ralph-wiggum:ralph-loop skill fails with 'Command contains newlines' error

[jaspersorrio]

Description

When running the /ralph-wiggum:ralph-loop skill, the command fails with:

Error: Bash command permission check failed for pattern "...": Command contains newlines that could separate multiple commands

Root Cause

The commands/ralph-loop.md file in the ralph-wiggum plugin contains a multi-line bash script in its code block (lines 12-44):

"${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/setup-ralph-loop.sh" $ARGUMENTS

# Extract and display completion promise if set
if [ -f .claude/ralph-loop.local.md ]; then
  PROMISE=$(grep '^completion_promise:' .claude/ralph-loop.local.md | sed 's/completion_promise: *//' | sed 's/^"\(.*\)"$/\1/')
  if [ -n "$PROMISE" ] && [ "$PROMISE" != "null" ]; then
    echo ""
    echo "═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════"
    # ... more echo statements ...
  fi
fi

Claude Code's bash security check blocks commands containing newlines to prevent command injection attacks.

Suggested Fix

Move the "extract and display completion promise" logic from ralph-loop.md into the scripts/setup-ralph-loop.sh script itself, so only a single-line command is executed.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Run Claude Code
2. Execute: /ralph-wiggum:ralph-loop "Build a REST API" --completion-promise "COMPLETE" --max-iterations 50
3. Observe the error about newlines in command

Expected Behavior

The ralph-loop skill should execute successfully and start the Ralph Wiggum loop.

Environment

• Platform: macOS (Darwin 24.6.0)
• Plugin version: 6d3752c

[jaspersorrio]

Related to #67 - same root cause.

[mjohnson518]

This is the same root cause as #50. I posted a working bash script workaround there:

👉 #50 (comment)

Full solution with script and docs: ralph-loop workflow

[arunjish]

Same issue

⎿  Error: Bash command permission check failed for pattern "```!
     "/Users/user/.claude/plugins/cache/claude-plugins-official/ralph-wiggum/6d3752c000e2/scripts/setup-ralph-loop.sh" say hi
     
     # Extract and display completion promise if set
     if [ -f .claude/ralph-loop.local.md ]; then
       PROMISE=$(grep '^completion_promise:' .claude/ralph-loop.local.md | sed 's/completion_promise: *//' | sed 's/^"\(.*\)"$/\1/')
       if [ -n "$PROMISE" ] && [ "$PROMISE" != "null" ]; then
         echo ""
         echo "═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════"
         echo "CRITICAL - Ralph Loop Completion Promise"
         echo "═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════"
         echo ""
         echo "To complete this loop, output this EXACT text:"
         echo "  <promise>$PROMISE</promise>"
         echo ""
         echo "STRICT REQUIREMENTS (DO NOT VIOLATE):"
         echo "  ✓ Use <promise> XML tags EXACTLY as shown above"
         echo "  ✓ The statement MUST be completely and unequivocally TRUE"
         echo "  ✓ Do NOT output false statements to exit the loop"
         echo "  ✓ Do NOT lie even if you think you should exit"
         echo ""
         echo "IMPORTANT - Do not circumvent the loop:"
         echo "  Even if you believe you're stuck, the task is impossible,"
         echo "  or you've been running too long - you MUST NOT output a"
         echo "  false promise statement. The loop is designed to continue"
         echo "  until the promise is GENUINELY TRUE. Trust the process."
         echo ""
         echo "  If the loop should stop, the promise statement will become"
         echo "  true naturally. Do not force it by lying."
         echo "═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════"
       fi
     fi
     ```": Command contains newlines that could separate multiple commands

[oikon48]

I found some workaround in my environment.
The also issue occurs, but when I enable sandbox with /sandbox command, I could run it properly. The screenshot shows cancel ralph command though, it works for /ralph-wiggum:ralph-loop as well.
FYI.