# GIT\_LFS\_SKIP\_SMUDGE=1 always set **URL:** \ **Category:** Feature Requests\ **Tags:** cloud-agents\ **Created:** [October 30, 2026, 3:56pm UTC](https://forum.cursor.com/t/git-lfs-skip-smudge-1-always-set/176803 "2026-10-30T15:56:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mark\_Derbecker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/cursor1/user_avatar/forum.cursor.com/mark_derbecker/32/124961_2.png) [@Mark\_Derbecker](https://forum.cursor.com/u/Mark_Derbecker)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2026, 3:56pm UTC](https://forum.cursor.com/t/git-lfs-skip-smudge-1-always-set/176803/1 "2026-10-30T15:56:43Z")
In Cursor Cloud Agent Environments, it looks like `GIT_LFS_SKIP_SMUDGE=1` is always present. I understand that the primary goal is for fast checkouts during install and maybe during startup. Since we utilize LFS extensively, we’ve had to build a fair amount of workarounds in our environment definitions to unset this variable during agent turns/terminal operation because otherwise git does not bring down LFS files (and it’s tedious to keep having to remember to issue `git lfs pull`, even for the agent). Is it perhaps just an oversight that `GIT_LFS_SKIP_SMUDGE=1` is injected into the environment even after install/startup? ---
**Author:** ![system](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/cursor1/user_avatar/forum.cursor.com/system/32/99069_2.png) [@system](https://forum.cursor.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2026, 3:56pm UTC](https://forum.cursor.com/t/git-lfs-skip-smudge-1-always-set/176803/2 "2026-10-30T15:56:51Z")
Hi there! We detected that this may be a bug report, so we’ve moved your post to the **Bug Reports** category. To help us investigate and fix this faster, could you edit your original post to include the details from the template below? > **Bug Report Template - Click to expand** > > **Where does the bug appear (feature/product)?** > > - Editor, Tab & Chat (autocomplete, Composer, in-editor agent) > - Terminal & commands > - Models, pricing & API keys (availability, Auto/Max, BYOK/Bedrock) > - MCP & tools > - Cloud Agents & Automations ([cursor.com/agents](http://cursor.com/agents), scheduled/event) > - BugBot & Code Review > - Cursor CLI > - Cursor Mobile > - Remote (SSH / Dev Containers / WSL) > - Account, billing & login > - Something else… > > * * * > > **Describe the Bug** > A clear and concise description of what the bug is. > > * * * > > **Steps to Reproduce** > How can you reproduce this bug? We have a much better chance at fixing issues if we can reproduce them! > > 1. … > 2. … > 3. … > > * * * > > **Expected Behavior** > What is meant to happen here that isn’t working correctly? > > * * * > > **Screenshots / Screen Recordings** > If applicable, attach images or videos (.jpg, .png, .gif, .mp4, .mov) > > * * * > > **Operating System** > > - Windows 10/11 > - MacOS > - Linux > > * * * > > **Version Information** > > - For Cursor IDE: Menu → About Cursor → Copy > - For Cursor CLI: Run `agent about` in your terminal > > ```auto > IDE: > Version: 2.xx.x > VSCode Version: 1.105.1 > Commit: ...... > > CLI: > CLI Version 2026.01.17-d239e66 > > ``` > > * * * > > **For AI issues: which model did you use?** > Model name (e.g., Sonnet 4, Tab…) > > * * * > > **For AI issues: add Request ID with privacy disabled** > Request ID: f9a7046a-279b-47e5-ab48-6e8dc12daba1 > For Background Agent issues, also post the ID: bc-… > > * * * > > **Additional Information** > Add any other context about the problem here. > > * * * > > **Does this stop you from using Cursor?** > > - Yes - Cursor is unusable > - Sometimes - I can sometimes use Cursor > - No - Cursor works, but with this issue The more details you provide, the easier it is for us to reproduce and fix the issue. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Derbecker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/cursor1/user_avatar/forum.cursor.com/mark_derbecker/32/124961_2.png) [@Mark\_Derbecker](https://forum.cursor.com/u/Mark_Derbecker)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2026, 2:58pm UTC](https://forum.cursor.com/t/git-lfs-skip-smudge-1-always-set/176803/5 "2026-10-31T14:58:38Z")
I don’t think this is a bug-- it may just be a design oversight. But here’s the template anyways: **Where does the bug appear (feature/product)?** - Editor, Tab & Chat (autocomplete, Composer, in-editor agent) - Terminal & commands - Models, pricing & API keys (availability, Auto/Max, BYOK/Bedrock) - MCP & tools - Cloud Agents & Automations ([cursor.com/agents](http://cursor.com/agents), scheduled/event) - BugBot & Code Review - Cursor CLI - Cursor Mobile - Remote (SSH / Dev Containers / WSL) - Account, billing & login - Something else… * * * **Describe the Bug** GIT\_LFS\_SKIP\_SMUDGE is set to 1 even after install/startup. * * * **Steps to Reproduce** How can you reproduce this bug? We have a much better chance at fixing issues if we can reproduce them! 1. Launch any Cursor Cloud Agent Environment. 2. In the terminal, execute `echo $GIT_LFS_SKIP_SMUDGE` 3. Observe that it is `1`. 4. Observe that any `git checkout` or `git pull` operations do not materialize LFS files, only the pointers end up on disk. * * * **Expected Behavior** What is meant to happen here that isn’t working correctly? I would expect the variable to not be set after `install/startup` have completed. I’m actually not really sure it should be set when those scripts run, either, because the first thing we have to do in those scripts is `unset` it. * * * **Screenshots / Screen Recordings** If applicable, attach images or videos (.jpg, .png, .gif, .mp4, .mov) N/A * * * **Operating System** - Windows 10/11 - MacOS - Linux * * * **Version Information** N/A * * * **For AI issues: which model did you use?** Model name (e.g., Sonnet 4, Tab…) N/A * * * **For AI issues: add Request ID with privacy disabled** Request ID: f9a7046a-279b-47e5-ab48-6e8dc12daba1 For Background Agent issues, also post the ID: bc-… N/A * * * **Additional Information** Add any other context about the problem here. N/A * * * **Does this stop you from using Cursor?** No ---
**Author:** ![mohitjain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/cursor1/user_avatar/forum.cursor.com/mohitjain/32/100229_2.png) [@mohitjain](https://forum.cursor.com/u/mohitjain)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2026, 10:55am UTC](https://forum.cursor.com/t/git-lfs-skip-smudge-1-always-set/176803/6 "2026-11-02T10:55:46Z")
Hey @Mark_Derbecker, it’s intentional: it keeps clones and checkouts from failing when LFS files can’t be downloaded, but right now it stays set for the whole session, not just setup. There’s no setting to turn it off, so unsetting it in your environment setup is the right workaround for now. We’re tracking this as a feature request to limit it to setup or make it configurable. ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Derbecker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/cursor1/user_avatar/forum.cursor.com/mark_derbecker/32/124961_2.png) [@Mark\_Derbecker](https://forum.cursor.com/u/Mark_Derbecker)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2026, 3:32pm UTC](https://forum.cursor.com/t/git-lfs-skip-smudge-1-always-set/176803/8 "2026-11-02T15:32:43Z")
Thank you!