charmbracelet/crush · error

failed to update preferred model: status code %d

Error message

failed to update preferred model: status code %d

What it means

UpdatePreferredModel's server-rejection path: the server responded with a non-200 status. The status code is embedded in the error message.

Source

Thrown at internal/client/config.go:59

	if rsp.StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
		return fmt.Errorf("failed to remove config field: status code %d", rsp.StatusCode)
	}
	return nil
}

// UpdatePreferredModel updates the preferred model on the server.
func (c *Client) UpdatePreferredModel(ctx context.Context, id string, scope config.Scope, modelType config.SelectedModelType, model config.SelectedModel) error {
	rsp, err := c.post(ctx, fmt.Sprintf("/workspaces/%s/config/model", id), nil, jsonBody(struct {
		Scope     config.Scope             `json:"scope"`
		ModelType config.SelectedModelType `json:"model_type"`
		Model     config.SelectedModel     `json:"model"`
	}{Scope: scope, ModelType: modelType, Model: model}), http.Header{"Content-Type": []string{"application/json"}})
	if err != nil {
		return fmt.Errorf("failed to update preferred model: %w", err)
	}
	defer rsp.Body.Close()
	if rsp.StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
		return fmt.Errorf("failed to update preferred model: status code %d", rsp.StatusCode)
	}
	return nil
}

// SetCompactMode sets compact mode on the server.
func (c *Client) SetCompactMode(ctx context.Context, id string, scope config.Scope, enabled bool) error {
	rsp, err := c.post(ctx, fmt.Sprintf("/workspaces/%s/config/compact", id), nil, jsonBody(struct {
		Scope   config.Scope `json:"scope"`
		Enabled bool         `json:"enabled"`
	}{Scope: scope, Enabled: enabled}), http.Header{"Content-Type": []string{"application/json"}})
	if err != nil {
		return fmt.Errorf("failed to set compact mode: %w", err)
	}
	defer rsp.Body.Close()
	if rsp.StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
		return fmt.Errorf("failed to set compact mode: status code %d", rsp.StatusCode)
	}
	return nil

View on GitHub (pinned to 7944b8e522)

Solutions

1. Check the status code and server logs to identify the rejected payload
2. Validate the model id and model type against the provider catalog before calling
3. Update the server binary if it predates the model type being set

// Ensure the model exists in the provider catalog first
catalog, err := config.Providers()
if err != nil {
    return err
}
if !catalog.HasModel(modelType, model.ID) {
    return fmt.Errorf("unknown model %q for type %s", model.ID, modelType)
}

if err := c.UpdatePreferredModel(ctx, id, scope, modelType, model); err != nil {
    if strings.Contains(err.Error(), "status code 400") {
        return fmt.Errorf("server rejected model payload: %w", err)
    }
    return err
}

When it happens

Trigger: POST /workspaces/{id}/config/model returns non-200, e.g. 400 when the SelectedModel payload is invalid or the model type is unknown to the server.

Common situations: Client sends a model the server/provider catalog does not know; stale server not recognizing newer model types; workspace gone.

Related errors

• failed to set config field: status code %d
• failed to remove config field: status code %d
• failed to update preferred model: %w
• failed to set large model: %w
• failed to set small model: %w

AI-assisted analysis of charmbracelet/crush@7944b8e522 (2026-08-29). Data as JSON: /api/errors/8345e8c103da5f4e. Report an issue: GitHub.