unable to stat log file to see if we need to set permissions

Error message

unable to stat log file to see if we need to set permissions: %v

What it means

Error "unable to stat log file to see if we need to set permissions: %v" thrown in caddyserver/caddy.

Source

Thrown at modules/logging/filewriter.go:235

		if err := os.MkdirAll(dirPath, dm); err != nil {
			return nil, err
		}
	}

	// create/open the file
	file, err := os.OpenFile(fw.Filename, os.O_WRONLY|os.O_APPEND|os.O_CREATE, modeIfCreating)
	if err != nil {
		return nil, err
	}
	info, err := file.Stat()
	if roll {
		file.Close() // timberjack will reopen it on its own
	}

	// Ensure already existing files have the right mode, since OpenFile will not set the mode in such case.
	if configuredMode := os.FileMode(fw.Mode); configuredMode != 0 {
		if err != nil {
			return nil, fmt.Errorf("unable to stat log file to see if we need to set permissions: %v", err)
		}
		// only chmod if the configured mode is different
		if info.Mode()&os.ModePerm != configuredMode&os.ModePerm {
			if err = os.Chmod(fw.Filename, configuredMode); err != nil {
				return nil, err
			}
		}
	}

	// if not rolling, then the plain file handle is all we need
	if !roll {
		return file, nil
	}

	// otherwise, return a rolling log
	if fw.RollSizeMB == 0 {
		fw.RollSizeMB = 100
	}

View on GitHub (pinned to 50e54ee279)

Solutions

Check that the log file path is accessible and the process has permission to stat it.

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at modules/logging/filewriter.go:235 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of caddyserver/caddy@50e54ee279 (2026-08-15). Data as JSON: /api/errors/0c11017be2a097ef. Report an issue: GitHub.