nestjs/nest · error · UndefinedForwardRefException

Nest cannot create the module instance. Often, this is becau

Error message

Nest cannot create the module instance. Often, this is because of a circular dependency between modules. Use forwardRef() to avoid it.

(Read more: https://docs.nestjs.com/fundamentals/circular-dependency)
Scope [${scope}]

What it means

Error "Nest cannot create the module instance. Often, this is because of a circular dependency between modules. Use forwardRef() to avoid it. (Read more: https://docs.nestjs.com/fundamentals/circular-dependency) Scope [${scope}] " thrown in nestjs/nest.

Source

Thrown at packages/core/injector/container.ts:106

  public getHttpAdapterHostRef() {
    return this.internalProvidersStorage.httpAdapterHost;
  }

  public async addModule(
    metatype: ModuleMetatype,
    scope: ModuleScope,
  ): Promise<
    | {
        moduleRef: Module;
        inserted: boolean;
      }
    | undefined
  > {
    // In DependenciesScanner#scanForModules we already check for undefined or invalid modules
    // We still need to catch the edge-case of `forwardRef(() => undefined)`
    if (!metatype) {
      throw new UndefinedForwardRefException(scope);
    }
    const { type, dynamicMetadata, token } =
      await this.moduleCompiler.compile(metatype);
    if (this.modules.has(token)) {
      return {
        moduleRef: this.modules.get(token)!,
        inserted: false,
      };
    }

    return {
      moduleRef: await this.setModule(
        {
          token,
          type,
          dynamicMetadata,
        },
        scope,

View on GitHub (pinned to dd75d7bd8c)

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at packages/core/injector/container.ts:106 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of nestjs/nest@dd75d7bd8c (2026-08-21). Data as JSON: /api/errors/8dc09c73e51de280. Report an issue: GitHub.