paperclipai/paperclip · error

Refusing to activate non-directory payload

Error message

Refusing to activate non-directory payload ${payloadPath}.

What it means

assertPayloadPath lstat'ed the payload to activate and it is not a plain directory (symlink or file); a safety guard before flipping the current symlink.

Solutions

1. Ensure the payload at ${payloadPath} is a directory before activation.

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at cli/src/install-store.ts:254 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of paperclipai/paperclip@01ad858492 (2026-08-18). Data as JSON: /api/errors/26c5352700d4df47. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at cli/src/install-store.ts:254

): void {
  ensurePrivateDirectory(paths.cliRoot);
  const temporaryPath = `${paths.manifestPath}.tmp-${process.pid}-${Date.now()}`;
  try {
    fs.writeFileSync(temporaryPath, `${JSON.stringify(manifest, null, 2)}\n`, { mode: 0o600 });
    fs.renameSync(temporaryPath, paths.manifestPath);
  } finally {
    fs.rmSync(temporaryPath, { force: true });
  }
}

function assertPayloadPath(payloadPath: string, paths: InstallStorePaths): void {
  const relative = path.relative(paths.installsRoot, path.resolve(payloadPath));
  if (!relative || relative.startsWith("..") || path.isAbsolute(relative)) {
    throw new Error(`Refusing to activate payload outside ${paths.installsRoot}.`);
  }
  const stat = fs.lstatSync(payloadPath);
  if (!stat.isDirectory() || stat.isSymbolicLink()) {
    throw new Error(`Refusing to activate non-directory payload ${payloadPath}.`);
  }
  const installsRealPath = fs.realpathSync(paths.installsRoot);
  const payloadRealPath = fs.realpathSync(payloadPath);
  if (!payloadRealPath.startsWith(`${installsRealPath}${path.sep}`)) {
    throw new Error(`Refusing to activate payload that resolves outside ${paths.installsRoot}.`);
  }
}

export function flipCurrentAtomic(
  payloadPath: string,
  paths = resolveInstallStorePaths(),
  hooks: { beforeRename?: () => void } = {},
): void {
  assertPayloadPath(payloadPath, paths);
  ensurePrivateDirectory(paths.cliRoot);
  try {
    const currentStat = fs.lstatSync(paths.currentPath);
    if (!currentStat.isSymbolicLink()) {

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