getsops/sops · error

could not establish connection with gpg-agent: %s

Error message

could not establish connection with gpg-agent: %s

What it means

Error "could not establish connection with gpg-agent: %s" thrown in getsops/sops.

Source

Thrown at pgp/keysource.go:567

		}
		callCounter++

		conn, err := gpgagent.NewConn()
		if err == gpgagent.ErrNoAgent {
			log.Infof("gpg-agent not found, continuing with manual passphrase " +
				"input...")
			fmt.Print("Enter PGP key passphrase: ")
			pass, err := term.ReadPassword(int(os.Stdin.Fd()))
			if err != nil {
				return nil, err
			}
			for _, k := range keys {
				k.PrivateKey.Decrypt(pass)
			}
			return pass, err
		}
		if err != nil {
			return nil, fmt.Errorf("could not establish connection with gpg-agent: %s", err)
		}
		defer func(conn *gpgagent.Conn) {
			if err := conn.Close(); err != nil {
				log.Errorf("failed to close connection with gpg-agent: %s", err)
			}
		}(conn)

		for _, k := range keys {
			req := gpgagent.PassphraseRequest{
				CacheKey: k.PublicKey.KeyIdShortString(),
				Prompt:   "Passphrase",
				Desc:     fmt.Sprintf("Unlock key %s to decrypt sops's key", k.PublicKey.KeyIdShortString()),
			}
			pass, err := conn.GetPassphrase(&req)
			if err != nil {
				return nil, fmt.Errorf("gpg-agent passphrase request errored: %s", err)
			}
			k.PrivateKey.Decrypt([]byte(pass))

View on GitHub (pinned to 13442bb981)

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at pgp/keysource.go:567 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of getsops/sops@13442bb981 (2026-09-01). Data as JSON: /api/errors/098b65d16457f354. Report an issue: GitHub.