docker/compose · error

error checking docker-model status: %w

Error message

error checking docker-model status: %w

What it means

Before using models, compose runs `<plugin> status --json` and parses the endpoint from its combined output. A non-zero exit from that subprocess is wrapped here. It means the model plugin binary ran but the status query itself failed.

Source

Thrown at pkg/compose/model.go:205

	}
	events.On(api.Resource{
		ID:     config.Name,
		Status: api.Done,
		Text:   api.StatusConfigured,
	})
	return nil
}

func (m *modelAPI) SetModelVariables(ctx context.Context, project *types.Project) error {
	cmd := exec.CommandContext(ctx, m.path, "status", "--json")
	err := m.prepare(ctx, cmd)
	if err != nil {
		return err
	}

	statusOut, err := cmd.CombinedOutput()
	if err != nil {
		return fmt.Errorf("error checking docker-model status: %w", err)
	}
	type Status struct {
		Endpoint string `json:"endpoint"`
	}

	var status Status
	err = json.Unmarshal(statusOut, &status)
	if err != nil {
		return err
	}

	for _, service := range project.Services {
		for ref, modelConfig := range service.Models {
			model := project.Models[ref]
			varPrefix := strings.ReplaceAll(strings.ToUpper(ref), "-", "_")
			var variable string
			if modelConfig != nil && modelConfig.ModelVariable != "" {
				variable = modelConfig.ModelVariable

View on GitHub (pinned to ddc4b044b6)

Solutions

1. Run docker model status --json by hand and read its stderr
2. Ensure the Docker daemon (and model backend) is up: docker info
3. Verify DOCKER_HOST / context is correct for the environment compose runs in
4. Update the model plugin to match the backend version

// smoke-test the plugin before compose runs
out, err := exec.CommandContext(ctx, "docker", "model", "status", "--json").CombinedOutput()
if err != nil {
    return fmt.Errorf("model backend unhealthy: %w: %s", err, out)
}

if err := setModelVars(ctx, project); err != nil && strings.Contains(err.Error(), "docker-model status") {
    // surface plugin output; start model backend; retry once
}

When it happens

Trigger: exec.CommandContext of `docker model status --json` exits non-zero: model backend not running, invalid DOCKER_HOST/endpoint propagation, plugin version that errors on status.

Common situations: DOCKER_HOST pointing at a remote/unreachable daemon; model backend service stopped; version mismatch between plugin and backend after a partial upgrade.

Related errors

• error checking available models: %w
• 'models' support requires Docker Model plugin
• failed to load Docker Model plugin: %w
• error unmarshalling available models: %w
• process still running

AI-assisted analysis of docker/compose@ddc4b044b6 (2026-08-15). Data as JSON: /api/errors/0975762f73d98f71. Report an issue: GitHub.