What causes "unable to fetch current directory: %w" in asdf-vm/asdf?

`cd` to a valid existing directory (e.g. `cd $(pwd -P)` or cd out and back in) and retry.

unable to fetch current directory

Error message

unable to fetch current directory: %w

What it means

installCommand calls os.Getwd() to determine the directory whose .tool-versions should drive installation. If the current working directory cannot be determined (e.g. it was deleted or lacks permissions), the error is wrapped as "unable to fetch current directory".

Solutions

`cd` to a valid existing directory (e.g. `cd $(pwd -P)` or cd out and back in) and retry.
Recreate the deleted directory or restore its mount.
Check filesystem permissions on the current directory.
Use `asdf install <plugin> <version>` with explicit tool/version from a valid directory.

Example fix

# before (cwd deleted)
asdf install
# after
cd /path/to/project && asdf install

Defensive patterns

Strategy: validation

Validate before calling

if [ ! -d "$(pwd)" ]; then echo "cwd invalid"; exit 1; fi
asdf install

Try / catch

if ! asdf install 2>&1 | grep -q 'unable to fetch current directory'; then :; else cd "$PROJECT_DIR" && asdf install; fi

Prevention

cd out and back (or `cd -P .`) after external processes may delete the cwd
Avoid removing directories while shells sit inside them
Use `cd /path && asdf install` in scripts instead of relying on inherited cwd

When it happens

Trigger: Running `asdf install` (or `asdf install <tool> <version>`) from a directory that has been deleted while the shell still sits in it, or a directory the user cannot stat.

Common situations: Another terminal/process removed the working directory (common after checking out/cleaning build dirs); running inside a container where the mount disappeared; permission churn on the cwd.

Related errors

AI-assisted analysis of asdf-vm/asdf@074a1722ca (2026-08-30). Data as JSON: /api/errors/7b68bf2769c1fcbe. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at internal/cli/cli.go:1096

	if err != nil {
		logger.Printf("failed to update %s due to error: %s\n", pluginName, err)

		return
	}

	logger.Printf("updated %s to ref %s\n", pluginName, updatedToRef)
}

func installCommand(logger *log.Logger, toolName, version string, keepDownload bool) error {
	conf, err := config.LoadConfig()
	if err != nil {
		logger.Printf("error loading config: %s", err)
		return err
	}

	dir, err := os.Getwd()
	if err != nil {
		return fmt.Errorf("unable to fetch current directory: %w", err)
	}

	if toolName == "" {
		// Install all versions
		errs := versions.InstallAll(conf, dir, os.Stdout, os.Stderr)
		if len(errs) > 0 {
			for _, err := range errs {
				// Don't print error if no version set, this just means the current
				// dir doesn't use a particular plugin that is installed.
				if _, ok := err.(versions.NoVersionSetError); ok {
					continue
				}

				if _, ok := err.(versions.UninstallableVersionError); ok {
					msg := fmt.Sprintf("skipping %s\n", err.Error())
					os.Stderr.Write([]byte(msg))
					continue
				}

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