MiniMax-AI/skills · critical · SystemExit

ERROR: MINIMAX_API_KEY is not set. export MINIMAX_API_KEY=

Error message

ERROR: MINIMAX_API_KEY is not set.
  export MINIMAX_API_KEY='your-key'

What it means

`raise SystemExit("ERROR: MINIMAX_API_KEY is not set...\n export MINIMAX_API_KEY='your-key'")` inside `_headers()` of `minimax_image.py`. Unlike the base-URL check (which runs at import), the API key check is deferred until `_headers()` is first called — i.e. when a request is actually made. This lets the module import without a key but blocks any real call. The message includes the exact export command.

Source

Thrown at skills/frontend-dev/scripts/minimax_image.py:32

import os
import sys
import json
import argparse
import requests

API_KEY = os.getenv("MINIMAX_API_KEY")
# China Mainland: https://api.minimaxi.com/v1
# Overseas:       https://api.minimax.io/v1
API_BASE = os.getenv("MINIMAX_API_BASE")
if not API_BASE:
    raise SystemExit("ERROR: MINIMAX_API_BASE is not set.")

ASPECT_RATIOS = ["1:1", "16:9", "4:3", "3:2", "2:3", "3:4", "9:16", "21:9"]


def _headers():
    if not API_KEY:
        raise SystemExit("ERROR: MINIMAX_API_KEY is not set.\n  export MINIMAX_API_KEY='your-key'")
    return {
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {API_KEY}",
        "Content-Type": "application/json",
    }


def generate_image(
    prompt: str,
    model: str = "image-01",
    aspect_ratio: str = "1:1",
    n: int = 1,
    response_format: str = "url",
    prompt_optimizer: bool = False,
    seed: int = None,
) -> dict:
    """Generate image(s). Returns API response dict."""
    payload = {
        "model": model,

View on GitHub (pinned to 60aaae52bb)

Solutions

Export the key: `export MINIMAX_API_KEY='your-key'` (use a real key from the MiniMax console), then rerun.
Persist it in your shell profile or a sourced `.env` so new sessions keep it.
Verify with `printenv MINIMAX_API_KEY` that the value is present and non-empty.

Example fix

# before
export MINIMAX_API_BASE='https://api.minimax.io/v1'  # base set, key missing
python minimax_image.py "cat" -o cat.png  # SystemExit on key

# after
export MINIMAX_API_KEY='your-real-key'
python minimax_image.py "cat" -o cat.png

Defensive patterns

Strategy: validation

Validate before calling

import os, sys

API_KEY = os.getenv("MINIMAX_API_KEY")
if not API_KEY or len(API_KEY) < 16:
    print("ERROR: MINIMAX_API_KEY missing or too short. export MINIMAX_API_KEY='your-key'", file=sys.stderr)
    sys.exit(2)

Type guard

def _has_key() -> bool:
    k = os.getenv("MINIMAX_API_KEY")
    return isinstance(k, str) and len(k) >= 16

Prevention

Store secrets in a password manager or secret backend, not loose in shell history.
Add the key to a sourced `.env` (chmod 600) so new sessions keep it.
Validate the key length/format before the first request for a clearer message.
Keep base URL and key region-aligned (overseas key + overseas base URL).

When it happens

Trigger: Calling `generate_image(...)` (which calls `_headers()`) when `MINIMAX_API_KEY` is unset or empty. The base URL may already be set; the key specifically is missing.

Common situations: Base URL is configured but the key was never exported, the key variable was misspelled, or a new shell/session lost the export. Also when the key is set to an empty string.

Related errors

AI-assisted analysis of MiniMax-AI/skills@60aaae52bb (2026-08-13). Data as JSON: /api/errors/aec0cac8c3c6c901. Report an issue: GitHub.