CLAUDE_CODE_OVERLOADED_RETRY_MAX_DELAY_MS

Updated October 23, 2026 by Alex Sorokoletov

CLAUDE_CODE_OVERLOADED_RETRY_MAX_DELAY_MS is a Claude Code environment variable: Raises the ceiling on the backoff delay when retrying a request that returned a 529 overloaded response. It applies to the overloaded retry path specifically, alongside the base-delay control already present. Added in v2.1.296 and still present in v2.1.310. It is listed in the official reference.

Status	Present in v2.1.310
Added	Added in v2.1.296
Category	Network and proxy
Official docs	Listed

How to set it

For one session, export it in the shell that starts Claude Code:

export CLAUDE_CODE_OVERLOADED_RETRY_MAX_DELAY_MS=<value>
claude

To apply it to every session, add it to the env object of a settings file:

// ~/.claude/settings.json
{
  "env": {
    "CLAUDE_CODE_OVERLOADED_RETRY_MAX_DELAY_MS": "<value>"
  }
}

Release notes that mention it

Related variables

CLAUDE_CODE_OVERLOADED_RETRY_BASE_DELAY_MS: Sets the base delay, in milliseconds, for the backoff when a request comes back overloaded (HTTP 529).
CLAUDE_CODE_RETRY_WATCHDOG_MAX_USAGE_LIMIT_WAIT_MS: Bounds how long unattended retry mode (CLAUDE_CODE_RETRY_WATCHDOG) waits for a usage-limit reset.
CLAUDE_CODE_RETRY_WATCHDOG_MAX_WAIT_MS: Caps the total time unattended retry mode (CLAUDE_CODE_RETRY_WATCHDOG) waits through 429 and 529 responses.
BASH_MAX_TIMEOUT_MS
CLAUDE_CODE_MAX_RETRIES: Maximum API request retries.
CLAUDE_CODE_RETRY_WATCHDOG: Tunes the retry watchdog that detects API calls silently looping without progress.
CLAUDE_CODE_RETRY_WATCHDOG_SCOPE: Read alongside CLAUDE_CODE_RETRY_WATCHDOG.
CLAUDE_CODE_RETRY_WATCHDOG_USAGE_LIMIT_RECHECK_MS: Governs how unattended retry mode (CLAUDE_CODE_RETRY_WATCHDOG) rechecks a usage limit that was lifted before its reset, so a headless run can resume once the limit clears.

Frequently asked questions

What does CLAUDE_CODE_OVERLOADED_RETRY_MAX_DELAY_MS do?

Raises the ceiling on the backoff delay when retrying a request that returned a 529 overloaded response. It applies to the overloaded retry path specifically, alongside the base-delay control already present.

Which Claude Code version has CLAUDE_CODE_OVERLOADED_RETRY_MAX_DELAY_MS?

Added in v2.1.296 and still present in v2.1.310.

How do I set CLAUDE_CODE_OVERLOADED_RETRY_MAX_DELAY_MS?

Export it before starting Claude Code (export CLAUDE_CODE_OVERLOADED_RETRY_MAX_DELAY_MS=value), or add it to the "env" object in ~/.claude/settings.json to apply it to every session.

All variables, searchable: Claude Code environment variables.