What causes "failed to get boot scripts: %w" in lima-vm/lima?

Read the wrapped inner error (`%w`) to identify the driver failure

failed to get boot scripts

Error message

failed to get boot scripts: %w

What it means

GenerateISO9660 (pkg/cidata/cidata.go:415) collects driver-specific boot scripts via the driver's BootScripts(ctx) method and packs them into the boot ISO. If that driver call returns an error (driver-specific failure, e.g. context cancellation or internal driver error), it is wrapped with this message. The instance cannot be created without its boot scripts.

Solutions

Read the wrapped inner error (`%w`) to identify the driver failure
Verify the chosen `vmType` driver is supported and installed on the host
Retry the command; if it persists, report with the full wrapped error chain

Defensive patterns

Strategy: try-catch

Try / catch

err := limactl.Start(ctx, instName)
if err != nil {
    if strings.Contains(err.Error(), "failed to get boot scripts") {
        log.Printf("driver failed to supply boot scripts: %v", errors.Unwrap(err))
        // switch vmType or retry
    }
}

Prevention

Use a stable, well-supported vmType driver for the instance
Pass a non-canceled context into start/create calls
Keep Lima up to date; driver BootScripts failures in stable drivers are usually bugs - report them

When it happens

Trigger: Calling limactl start/create where the active driver's BootScripts() fails - underlying driver error, canceled context, or driver initialization problem surfaced during ISO creation.

Common situations: Buggy or partially-supported driver (e.g. experimental VM type), interrupted start command, or a driver that fails because required host dependencies are missing.

Related errors

AI-assisted analysis of lima-vm/lima@dd909d0973 (2026-09-01). Data as JSON: /api/errors/7b0ec0aa466b1a49. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at pkg/cidata/cidata.go:415

// in instDir. It returns the instance ID, which changes on every boot.
func GenerateISO9660(ctx context.Context, drv driver.Driver, instDir, name string, instConfig *limatype.LimaYAML, udpDNSLocalPort, tcpDNSLocalPort int, guestAgentBinary, nerdctlArchive string, vsockPort int, virtioPort string, noCloudInit, rosettaEnabled, rosettaBinFmt bool) (string, error) {
	args, err := templateArgs(ctx, true, instDir, name, instConfig, udpDNSLocalPort, tcpDNSLocalPort, vsockPort, virtioPort, noCloudInit, rosettaEnabled, rosettaBinFmt)
	if err != nil {
		return "", err
	}

	if err := ValidateTemplateArgs(args); err != nil {
		return "", err
	}

	layout, err := ExecuteTemplateCIDataISO(args)
	if err != nil {
		return "", err
	}

	driverScripts, err := drv.BootScripts(ctx)
	if err != nil {
		return "", fmt.Errorf("failed to get boot scripts: %w", err)
	}

	for filename, content := range driverScripts {
		layoutPath := path.Join("boot.Linux", filename)
		if strings.Contains(filename, "/") {
			// When the filename contains a slash, it must be in the format of "boot.<OS>/<SCRIPT>"
			if !strings.HasPrefix(filename, "boot.") || strings.Count(filename, "/") != 1 {
				return "", fmt.Errorf("invalid boot script filename %#q: must be in format 'boot.<OS>/<SCRIPT>'", filename)
			}
			layoutPath = filename
		} else {
			logrus.Warnf("Boot script filename %#q does not contain '/', treating it as a script for Linux and prefixing with 'boot.Linux/'", filename)
		}
		layout = append(layout, iso9660util.Entry{
			Path:   layoutPath,
			Reader: strings.NewReader(string(content)),
		})
	}

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