# How to Disable Model Invocation for i-have-adhd in Claude Code

> Learn how to disable model invocation for i-have-adhd in Claude Code. Follow simple steps to control automatic skill activation and enhance your Claude experience.

- Repository: [Ayoub Ghriss/i-have-adhd](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd)
- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-08-31

---

**Set `disable-model-invocation: true` in [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) and remove the opt-in flag file `~/.claude/.i-have-adhd-always` to prevent automatic skill activation.**

Claude Code applies skills automatically to every response unless explicitly configured otherwise. The **i-have-adhd** skill from `ayghri/i-have-adhd` ships with safeguards against unwanted model invocation, but understanding how these controls work ensures the skill stays dormant until you explicitly need it.

## Understanding the Disable Mechanism

Claude Code reads skill behavior from **front-matter** in each skill's [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md) file. The `disable-model-invocation` flag acts as a circuit breaker: when present and set to `true`, the skill cannot activate automatically through model inference.

In [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) (line 4), this flag is already configured:

```yaml
---
disable-model-invocation: true
---

```

This single line ensures the skill remains **off by default** across all sessions.

## Verifying the Disable Flag is Set

Before making changes, confirm the existing configuration:

```bash

# Check the front-matter for the disable flag

grep -A2 "^disable-model-invocation:" skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md

```

Expected output:

```text
disable-model-invocation: true

```

If this line appears, no further action is needed—the skill is already blocked from automatic invocation.

## Removing the Always-On Override

Even with `disable-model-invocation: true`, an **opt-in flag file** can force the skill active. The file `~/.claude/.i-have-adhd-always` overrides all front-matter settings when present.

To ensure complete disablement:

```bash

# Remove the always-on flag if it exists

rm -f ~/.claude/.i-have-adhd-always

```

After deletion, **restart Claude Code** to reload skill configurations.

## Restoring the Disable Flag if Missing

If [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md) was edited and the flag removed, restore it with:

```bash

# Re-add or fix the disable-model-invocation line in the front-matter

sed -i '/^---$/,/^---$/ s/disable-model-invocation:.*/disable-model-invocation: true/' \
    skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md

```

Then restart Claude Code.

## Manual Invocation When Needed

With model invocation disabled, activate the skill **explicitly** by typing:

```

/i-have-adhd

```

This command bypasses the disable flag, running the skill for that specific interaction only.

## Key Files Controlling Model Invocation

- **[`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md)** — Contains the `disable-model-invocation: true` front-matter flag at line 4. This is the primary control for automatic invocation.
- **`~/.claude/.i-have-adhd-always`** — Optional user file that forces the skill on every session; must be absent for disablement to take effect.
- **[`README.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/README.md)** — Documents the restart requirement after configuration changes and the `/i-have-adhd` manual trigger.
- **[`INSTALL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/INSTALL.md)** — Explains the `disable-model-invocation` behavior during setup.

## Summary

- **Default behavior**: i-have-adhd ships with `disable-model-invocation: true` in [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md), blocking automatic model invocation.
- **Override check**: Delete `~/.claude/.i-have-adhd-always` to prevent forced activation.
- **Verification**: Use `grep` to confirm the flag in front-matter.
- **Activation**: Type `/i-have-adhd` to manually trigger the skill when needed.
- **Restart requirement**: Claude Code must reload to recognize configuration changes.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What happens if I remove disable-model-invocation from SKILL.md?

Claude Code will attempt to apply the i-have-adhd skill automatically to relevant responses. The skill will activate based on model inference without requiring the `/i-have-adhd` command. Restore the flag to regain explicit control.

### Does the .i-have-adhd-always file override SKILL.md settings?

Yes. The presence of `~/.claude/.i-have-adhd-always` forces the skill active on every session regardless of front-matter configuration. Delete this file and restart Claude Code to return to disabled-by-default mode.

### Why must I restart Claude Code after changing these files?

Claude Code parses skill front-matter and configuration files at startup. Changes to [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md) or the removal of flag files are not hot-reloaded; a restart ensures the new configuration state is read and applied to subsequent sessions.