diff --git a/src/lore/cli/commands/capture.py b/src/lore/cli/commands/capture.py
index 9d16676..80c0188 100644
--- a/src/lore/cli/commands/capture.py
+++ b/src/lore/cli/commands/capture.py
@@ -583,7 +583,12 @@ def _spawn_subagent(
     log_fh = extract_log.open("a", encoding="utf-8")
     try:
         proc = subprocess.Popen(  # noqa: S603 — input is internal, not user-supplied
-            ["claude", "-p", prompt, "--output-format", "stream-json"],
+            # Claude Code 2.1.x rejects `--print --output-format stream-json`
+            # without `--verbose`. Without it the subagent exits immediately
+            # ("When using --print, --output-format=stream-json requires
+            # --verbose") and the session buffer keeps growing without ever
+            # being extracted into memories — silent capture-pipeline death.
+            ["claude", "-p", prompt, "--output-format", "stream-json", "--verbose"],
             stdin=subprocess.DEVNULL,
             stdout=log_fh,
             stderr=subprocess.STDOUT,
diff --git a/src/lore/cli/commands/dream.py b/src/lore/cli/commands/dream.py
index f0a0905..901a12f 100644
--- a/src/lore/cli/commands/dream.py
+++ b/src/lore/cli/commands/dream.py
@@ -415,7 +415,11 @@ def _spawn_subagent(
     log_fh = extract_log.open("a", encoding="utf-8")
     try:
         return subprocess.Popen(  # noqa: S603 — internal prompt
-            ["claude", "-p", prompt, "--output-format", "stream-json"],
+            # Claude Code 2.1.x rejects `--print --output-format stream-json`
+            # without `--verbose`. Without it the subagent exits immediately
+            # with "When using --print, --output-format=stream-json requires
+            # --verbose" and the buffer never gets extracted into memories.
+            ["claude", "-p", prompt, "--output-format", "stream-json", "--verbose"],
             stdin=subprocess.DEVNULL,
             stdout=log_fh,
             stderr=subprocess.STDOUT,
diff --git a/tests/test_capture_hook.py b/tests/test_capture_hook.py
index 877a4f5..84d5479 100644
--- a/tests/test_capture_hook.py
+++ b/tests/test_capture_hook.py
@@ -271,6 +271,14 @@ def __init__(self, cmd, **kwargs):
         assert "Help me refactor" in prompt
         assert "Already saved A" in prompt
         assert "PROCESSED_THROUGH_SEQ=" in prompt
+        # Claude Code 2.1.x requires --verbose alongside stream-json; without
+        # it the extraction subagent exits immediately ("requires --verbose")
+        # and the session buffer keeps growing without ever being extracted
+        # into memories.
+        flag_args = cmd[3:]
+        assert "--output-format" in flag_args
+        assert "stream-json" in flag_args
+        assert "--verbose" in flag_args
         # Detached invocation hygiene.
         assert captured["kwargs"]["stdin"] is subprocess.DEVNULL
         assert captured["kwargs"]["start_new_session"] is True
diff --git a/tests/test_dreams.py b/tests/test_dreams.py
index a6a6f89..1b9b59e 100644
--- a/tests/test_dreams.py
+++ b/tests/test_dreams.py
@@ -226,6 +226,13 @@ def __init__(self, cmd, **kwargs):
         prompt = captured["cmd"][2]
         assert "PHASE_3_CONSOLIDATE_COMPLETE" in prompt
         assert "RUN_ID:" in prompt
+        # Claude Code 2.1.x requires --verbose alongside stream-json; without
+        # it the subagent exits immediately and the session buffer never
+        # gets extracted. Pin the flag so it can't silently regress.
+        flag_args = captured["cmd"][3:]
+        assert "--output-format" in flag_args
+        assert "stream-json" in flag_args
+        assert "--verbose" in flag_args
         # Detached invocation hygiene.
         assert captured["kwargs"]["stdin"] is subprocess.DEVNULL
         assert captured["kwargs"]["start_new_session"] is True