chroma-core/chroma · error · ValueError

Resetting the database is not allowed. Set `allow_reset` to

Error message

Resetting the database is not allowed. Set `allow_reset` to true in the config in tests or other non-production environments where reset should be permitted.

What it means

Error "Resetting the database is not allowed. Set `allow_reset` to true in the config in tests or other non-production environments where reset should be permitted." thrown in chroma-core/chroma.

Source

Thrown at chromadb/segment/impl/distributed/segment_directory.py:109

        self._curr_memberlist = None
        self._memberlist_name = None

        # Stop the watch thread
        self._kill_watch_thread.set()
        if self._watch_thread is not None:
            self._watch_thread.join()
        self._watch_thread = None
        self._kill_watch_thread.clear()
        self._done_waiting_for_reset.clear()
        return super().stop()

    @override
    def reset_state(self) -> None:
        # Reset the memberlist in kubernetes, and wait for it to
        # get propagated back again
        # Note that the component must be running in order to reset the state
        if not self._system.settings.require("allow_reset"):
            raise ValueError(
                "Resetting the database is not allowed. Set `allow_reset` to true in the config in tests or other non-production environments where reset should be permitted."
            )
        if self._memberlist_name:
            self._done_waiting_for_reset.clear()
            self._kubernetes_api.patch_namespaced_custom_object(
                group=KUBERNETES_GROUP,
                version="v1",
                namespace=KUBERNETES_NAMESPACE,
                plural="memberlists",
                name=self._memberlist_name,
                body={
                    "kind": "MemberList",
                    "spec": {"members": []},
                },
            )
            self._done_waiting_for_reset.wait(5.0)
            # TODO: For some reason the above can flake and the memberlist won't be populated
            # Given that this is a test harness, just sleep for an additional 500ms for now

View on GitHub (pinned to aecdd12c8a)

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at chromadb/segment/impl/distributed/segment_directory.py:109 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of chroma-core/chroma@aecdd12c8a (2026-08-16). Data as JSON: /api/errors/e2507df1bc4b4bca. Report an issue: GitHub.