diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index 5abc290..340be53 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -80,3 +80,26 @@ HowToLens is the teaching companion to `autolens_workspace`. Many tutorials (par
 - **PyAutoGalaxy** source: `../PyAutoGalaxy`
 - **autolens_workspace**: `../autolens_workspace` — main user-facing workspace
 - **PyAutoBuild**: `../PyAutoBuild` — notebook generation and CI/CD tooling
+## Never rewrite history
+
+NEVER perform these operations on any repo with a remote:
+
+- `git init` in a directory already tracked by git
+- `rm -rf .git && git init`
+- Commit with subject "Initial commit", "Fresh start", "Start fresh", "Reset
+  for AI workflow", or any equivalent message on a branch with a remote
+- `git push --force` to `main` (or any branch tracked as `origin/HEAD`)
+- `git filter-repo` / `git filter-branch` on shared branches
+- `git rebase -i` rewriting commits already pushed to a shared branch
+
+If the working tree needs a clean state, the **only** correct sequence is:
+
+    git fetch origin
+    git reset --hard origin/main
+    git clean -fd
+
+This applies equally to humans, local Claude Code, cloud Claude agents, Codex,
+and any other agent. The "Initial commit — fresh start for AI workflow" pattern
+that appeared independently on origin and local for three workspace repos is
+exactly what this rule prevents — it costs ~40 commits of redundant local work
+every time it happens.