abiosoft/colima · error

'colima model' requires krunkit VM type for GPU access, curr

Error message

'colima model' requires krunkit VM type for GPU access, current VM type is %s
Start colima with: colima start --runtime docker --vm-type krunkit

What it means

GPU access for AI models is only wired up for the krunkit VM type; the loaded instance config reported a different VMType (vz, qemu, ...). VM type is fixed when the VM is created/started, so the only remedy is restarting with the command embedded in the message.

Source

Thrown at model/runner.go:106

	}

	// check runtime is docker
	r, err := a.Runtime()
	if err != nil {
		return err
	}
	if r != docker.Name {
		return fmt.Errorf("'colima model' requires docker runtime, current runtime is %s\n"+
			"Start colima with: colima start --runtime docker --vm-type krunkit", r)
	}

	// check VM type is krunkit (required for GPU access)
	conf, err := configmanager.LoadInstance()
	if err != nil {
		return fmt.Errorf("error loading instance config: %w", err)
	}
	if conf.VMType != limaconfig.Krunkit {
		return fmt.Errorf("'colima model' requires krunkit VM type for GPU access, current VM type is %s\n"+
			"Start colima with: colima start --runtime docker --vm-type krunkit", conf.VMType)
	}

	// check krunkit binary exists on host
	if err := util.AssertKrunkit(); err != nil {
		return err
	}

	return nil
}

// dockerRunner implements Runner for Docker Model Runner.
type dockerRunner struct{}

func (d *dockerRunner) Name() RunnerType {
	return RunnerDocker
}

View on GitHub (pinned to c3a5f9184d)

Solutions

1. Restart as instructed: colima stop && colima start --runtime docker --vm-type krunkit — also make sure the krunkit binary is present, the very next check (util.AssertKrunkit) enforces it
2. Verify with colima status that the VM type took effect
3. If krunkit is unavailable on your platform, model commands cannot be used on that machine

// surface the requirement before user-visible work begins
conf, err := configmanager.LoadInstance()
if err == nil && conf.VMType != limaconfig.Krunkit {
	return fmt.Errorf("restart required: colima start --runtime docker --vm-type krunkit")
}

When it happens

Trigger: A default colima start (vz on macOS, qemu elsewhere) or an explicit --vm-type vz/qemu profile, followed by any colima model command.

Common situations: Long-lived profiles created before model support existed; users unaware that model GPU passthrough requires krunkit.

Related errors

• 'colima model' requires docker runtime, current runtime is %
• error loading instance config: %w
• invalid downloader %q: must be one of %s, %s
• dependency check failed for VM: %w
• error retrieving current runtime: empty value

AI-assisted analysis of abiosoft/colima@c3a5f9184d (2026-08-15). Data as JSON: /api/errors/e86059997f1e3913. Report an issue: GitHub.