no version specified for tool

Error message

no version specified for tool {tool}
use `mise shell {tool}@VERSION` to set a version

What it means

`mise shell <tool>` pins tools in the current shell session, which requires an explicit version. If a tool argument is given without an @VERSION suffix (its ToolRequest has no version), mise cannot know what to activate and aborts, suggesting the correct syntax. This prevents silently activating whatever version happens to resolve.

Solutions

Append a version: `mise shell node@22` (or a full version like node@22.3.0).
Use `mise ls-remote node` to pick an available version.
If you want the config-resolved version, use `mise exec`/activate via mise.toml instead of `mise shell` without a version.

Example fix

// before
mise shell node
// no version specified for tool node

// after
mise shell node@22

Defensive patterns

Strategy: validation

Validate before calling

case "$tool_spec" in *@*) : ;; *) echo "usage: mise shell ${tool_spec}@VERSION" >&2;; esac

Try / catch

mise shell node@22 || { mise ls-remote node | tail -1; }

Prevention

Always include @VERSION with `mise shell` tool arguments
Resolve versions with `mise ls-remote <tool>` first
If you want config-managed versions, use mise.toml instead of ad-hoc shell activation

When it happens

Trigger: Running `mise shell node` (no @version) or `mise shell node@` — the tool argument parsed without a version range.

Common situations: Habit from `mise use node` (which can use config-resolved latest); copy-pasting commands omitting the version; scripting shell activation without knowing the desired version.

Understand the failure class

Background: "missing required argument" and "the following required arguments were not provided": what required-argument errors mean and how to fix them — this error's family across 20 libraries.

Related errors

AI-assisted analysis of jdx/mise@533346cc37 (2026-09-17). Data as JSON: /api/errors/4d006145f5325e91. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at src/cli/shell.rs:70

            err_inactive()?;
        }

        let shell = require_shell(
            None,
            &format!("Re-run `mise activate {EXAMPLE_SHELL}` in your shell rc file."),
        )?;

        if self.unset {
            for ta in &self.tool {
                let op = shell.unset_env(&tool_env_var_name(&ta.ba.short));
                print!("{op}");
            }
            return Ok(());
        }

        for ta in &self.tool {
            if ta.tvr.is_none() {
                bail!(
                    "no version specified for tool {tool}\nuse `mise shell {tool}@VERSION` to set a version",
                    tool = ta.ba.short,
                );
            }
        }

        let mut ts = ToolsetBuilder::new()
            .with_args(&self.tool)
            .build(&config)
            .await?;
        let opts = InstallOptions {
            force: false,
            jobs: self.jobs,
            raw: self.raw,
            ..Default::default()
        };
        let (_, missing) = ts.install_missing_versions(&mut config, &opts).await?;
        ts.notify_missing_versions(missing);

View on GitHub (pinned to 533346cc37)