function passphrasePrompt called too many times

Error message

function passphrasePrompt called too many times

What it means

Error "function passphrasePrompt called too many times" thrown in getsops/sops.

Source

Thrown at pgp/keysource.go:548

		path = filepath.Join(gnuPGHome(key.gnuPGHomeDir), defaultSecRing)
	}
	if _, err := os.Lstat(path); err != nil {
		if !os.IsNotExist(err) {
			return nil, err
		}
		return key.getPubRing()
	}
	return loadRing(path)
}

// passphrasePrompt prompts the user for a passphrase when this is required for
// encryption or decryption.
func (key *MasterKey) passphrasePrompt() func(keys []openpgp.Key, symmetric bool) ([]byte, error) {
	callCounter := 0
	maxCalls := 3
	return func(keys []openpgp.Key, symmetric bool) ([]byte, error) {
		if callCounter >= maxCalls {
			return nil, fmt.Errorf("function passphrasePrompt called too many times")
		}
		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 {

View on GitHub (pinned to 13442bb981)

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at pgp/keysource.go:548 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/3d9c2578053f110b. Report an issue: GitHub.