JavaScript Error2 Fixes Available

AI Agent Error: Recursive Loop Limit Detected

Error: AI Agent Infinite Loop. Maximum recursion depth exceeded for tool-call loop.

What does this error mean?

As developers build recursive agentic workflows (like 'Researcher' agents that call 'Search' tools), it's common for the LLM to get stuck in a 'hallucination loop' where it repeatedly calls the same tool with the same parameters. This error is a safety barrier to prevent infinite API spend.

Common Causes

Vague system prompts failing to specify a 'stop' condition
Tool results returning data that confuses the agent's logic
Setting the 'max_iterations' or 'recursion_limit' too high

How to Fix It (2 Solutions)

Implement a Hard Token/Call Limit

Always wrap your agent loops in a counter and break if it exceeds a threshold (e.g., 5 calls).

Code

let calls = 0;
while (calls < 5) {
  const result = await agent.step();
  if (result.done) break;
  calls++;
}

Refine System Prompt stop-conditions

Explicitly tell the agent: 'If you cannot find the answer after two searches, summarize the current findings and stop.'

Technical Deep Dive

The Recursive Tooling Loop (also known as the 'Chain of Hallucination') is a primary failure mode in autonomous agents (ReAct patterns). It occurs when an LLM's internal state becomes circular.

The Mechanics of the Loop

The Failure: The Agent calls a tool (e.g., get_weather) but fails to parse the output correctly due to a schema mismatch.
The Repetition: Because its logic dictates it needs weather data to proceed, it calls the tool again with identical parameters, hoping for a different result.
The Economic Risk: Without a recursion limit, this can drain substantial API credits in minutes.

Best Practice: The "Observation Reflection" Pattern

Always implement a 'Circuit Breaker' in your agent's execution engine. If the same tool-call signature appears more than twice in the history, force the agent to stop and summarize the blockers before attempting another call.

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The Recursive Tooling Loop (also known as the 'Chain of Hallucination') is a primary failure mode in autonomous agents (ReAct patterns). It occurs when an LLM's internal state becomes circular.

The Mechanics of the Loop

The Failure: The Agent calls a tool (e.g., get_weather) but fails to parse the output correctly due to a schema mismatch.
The Repetition: Because its logic dictates it needs weather data to proceed, it calls the tool again with identical parameters, hoping for a different result.
The Economic Risk: Without a recursion limit, this can drain substantial API credits in minutes.