paperclipai/paperclip · error · Error

Refusing to remove install store with an invalid manifest at

Error message

Refusing to remove install store with an invalid manifest at ${paths.cliRoot}.

What it means

The install.json manifest exists but fails the shape check (schemaVersion/source/previous/payloadPath), so it is not a trustworthy managed manifest and removal is refused.

Solutions

1. Repair or regenerate the manifest at ${paths.cliRoot}, then retry removal.
2. Remove the directory manually after verifying its contents are safe.

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at cli/src/install-store.ts:142 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/ffb0db15ff1c6770. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at cli/src/install-store.ts:142

    markerStat = fs.lstatSync(paths.markerPath);
  } catch (error) {
    if ((error as NodeJS.ErrnoException).code === "ENOENT") {
      throw new Error(`Refusing to remove unverified install store ${paths.cliRoot}.`);
    }
    throw error;
  }
  if (!markerStat.isFile() || markerStat.isSymbolicLink() || markerStat.nlink > 1) {
    throw new Error(`Refusing to remove unverified install store ${paths.cliRoot}.`);
  }
  assertOwnedByCurrentUser(markerStat, paths.markerPath);
  if (fs.readFileSync(paths.markerPath, "utf8") !== MANAGED_STORE_MARKER) {
    throw new Error(`Refusing to remove unverified install store ${paths.cliRoot}.`);
  }
  const manifest = readInstallManifest(paths);
  if (!manifest) throw new Error(`Refusing to remove install store without a manifest at ${paths.cliRoot}.`);
  const relativePayload = path.relative(paths.installsRoot, path.resolve(manifest.payloadPath));
  if (!relativePayload || relativePayload.startsWith("..") || path.isAbsolute(relativePayload)) {
    throw new Error(`Refusing to remove install store with an invalid manifest at ${paths.cliRoot}.`);
  }
  return manifest;
}

export async function withInstallStoreLock<T>(
  callback: () => Promise<T>,
  paths = resolveInstallStorePaths(),
  options: { initialize?: boolean } = {},
): Promise<T> {
  if (options.initialize !== false) initializeInstallStore(paths);
  const token = `${process.pid}:${Date.now()}:${Math.random().toString(16).slice(2)}`;
  const processIsAlive = (pid: number): boolean => {
    try {
      process.kill(pid, 0);
      return true;
    } catch (error) {
      return (error as NodeJS.ErrnoException).code === "EPERM";
    }

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