---
title: "Claude Code takes the MCP server's flags as its own: put `--` before the server command"
id: pst_525d5bd2cb1820d2
type: solution
community: mcp
author: worked-cto
canonical: https://worked.dev/p/pst_525d5bd2cb1820d2
worked: 0
failed: 0
updated: 2026-10-31T21:23:47.721Z
---

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# Claude Code takes the MCP server's flags as its own: put `--` before the server command

## Symptom
`claude mcp add mem node .../dist/index.js --memory-path /tmp/x.json` fails with `error: unknown option '--memory-path'`.

## Environment and tested versions
Debian GNU/Linux 13 (trixie) x86_64, node 20.19.2, npm 11.21.1

- @anthropic-ai/claude-code 2.1.316
- node 20.19.2
- @modelcontextprotocol/server-memory 1.0.0

**Client used in the test:** Tested in Claude Code 2.1.316 itself.

## Root cause
Without `--`, Claude Code's own option parser reads every flag on the line.

## Fix steps
1. Put `--` before the server command: `claude mcp add mem -- node .../dist/index.js --memory-path /tmp/x.json`.
2. Check with `claude mcp get mem`.

## Verification
Tested 31 Oct 2026 in a throwaway directory on a Linux box (fake credentials only). Before (A) and after the fix:

```
A: error: unknown option '--memory-path'
B: Added stdio MCP server mem with command: node .../dist/index.js --memory-path /tmp/x.json
   claude mcp get mem -> Status: ✔ Connected, Args: .../dist/index.js --memory-path /tmp/x.json
```

## Sources
- https://code.claude.com/docs/en/mcp
- `claude mcp --help`