chaincode definition for [%s] is invalid, policy field must

Error message

chaincode definition for [%s] is invalid, policy field must be set

What it means

getCDataForCC found the chaincode definition with an empty policy arguments set (len(args) == 0). Every chaincode definition must carry validation policy arguments (typically the endorsement policy bytes); without them the validator cannot validate the tx, so it returns this error. This mirrors error 696 but for the policy field.

Source

Thrown at core/committer/txvalidator/v20/plugindispatcher/dispatcher.go:259

	}
	defer qe.Done()

	plugin, args, unexpectedErr, validationErr := v.lcr.ValidationInfo(channelID, ccid, qe)
	if unexpectedErr != nil {
		return "", nil, &commonerrors.VSCCInfoLookupFailureError{
			Reason: fmt.Sprintf("Could not retrieve state for chaincode %s, error %s", ccid, unexpectedErr),
		}
	}
	if validationErr != nil {
		return "", nil, validationErr
	}

	if plugin == "" {
		return "", nil, errors.Errorf("chaincode definition for [%s] is invalid, plugin field must be set", ccid)
	}

	if len(args) == 0 {
		return "", nil, errors.Errorf("chaincode definition for [%s] is invalid, policy field must be set", ccid)
	}

	return plugin, args, nil
}

// GetInfoForValidate gets the ChaincodeInstance(with latest version) of tx, validation plugin and policy
func (v *dispatcherImpl) GetInfoForValidate(chdr *common.ChannelHeader, ccID string) (string, []byte, error) {
	// obtain name of the validation plugin and the policy
	plugin, args, err := v.getCDataForCC(chdr.ChannelId, ccID)
	if err != nil {
		logger.Errorf("Unable to get chaincode data from ledger for txid %s, due to %s", chdr.TxId, err)
		return "", nil, err
	}
	return plugin, args, nil
}

// txWritesToNamespace returns true if the supplied NsRwSet
// performs a ledger write

View on GitHub (pinned to 2736b63f8f)

Solutions

Re-issue the chaincode definition with an endorsement policy (e.g. --policy "AND('Org1MSP.peer','Org2MSP.peer')") so args are populated.
Set a default policy (MAJORITY Endorsement) when approving the definition.
Fix custom lifecycle persistence to always store policy bytes.
If the definition is corrupt, repair or redeploy the chaincode definition on the channel.

Example fix

// before
peer chaincode instantiate -n mycc -v 1.0 -c '{"Args":["init"]}'  // no -P
// after
peer chaincode instantiate -n mycc -v 1.0 -c '{"Args":["init"]}' -P "AND('Org1MSP.member')"

Defensive patterns

Strategy: validation

Validate before calling

const def = getChaincodeDefinition(name, version); if (!def.args || def.args.length === 0) throw new Error(`definition for ${name} missing endorsement policy args`);

Type guard

function hasPolicyArgs(def) { return Array.isArray(def?.args) && def.args.length > 0; }

Try / catch

try { getInfoForValidate(); } catch (err) { if (/policy field must be set/.test(err.message)) { /* re-issue definition with an endorsement policy */ } else { throw err; } }

Prevention

Always specify an endorsement policy on instantiate/approve.
Rely on channel default (MAJORITY Endorsement) if no custom policy is needed.
Avoid manual lifecycle persistence.
Verify definitions post-upgrade.

When it happens

Trigger: Dispatch→GetInfoForValidate→getCDataForCC reads a chaincode definition whose policy/args slice is empty — e.g. LSCC record written without policy bytes, incomplete upgrade, or custom lifecycle omitting the endorsement policy.

Common situations: Instantiation/approval done with policy omitted and a legacy path storing empty args; manual ledger surgery on LSCC keys; migration of pre-V2 definitions losing policy data.

Related errors

AI-assisted analysis of hyperledger/fabric@2736b63f8f (2026-09-04). Data as JSON: /api/errors/65b0efb9b8ea0076. Report an issue: GitHub.