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Co-authored-by: Mylszd <23611557+Mylszd@users.noreply.github.com>
Co-authored-by: gumadeiras <5599352+gumadeiras@users.noreply.github.com>
Reviewed-by: @gumadeiras
102 lines
3.0 KiB
Markdown
102 lines
3.0 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: "Tool-loop detection"
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description: "Configure optional guardrails for preventing repetitive or stalled tool-call loops"
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summary: "How to enable and tune guardrails that detect repetitive tool-call loops"
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read_when:
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- A user reports agents getting stuck repeating tool calls
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- You need to tune repetitive-call protection
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- You are editing agent tool/runtime policies
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---
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# Tool-loop detection
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OpenClaw can keep agents from getting stuck in repeated tool-call patterns.
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The guard is **disabled by default**.
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Enable it only where needed, because it can block legitimate repeated calls with strict settings.
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## Why this exists
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- Detect repetitive sequences that do not make progress.
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- Detect high-frequency no-result loops (same tool, same inputs, repeated errors).
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- Detect specific repeated-call patterns for known polling tools.
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## Configuration block
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Global defaults:
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```json5
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{
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tools: {
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loopDetection: {
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enabled: false,
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historySize: 30,
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warningThreshold: 10,
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criticalThreshold: 20,
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globalCircuitBreakerThreshold: 30,
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detectors: {
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genericRepeat: true,
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knownPollNoProgress: true,
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pingPong: true,
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},
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},
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},
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}
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```
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Per-agent override (optional):
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```json5
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{
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agents: {
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list: [
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{
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id: "safe-runner",
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tools: {
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loopDetection: {
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enabled: true,
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warningThreshold: 8,
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criticalThreshold: 16,
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},
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},
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},
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],
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},
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}
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```
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### Field behavior
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- `enabled`: Master switch. `false` means no loop detection is performed.
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- `historySize`: number of recent tool calls kept for analysis.
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- `warningThreshold`: threshold before classifying a pattern as warning-only.
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- `criticalThreshold`: threshold for blocking repetitive loop patterns.
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- `globalCircuitBreakerThreshold`: global no-progress breaker threshold.
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- `detectors.genericRepeat`: detects repeated same-tool + same-params patterns.
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- `detectors.knownPollNoProgress`: detects known polling-like patterns with no state change.
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- `detectors.pingPong`: detects alternating ping-pong patterns.
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## Recommended setup
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- Start with `enabled: true`, defaults unchanged.
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- Keep thresholds ordered as `warningThreshold < criticalThreshold < globalCircuitBreakerThreshold`.
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- If false positives occur:
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- raise `warningThreshold` and/or `criticalThreshold`
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- (optionally) raise `globalCircuitBreakerThreshold`
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- disable only the detector causing issues
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- reduce `historySize` for less strict historical context
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## Logs and expected behavior
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When a loop is detected, OpenClaw reports a loop event and blocks or dampens the next tool-cycle depending on severity.
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This protects users from runaway token spend and lockups while preserving normal tool access.
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- Prefer warning and temporary suppression first.
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- Escalate only when repeated evidence accumulates.
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## Notes
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- `tools.loopDetection` is merged with agent-level overrides.
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- Per-agent config fully overrides or extends global values.
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- If no config exists, guardrails stay off.
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