# Bug Report: Chat message truncation when using < symbol (less than)

[ZF-20]

Description

Description

When sending chat messages directly (not via tool output), the < (less than symbol) causes message truncation. The message is cut off at the point where the symbol appears.

This only affects chat messages - tool output (echo, file content, etc.) works fine with the character.

Note: The greater than symbol (>) does not have this issue.

Steps to reproduce

1. Send a chat message containing the < symbol
2. Message gets truncated at the symbol

Example that gets truncated:
MP is < 10

Expected: Full message displayed
Actual: Message cuts off

Workaround

Use alternative character:

• < (U+2039 single left angle quote) instead of <

Or simply avoid using the < symbol in chat messages.

Environment

• Platform: Windows
• Terminal: Windows Terminal
• OpenCode version: 1.14.46

Additional notes

• Works fine in tool output (bash echo, python print, etc.)
• Works fine in Thinking/Reasoning phase
• Only affects direct chat message output
• Greater than symbol works fine
• No obvious security reason for this difference
• Appears to be a parsing or encoding bug specific to chat message output layer

Plugins

No response

OpenCode version

No response

Steps to reproduce

No response

Screenshot and/or share link

Operating System

Windows 11

Terminal

Windows Terminal

[github-actions]

This issue might be a duplicate of existing issues. Please check:

• Either the < or <= operators are causing responses from the ai to get cut off. #23928: Same bug — the < (and <=) operators causing AI responses to get cut off/truncated in chat output