caddyserver/caddy · error

unable to traverse into path: %s

Error message

unable to traverse into path: %s

What it means

Error "unable to traverse into path: %s" thrown in caddyserver/caddy.

Source

Thrown at modules/caddytls/leaffolderloader.go:73

	}
	return nil
}

// UnmarshalCaddyfile implements caddyfile.Unmarshaler.
func (fl *LeafFolderLoader) UnmarshalCaddyfile(d *caddyfile.Dispenser) error {
	d.NextArg()
	fl.Folders = append(fl.Folders, d.RemainingArgs()...)
	return nil
}

// LoadLeafCertificates loads all the leaf certificates in the directories
// listed in fl from all files ending with .pem.
func (fl LeafFolderLoader) LoadLeafCertificates() ([]*x509.Certificate, error) {
	var certs []*x509.Certificate
	for _, dir := range fl.Folders {
		err := filepath.Walk(dir, func(fpath string, info os.FileInfo, err error) error {
			if err != nil {
				return fmt.Errorf("unable to traverse into path: %s", fpath)
			}
			if info.IsDir() {
				return nil
			}
			if !strings.HasSuffix(strings.ToLower(info.Name()), ".pem") {
				return nil
			}

			certData, err := convertPEMFilesToDERBytes(fpath)
			if err != nil {
				return err
			}
			cert, err := x509.ParseCertificate(certData)
			if err != nil {
				return fmt.Errorf("%s: %w", fpath, err)
			}

			certs = append(certs, cert)

View on GitHub (pinned to 50e54ee279)

Solutions

1. Check permissions on the path; Caddy cannot traverse into a directory it cannot read or execute.

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at modules/caddytls/leaffolderloader.go:73 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/b36b2122650671be. Report an issue: GitHub.