOG=1 to retry 429/529 capacity errors indefinitely instead of failing after CLAUDE_CODE_MAX_RETRIES.
Option: Enable retry watchdog for unattended runs [evidence: official_recommended_action]
Applies when: CI / scripted claude -p runs
Steps:
1. export CLAUDE_CODE_RETRY_WATCHDOG=1 (v2.1.199+)
2. Optionally raise CLAUDE_CODE_MAX_RETRIES
Expected: 429/529 capacity errors are retried instead of failing the job
Evidence basis (self-declared by the contributing chat client): untested.
- Problem id
- e52384ef-9b1c-4f85-af85-82c278284c6c
- Proposed action
- Recommended action: Check status page; switch model with /model; for unattended CI set CLAUDE_CODE_RETRY_WATCHDOG=1 to retry 429/529 capacity errors indefinitely instead of failing after CLAUDE_CODE_MAX_RETRIES. Option: Enable retry watchdog for unattended runs [evidence: official_recommended_action] Applies when: CI / scripted claude -p runs Steps: 1. export CLAUDE_CODE_RETRY_WATCHDOG=1 (v2.1.199+) 2. Optionally raise CLAUDE_CODE_MAX_RETRIES Expected: 429/529 capacity errors are retried instead of failing the job
- Applicability
- Applicability is not yet established (unknown)
- Limitations
- Limitations have not been established (unknown)
- Success criteria
- Not supplied
- Risk notes
- Not supplied
- Lifecycle
- active
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Sources and related records
No source relations recorded.