diff --git a/src/specify_cli/__init__.py b/src/specify_cli/__init__.py
index 1f0eaf475..0a8e877c7 100644
--- a/src/specify_cli/__init__.py
+++ b/src/specify_cli/__init__.py
@@ -1461,6 +1461,58 @@ def ensure_constitution_from_template(project_path: Path, tracker: StepTracker |
             console.print(f"[yellow]Warning: Could not initialize constitution: {e}[/yellow]")
 
 
+def ensure_claude_md(project_path: Path, tracker: StepTracker | None = None) -> None:
+    """Create a minimal root `CLAUDE.md` for Claude Code if missing.
+
+    Claude Code expects `CLAUDE.md` at the project root; this file acts as a
+    bridge to `.specify/memory/constitution.md` (the source of truth).
+    """
+    memory_constitution = project_path / ".specify" / "memory" / "constitution.md"
+    claude_file = project_path / "CLAUDE.md"
+    if claude_file.exists():
+        if tracker:
+            tracker.add("claude-md", "Claude Code role file")
+            tracker.skip("claude-md", "existing file preserved")
+        return
+
+    if not memory_constitution.exists():
+        detail = "constitution missing"
+        if tracker:
+            tracker.add("claude-md", "Claude Code role file")
+            tracker.skip("claude-md", detail)
+        else:
+            console.print(f"[yellow]Warning:[/yellow] Not creating CLAUDE.md because {memory_constitution} is missing")
+        return
+
+    content = (
+        "## Claude's Role\n"
+        "Read `.specify/memory/constitution.md` first. It is the authoritative source of truth for this project. "
+        "Everything in it is non-negotiable.\n\n"
+        "## SpecKit Commands\n"
+        "- `/speckit.specify` — generate spec\n"
+        "- `/speckit.plan` — generate plan\n"
+        "- `/speckit.tasks` — generate task list\n"
+        "- `/speckit.implement` — execute plan\n\n"
+        "## On Ambiguity\n"
+        "If a spec is missing, incomplete, or conflicts with the constitution — stop and ask. "
+        "Do not infer. Do not proceed.\n\n"
+    )
+
+    try:
+        claude_file.write_text(content, encoding="utf-8")
+        if tracker:
+            tracker.add("claude-md", "Claude Code role file")
+            tracker.complete("claude-md", "created")
+        else:
+            console.print("[cyan]Initialized CLAUDE.md for Claude Code[/cyan]")
+    except Exception as e:
+        if tracker:
+            tracker.add("claude-md", "Claude Code role file")
+            tracker.error("claude-md", str(e))
+        else:
+            console.print(f"[yellow]Warning: Could not create CLAUDE.md: {e}[/yellow]")
+
+
 INIT_OPTIONS_FILE = ".specify/init-options.json"
 
 
@@ -2071,6 +2123,8 @@ def init(
         ("constitution", "Constitution setup"),
     ]:
         tracker.add(key, label)
+    if selected_ai == "claude":
+        tracker.add("claude-md", "Claude Code role file")
     if ai_skills:
         tracker.add("ai-skills", "Install agent skills")
     for key, label in [
@@ -2137,6 +2191,9 @@ def init(
 
             ensure_constitution_from_template(project_path, tracker=tracker)
 
+            if selected_ai == "claude":
+                ensure_claude_md(project_path, tracker=tracker)
+
             # Determine skills directory and migrate any legacy Kimi dotted skills.
             migrated_legacy_kimi_skills = 0
             removed_legacy_kimi_skills = 0
diff --git a/tests/test_ai_skills.py b/tests/test_ai_skills.py
index f0e220e26..3113f20b9 100644
--- a/tests/test_ai_skills.py
+++ b/tests/test_ai_skills.py
@@ -29,7 +29,9 @@
     DEFAULT_SKILLS_DIR,
     SKILL_DESCRIPTIONS,
     AGENT_CONFIG,
+    StepTracker,
     app,
+    ensure_claude_md,
 )
 
 
@@ -693,6 +695,62 @@ class TestNewProjectCommandSkip:
     download_and_extract_template patched to create local fixtures.
     """
 
+    def test_init_claude_creates_root_CLAUDE_md(self, tmp_path):
+        from typer.testing import CliRunner
+
+        runner = CliRunner()
+        target = tmp_path / "claude-proj"
+
+        def fake_download(project_path, *args, **kwargs):
+            # Minimal scaffold required for ensure_constitution_from_template()
+            # and ensure_claude_md() to succeed deterministically.
+            templates_dir = project_path / ".specify" / "templates"
+            templates_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+            (templates_dir / "constitution-template.md").write_text(
+                "# Constitution\n\nNon-negotiable rules.\n",
+                encoding="utf-8",
+            )
+
+        with patch("specify_cli.download_and_extract_template", side_effect=fake_download), \
+             patch("specify_cli.ensure_executable_scripts"), \
+             patch("specify_cli.is_git_repo", return_value=False), \
+             patch("specify_cli.shutil.which", return_value="/usr/bin/git"):
+            result = runner.invoke(
+                app,
+                [
+                    "init",
+                    str(target),
+                    "--ai",
+                    "claude",
+                    "--ignore-agent-tools",
+                    "--no-git",
+                    "--script",
+                    "sh",
+                ],
+            )
+
+        assert result.exit_code == 0, result.output
+
+        claude_file = target / "CLAUDE.md"
+        assert claude_file.exists()
+
+        content = claude_file.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+        assert "## Claude's Role" in content
+        assert "`.specify/memory/constitution.md`" in content
+        assert "/speckit.plan" in content
+
+    def test_ensure_claude_md_skips_when_constitution_missing(self, tmp_path):
+        project = tmp_path / "proj"
+        project.mkdir()
+
+        tracker = StepTracker("t")
+        ensure_claude_md(project, tracker=tracker)
+
+        assert not (project / "CLAUDE.md").exists()
+        step = next(s for s in tracker.steps if s["key"] == "claude-md")
+        assert step["status"] == "skipped"
+        assert "constitution missing" in step["detail"]
+
     def _fake_extract(self, agent, project_path, **_kwargs):
         """Simulate template extraction: create agent commands dir."""
         agent_cfg = AGENT_CONFIG.get(agent, {})