hibernate/hibernate-orm · error · IllegalArgumentException

The predicate array cannot be null

Error message

The predicate array cannot be null

What it means

Error "The predicate array cannot be null" thrown in hibernate/hibernate-orm.

Source

Thrown at hibernate-core/src/main/java/org/hibernate/query/sqm/tree/spi/select/SqmQuerySpec.java:391

	@Override
	public SqmQuerySpec<T> setRestriction(BooleanExpression... restrictions) {
		if ( restrictions.length == 0 ) {
			setWhereClause( null );
		}
		else {
			SqmWhereClause whereClause = getWhereClause();
			if ( whereClause == null ) {
				setWhereClause( whereClause = new SqmWhereClause( nodeBuilder() ) );
			}
			whereClause.setPredicate( nodeBuilder().wrap( restrictions ) );
		}
		return this;
	}

	@Nonnull
	public SqmQuerySpec<T> setRestriction(@Nullable Predicate... restrictions) {
		if ( restrictions == null ) {
			throw new IllegalArgumentException( "The predicate array cannot be null" );
		}
		else if ( restrictions.length == 0 ) {
			setWhereClause( null );
		}
		else {
			final var whereClause = resetWhereClause();
			for ( var restriction : restrictions ) {
				whereClause.applyPredicate( (SqmPredicate) restriction );
			}
		}
		return this;
	}

	@Nonnull
	@Override
	public SqmQuerySpec<T> setRestriction(List<Predicate> restrictions) {
		if ( restrictions == null ) {
			throw new IllegalArgumentException( "The predicate list cannot be null" );

View on GitHub (pinned to fad1729dce)

Solutions

1. Pass a non-null array of predicates; use an empty array if no restriction is needed, or skip the call entirely.
2. Check for null before calling and guard the call site.

When it happens

Trigger: A restriction method is invoked with a null Predicate array (varargs) on a criteria query specification.

Common situations: Passing a null Predicate[] variable to where()/having(); check for null before the call.

AI-assisted analysis of hibernate/hibernate-orm@fad1729dce (2026-08-22). Data as JSON: /api/errors/5fb001ad0b177741. Report an issue: GitHub.