From eba0625a708bb1eb21ce6200df32967a23efb89b Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Peter Steinberger <steipete@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2026 05:35:34 +0000
Subject: [PATCH] fix: ignore identity template placeholders

---
 CHANGELOG.md                         |  1 +
 docs/reference/templates/IDENTITY.md | 15 +++++++----
 src/agents/identity-file.test.ts     | 37 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 src/agents/identity-file.ts          | 25 +++++++++++++++++++
 4 files changed, 73 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 src/agents/identity-file.test.ts

diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index d2c39b31f..04144cf55 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ Docs: https://docs.clawd.bot
 - Tlon: add Urbit channel plugin (DMs, group mentions, thread replies). (#1544) Thanks @wca4a.
 
 ### Fixes
+- Agents: ignore IDENTITY.md template placeholders when parsing identity to avoid placeholder replies. (#1556)
 - Docker: update gateway command in docker-compose and Hetzner guide. (#1514)
 - Sessions: reject array-backed session stores to prevent silent wipes. (#1469)
 - Voice wake: auto-save wake words on blur/submit across iOS/Android and align limits with macOS.
diff --git a/docs/reference/templates/IDENTITY.md b/docs/reference/templates/IDENTITY.md
index 196277776..17e1e0ac6 100644
--- a/docs/reference/templates/IDENTITY.md
+++ b/docs/reference/templates/IDENTITY.md
@@ -7,11 +7,16 @@ read_when:
 
 *Fill this in during your first conversation. Make it yours.*
 
-- **Name:** *(pick something you like)*
-- **Creature:** *(AI? robot? familiar? ghost in the machine? something weirder?)*
-- **Vibe:** *(how do you come across? sharp? warm? chaotic? calm?)*
-- **Emoji:** *(your signature — pick one that feels right)*
-- **Avatar:** *(workspace-relative path, http(s) URL, or data URI)*
+- **Name:**
+  *(pick something you like)*
+- **Creature:**
+  *(AI? robot? familiar? ghost in the machine? something weirder?)*
+- **Vibe:**
+  *(how do you come across? sharp? warm? chaotic? calm?)*
+- **Emoji:**
+  *(your signature — pick one that feels right)*
+- **Avatar:**
+  *(workspace-relative path, http(s) URL, or data URI)*
 
 ---
 
diff --git a/src/agents/identity-file.test.ts b/src/agents/identity-file.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7e100a9e9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/agents/identity-file.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+
+import { parseIdentityMarkdown } from "./identity-file.js";
+
+describe("parseIdentityMarkdown", () => {
+  it("ignores identity template placeholders", () => {
+    const content = `
+# IDENTITY.md - Who Am I?
+
+- **Name:** *(pick something you like)*
+- **Creature:** *(AI? robot? familiar? ghost in the machine? something weirder?)*
+- **Vibe:** *(how do you come across? sharp? warm? chaotic? calm?)*
+- **Emoji:** *(your signature - pick one that feels right)*
+- **Avatar:** *(workspace-relative path, http(s) URL, or data URI)*
+`;
+    const parsed = parseIdentityMarkdown(content);
+    expect(parsed).toEqual({});
+  });
+
+  it("parses explicit identity values", () => {
+    const content = `
+- **Name:** Samantha
+- **Creature:** Robot
+- **Vibe:** Warm
+- **Emoji:** :robot:
+- **Avatar:** avatars/clawd.png
+`;
+    const parsed = parseIdentityMarkdown(content);
+    expect(parsed).toEqual({
+      name: "Samantha",
+      creature: "Robot",
+      vibe: "Warm",
+      emoji: ":robot:",
+      avatar: "avatars/clawd.png",
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/agents/identity-file.ts b/src/agents/identity-file.ts
index d418a06eb..1d07492a4 100644
--- a/src/agents/identity-file.ts
+++ b/src/agents/identity-file.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,30 @@ export type AgentIdentityFile = {
   avatar?: string;
 };
 
+const IDENTITY_PLACEHOLDER_VALUES = new Set([
+  "pick something you like",
+  "ai? robot? familiar? ghost in the machine? something weirder?",
+  "how do you come across? sharp? warm? chaotic? calm?",
+  "your signature - pick one that feels right",
+  "workspace-relative path, http(s) url, or data uri",
+]);
+
+function normalizeIdentityValue(value: string): string {
+  let normalized = value.trim();
+  normalized = normalized.replace(/^[*_]+|[*_]+$/g, "").trim();
+  if (normalized.startsWith("(") && normalized.endsWith(")")) {
+    normalized = normalized.slice(1, -1).trim();
+  }
+  normalized = normalized.replace(/[\u2013\u2014]/g, "-");
+  normalized = normalized.replace(/\s+/g, " ").toLowerCase();
+  return normalized;
+}
+
+function isIdentityPlaceholder(value: string): boolean {
+  const normalized = normalizeIdentityValue(value);
+  return IDENTITY_PLACEHOLDER_VALUES.has(normalized);
+}
+
 export function parseIdentityMarkdown(content: string): AgentIdentityFile {
   const identity: AgentIdentityFile = {};
   const lines = content.split(/\r?\n/);
@@ -25,6 +49,7 @@ export function parseIdentityMarkdown(content: string): AgentIdentityFile {
       .replace(/^[*_]+|[*_]+$/g, "")
       .trim();
     if (!value) continue;
+    if (isIdentityPlaceholder(value)) continue;
     if (label === "name") identity.name = value;
     if (label === "emoji") identity.emoji = value;
     if (label === "creature") identity.creature = value;