apache/hadoop · error · IllegalArgumentException

Invalid null argument

Error message

Invalid null argument

What it means

Error "Invalid null argument" thrown in apache/hadoop.

Source

Thrown at hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/fs/shell/find/Perm.java:68

    setUsage(USAGE);
    setHelp(HELP);
  }

  @Override
  public void prepare() throws IOException {
    parseArgument(getArgument(1));
  }

  /**
   * Parse an argument string to build the permission mask.
   *
   * @param argument String to be parsed
   * @throws IllegalArgumentException if the argument is invalid
   */
  private void parseArgument(String argument) throws IllegalArgumentException {
    String arg = argument;
    if (arg == null) {
      throw new IllegalArgumentException("Invalid null argument");
    }
    if (arg.isEmpty()) {
      throw new IllegalArgumentException("Invalid empty argument");
    }
    if (arg.startsWith("-")) {
      mask = true;
      arg = arg.substring(1);
    }
    if (Character.isDigit(arg.charAt(0))) {
      // the argument is a numeric mode
      permission = new FsPermission(arg).toShort();
    } else {
      // the argument is a symbolic mode
      for (String part : arg.split(",")) {
        int shift;
        Operator operator = null;
        int value = 0;
        int position = 0;

View on GitHub (pinned to 2add963021)

Solutions

1. Provide a permission argument to the -perm expression (octal or symbolic).
2. Check that the -perm operand is present and not null.

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown by the find -perm expression when a null argument is passed where a permission mode is required.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of apache/hadoop@2add963021 (2026-08-22). Data as JSON: /api/errors/ae35f4df1695f20a. Report an issue: GitHub.