paperclipai/paperclip · error

Refusing to replace existing non-managed command

Error message

Refusing to replace existing non-managed command ${paths.shimPath}.

What it means

The shim path is occupied by a file that does not contain the managed marker content, i.e. some other tool's binary; the guard refuses to clobber non-managed commands.

Solutions

1. Rename or remove the existing non-managed command at ${paths.shimPath}, then retry.
2. Choose a different shim name or directory.

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at cli/src/install-store.ts:370 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/be6e30d60cb4839c. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at cli/src/install-store.ts:370

  const homeDir = path.dirname(path.dirname(path.dirname(paths.shimPath)));
  for (const directoryPath of [homeDir, path.join(homeDir, ".local"), path.dirname(paths.shimPath)]) {
    if (!fs.existsSync(directoryPath)) continue;
    const directoryStat = fs.lstatSync(directoryPath);
    if (!directoryStat.isDirectory() || directoryStat.isSymbolicLink()) {
      throw new Error(`Refusing to use unsafe shim directory ${directoryPath}.`);
    }
    assertOwnedByCurrentUser(directoryStat, directoryPath);
  }
  try {
    const stat = fs.lstatSync(paths.shimPath);
    if (!stat.isFile() || stat.isSymbolicLink()) {
      throw new Error(`Refusing to replace non-regular shim ${paths.shimPath}.`);
    }
    assertOwnedByCurrentUser(stat, paths.shimPath);
    if (stat.nlink > 1) throw new Error(`Refusing to replace multiply linked shim ${paths.shimPath}.`);
    const existing = fs.readFileSync(paths.shimPath, "utf8");
    if (!isManagedShimContents(existing)) {
      throw new Error(`Refusing to replace existing non-managed command ${paths.shimPath}.`);
    }
  } catch (error) {
    if ((error as NodeJS.ErrnoException).code !== "ENOENT") throw error;
  }
}

function shellQuote(value: string): string {
  return `'${value.replace(/'/g, `'"'"'`)}'`;
}

function isManagedShimContents(contents: string): boolean {
  const lines = contents.split("\n");
  // Accept the original pinned-runtime shim so upgrades can replace it.
  const withRuntimePath = lines.length === 6;
  const execIndex = withRuntimePath ? 4 : 3;
  return (
    (lines.length === 5 || withRuntimePath) &&
    lines[0] === "#!/bin/sh" &&

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