paperclipai/paperclip · error · Error

Refusing to remove unverified install store

Error message

Refusing to remove unverified install store ${paths.cliRoot}.

What it means

The managed marker file is missing or is not a regular single-linked file, so the store cannot be verified as managed before removal; a pre-uninstall safety guard.

Solutions

1. Verify the install store marker at ${paths.cliRoot} before removal.
2. Re-run removal against a store created by the managed installer.

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at cli/src/install-store.ts:127 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/edce6e63082b08a0. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at cli/src/install-store.ts:127

      ) {
        throw writeError;
      }
    }
  }
}

export function assertManagedInstallStore(paths = resolveInstallStorePaths()): InstallManifest {
  const cliStat = fs.lstatSync(paths.cliRoot);
  if (!cliStat.isDirectory() || cliStat.isSymbolicLink()) {
    throw new Error(`Refusing to remove unsafe install-store path ${paths.cliRoot}.`);
  }
  assertOwnedByCurrentUser(cliStat, paths.cliRoot);
  let markerStat: fs.Stats;
  try {
    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;
}

View on GitHub (pinned to 01ad858492)