BerriAI/litellm · error · ValueError

Either prompt_directory or prompt_data must be set before us

Error message

Either prompt_directory or prompt_data must be set before using dotprompt manager. Set litellm.global_prompt_directory, initialize with prompt_directory parameter, or provide prompt_data.

What it means

Error "Either prompt_directory or prompt_data must be set before using dotprompt manager. Set litellm.global_prompt_directory, initialize with prompt_directory parameter, or provide prompt_data." thrown in BerriAI/litellm.

Source

Thrown at litellm/integrations/dotprompt/dotprompt_manager.py:73

            self.prompt_data = json.loads(prompt_data)
        else:
            self.prompt_data = prompt_data or {}

        self._prompt_manager: PromptManager | None = None
        self.prompt_file = prompt_file
        self.prompt_id = prompt_id

    @property
    def integration_name(self) -> str:
        """Integration name used in model names like 'dotprompt/gpt-4'."""
        return "dotprompt"

    @property
    def prompt_manager(self) -> PromptManager:
        """Lazy-load the prompt manager."""
        if self._prompt_manager is None:
            if self.prompt_directory is None and not self.prompt_data and not self.prompt_file:
                raise ValueError(
                    "Either prompt_directory or prompt_data must be set before using dotprompt manager. "
                    "Set litellm.global_prompt_directory, initialize with prompt_directory parameter, or provide prompt_data."
                )
            self._prompt_manager = PromptManager(
                prompt_directory=self.prompt_directory,
                prompt_data=self.prompt_data,
                prompt_file=self.prompt_file,
                prompt_id=self.prompt_id,
            )
        return self._prompt_manager

    def should_run_prompt_management(
        self,
        prompt_id: str | None,
        prompt_spec: PromptSpec | None,
        dynamic_callback_params: StandardCallbackDynamicParams,
    ) -> bool:
        """

View on GitHub (pinned to 6c2dcb801b)

Solutions

1. Set litellm.global_prompt_directory, pass prompt_directory, or provide prompt_data before using the dotprompt manager.

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at litellm/integrations/dotprompt/dotprompt_manager.py:73 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of BerriAI/litellm@6c2dcb801b (2026-08-15). Data as JSON: /api/errors/c85dab6ef18891f5. Report an issue: GitHub.