[BUG] --plugin-dir: Marketplace 'inline' not found in configuration

[sandroden]

Preflight Checklist

• I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
• This is a single bug report
• I am using the latest version of Claude Code

What's Wrong?

When loading a plugin with --plugin-dir, the plugin appears as installed but shows this error in its status:

Marketplace 'inline' not found in configuration. Available marketplaces: claude-code-plugins, 
anthropic-agent-skills, superpowers-marketplace, claude-plugins-official, everything-claude-code

The plugin's skills are not loaded and cannot be used.

What Should Happen?

The plugin loaded via --plugin-dir should work correctly. The internal "inline" marketplace assigned to --plugin-dir plugins should be properly registered so components can be resolved.

Workaround

Creating a local marketplace and installing the plugin through the standard marketplace flow works correctly:

/plugin marketplace add ./my-marketplace
/plugin install my-plugin@my-marketplace

Steps to Reproduce

1. Create a valid plugin following the official documentation:

my-plugin/
├── .claude-plugin/
│   └── plugin.json
└── skills/
    └── my-skill/
        └── SKILL.md

plugin.json:

{
    "name": "my-plugin",
    "description": "Test plugin",
    "version": "1.0.0",
    "author": { "name": "Test" }
}

SKILL.md:

---
name: my-skill
description: A test skill
---
Test skill content.

2. Run claude --plugin-dir ./my-plugin
3. Type /plugin and check plugin status
4. The plugin shows the "Marketplace 'inline' not found" error

Related Issues

• [BUG] Plugin not found in --plugin-dir if --setting-sources "" #11652 — Similar issue with --plugin-dir and the "inline" marketplace (closed due to inactivity)

Claude Code Version

2.1.52 (Claude Code)

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Ubuntu 24.04.4 LTS (Linux 6.14.0)

Terminal/Shell

bash

[github-actions]

Found 3 possible duplicate issues:

1. [BUG] Plugin not found in --plugin-dir if --setting-sources "" #11652
2. [Bug] Plugin not visible to Claude despite being visible with /plugins command with --plugin-dir flag #14689
3. Plugin skills not injected into <available_skills> context #15178

This issue will be automatically closed as a duplicate in 3 days.

• If your issue is a duplicate, please close it and 👍 the existing issue instead
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🤖 Generated with Claude Code

[github-actions]

This issue has been automatically closed as a duplicate of #11652.

If this is incorrect, please re-open this issue or create a new one.

🤖 Generated with Claude Code

[github-actions]

This issue has been automatically locked since it was closed and has not had any activity for 7 days. If you're experiencing a similar issue, please file a new issue and reference this one if it's relevant.