paperclipai/paperclip · error

Refusing to replace multiply linked shim

Error message

Refusing to replace multiply linked shim ${paths.shimPath}.

What it means

The existing shim file has nlink > 1 (hard-linked elsewhere), so replacing it would affect other links; the guard refuses to swap multiply-linked shims.

Solutions

1. Remove the multiply linked shim at ${paths.shimPath} manually after verifying it is not shared, then retry.

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at cli/src/install-store.ts:367 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/ebb89e170610f759. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at cli/src/install-store.ts:367

}

export function assertManagedShimWritable(paths = resolveInstallStorePaths()): void {
  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;

View on GitHub (pinned to 01ad858492)