keras-team/keras · error · ValueError

You are attempting to create a variable while in a stateless

Error message

You are attempting to create a variable while in a stateless scope. This is disallowed. Make sure that all variables are created before you start using your layer/model objects.

In some cases, you might be seeing this error because you need to implement a `def build(self, input_shape)` method on your layer/model, which will create its variables.

In some other cases, you might be seeing this error because you are instantiating a `Variable` and assigning it to a layer without going through self.add_variable()/self.add_weight(). Always prefer using these methods (with a `shape` and `initializer` argument).

What it means

Error "You are attempting to create a variable while in a stateless scope. This is disallowed. Make sure that all variables are created before you start using your layer/model objects. In some cases, you might be seeing this error because you need to implement a `def build(self, input_shape)` method on your layer/model, which will create its variables. In some other cases, you might be seeing this error because you are instantiating a `Variable` and assigning it to a layer without going through self.add_variable()/self.add_weight(). Always prefer using these methods (with a `shape` and `initializer` argument)." thrown in keras-team/keras.

Source

Thrown at keras/src/backend/common/variables.py:190

                    "the `shape` argument should be specified. "
                    f"Received: initializer={initializer} "
                    f"and shape={shape}"
                )
        else:
            initializer = self._convert_to_tensor(initializer, dtype=dtype)
            # If dtype is None and `initializer` is an array, use its dtype.
            if dtype is None:
                dtype = initializer.dtype
        self._dtype = standardize_dtype(dtype)

        if in_stateless_scope():
            if callable(initializer):
                self._value = None
                self._initializer = initializer
                self._shape = self._validate_shape(shape)
                register_uninitialized_variable(self)
            else:
                raise ValueError(
                    "You are attempting to create a variable "
                    "while in a stateless scope. This is disallowed. "
                    "Make sure that all variables are created "
                    "before you start using your layer/model objects.\n\n"
                    "In some cases, you might be seeing this error "
                    "because you need to "
                    "implement a `def build(self, input_shape)` method "
                    "on your layer/model, which will "
                    "create its variables.\n\n"
                    "In some other cases, you might be seeing this error "
                    "because you are instantiating a `Variable` and "
                    "assigning it to a layer without going through "
                    "self.add_variable()/self.add_weight(). Always prefer "
                    "using these methods "
                    "(with a `shape` and `initializer` argument)."
                )
        else:
            if callable(initializer):

View on GitHub (pinned to 7a34a03db6)

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at keras/src/backend/common/variables.py:190 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of keras-team/keras@7a34a03db6 (2026-08-25). Data as JSON: /api/errors/64c61d148dded601. Report an issue: GitHub.