Task Master ignores claude-code provider configuration when ANTHROPIC_API_KEY environment variable is present #56

New issue

Closed

opened 2025-10-14 15:39:57 -06:00 by navan · 0 comments

navan commented

2025-10-14 15:39:57 -06:00

Owner

Originally created by @gebeer on 9/28/2025

Bug Description

Task Master falls back to using the Anthropic API (incurring costs) instead of the configured claude-code provider when ANTHROPIC_API_KEY is present in the environment, despite explicit configuration.

Configuration

{
  "models": {
    "main": { "provider": "claude-code", "modelId": "sonnet" },
    "research": { "provider": "claude-code", "modelId": "opus" },
    "fallback": { "provider": "claude-code", "modelId": "sonnet" }
  }
}

Expected Behavior

Task Master should use Claude Code CLI (subscription-based, no costs)
task-master models correctly shows "Free" for claude-code provider

Actual Behavior

Task Master uses Anthropic API despite claude-code configuration
API charges incurred (verified in Anthropic usage dashboard)
Telemetry shows Provider: claude-code but actual API calls use ANTHROPIC_API_KEY

Environment

Task Master version: 0.27.3
Node.js: v22.13.0
OS: Arch Linux
Claude Code CLI: 1.0.128 (authenticated with subscription)

Reproduction Steps

Configure all models to use claude-code provider
Set ANTHROPIC_API_KEY in environment (e.g., in .bashrc)
Run task-master add-task --prompt="test"
Check Anthropic usage dashboard - API charges appear

Root Cause

Authentication precedence logic prioritizes environment variables over provider configuration.

Workaround

# bash alias function
task-master() {
    unset ANTHROPIC_API_KEY
    command task-master "$@"
}

*Originally created by @gebeer on 9/28/2025* ### Bug Description Task Master falls back to using the Anthropic API (incurring costs) instead of the configured `claude-code` provider when `ANTHROPIC_API_KEY` is present in the environment, despite explicit configuration. ### Configuration ```json { "models": { "main": { "provider": "claude-code", "modelId": "sonnet" }, "research": { "provider": "claude-code", "modelId": "opus" }, "fallback": { "provider": "claude-code", "modelId": "sonnet" } } } ``` ### Expected Behavior - Task Master should use Claude Code CLI (subscription-based, no costs) - `task-master models` correctly shows "Free" for claude-code provider ### Actual Behavior - Task Master uses Anthropic API despite `claude-code` configuration - API charges incurred (verified in Anthropic usage dashboard) - Telemetry shows `Provider: claude-code` but actual API calls use `ANTHROPIC_API_KEY` ### Environment - Task Master version: 0.27.3 - Node.js: v22.13.0 - OS: Arch Linux - Claude Code CLI: 1.0.128 (authenticated with subscription) ### Reproduction Steps 1. Configure all models to use `claude-code` provider 2. Set `ANTHROPIC_API_KEY` in environment (e.g., in `.bashrc`) 3. Run `task-master add-task --prompt="test"` 4. Check Anthropic usage dashboard - API charges appear ### Root Cause Authentication precedence logic prioritizes environment variables over provider configuration. ### Workaround ```bash # bash alias function task-master() { unset ANTHROPIC_API_KEY command task-master "$@" } ```