pbakaus/impeccable · error · Error

Unknown argument: ${arg}

Error message

Unknown argument: ${arg}

What it means

Thrown by sheriff.mjs parseArgs when an argv token starts with -- but is not one of the recognized flags. The parser is strict so a typo does not silently change behavior (e.g. a misspelled flag being treated as inert).

Source

Thrown at scripts/github/sheriff.mjs:445

  for (let i = 0; i < argv.length; i += 1) {
    const arg = argv[i];
    if (arg === '--apply') options.apply = true;
    else if (arg === '--dry-run') options.apply = false;
    else if (arg === '--no-label-ensure') options.ensureLabels = false;
    else if (arg === '--auto-close-regulars') options.autoCloseRegulars = true;
    else if (arg === '--repo') options.repo = requireValue(argv, ++i, arg);
    else if (arg === '--warning-days') options.warningDays = Number(requireValue(argv, ++i, arg));
    else if (arg === '--close-days') options.closeDays = Number(requireValue(argv, ++i, arg));
    else if (arg === '--maintainers') options.maintainers = splitList(requireValue(argv, ++i, arg));
    else if (arg === '--regular-contributors') options.regularContributors = splitList(requireValue(argv, ++i, arg));
    else if (arg === '--exempt-labels') options.exemptLabels = splitList(requireValue(argv, ++i, arg));
    else if (arg === '--now') options.now = new Date(requireValue(argv, ++i, arg));
    else if (arg === '--help' || arg === '-h') {
      printHelp();
      process.exit(0);
    } else {
      throw new Error(`Unknown argument: ${arg}`);
    }
  }

  if (!Number.isFinite(options.warningDays) || options.warningDays < 0) {
    throw new Error('--warning-days must be a non-negative number.');
  }
  if (!Number.isFinite(options.closeDays) || options.closeDays < options.warningDays) {
    throw new Error('--close-days must be at least --warning-days.');
  }
  if (Number.isNaN(options.now.getTime())) throw new Error('--now must be a valid date.');

  return options;
}

function latestMaintainerWaitCommand(pr, maintainers) {
  return latestDate([
    ...(pr.comments || [])
      .filter((comment) => maintainers.has(normalizeLogin(comment.authorLogin)))

View on GitHub (pinned to d14711ae3d)

Solutions

1. Check the flag spelling against parseArgs' recognized list (--apply, --dry-run, --repo, --warning-days, --close-days, --maintainers, --regular-contributors, --exempt-labels, --now, --auto-close-regulars, --no-label-ensure, --help/-h).
2. Run `sheriff.mjs --help` to confirm the supported flags.
3. Remove the stray flag from your wrapper script.

Example fix

# before
node sheriff.mjs --verbsoe-days 5

# after
node sheriff.mjs --warning-days 5

const KNOWN_FLAGS = new Set(['--apply','--dry-run','--no-label-ensure','--auto-close-regulars','--repo','--warning-days','--close-days','--maintainers','--regular-contributors','--exempt-labels','--now','--help','-h']);
function isKnownFlag(arg) {
  return !arg.startsWith('--') || KNOWN_FLAGS.has(arg);
}

function isRecognizedFlag(arg) {
  return !arg.startsWith('--') || KNOWN_FLAGS.has(arg) || arg.startsWith('--target');
}

for (const arg of argv) {
  if (arg.startsWith('--') && !KNOWN_FLAGS.has(arg)) {
    console.error(`Unknown argument: ${arg}`);
    process.exit(2);
  }
}

When it happens

Trigger: Passing any unrecognized flag such as `--verbsoe`, `--foo`, or a deprecated flag name to sheriff.

Common situations: Typo in a flag name, using a flag from a different tool, or version skew after a flag was renamed/removed.

Related errors

• --warning-days must be a non-negative number.
• --close-days must be at least --warning-days.
• --now must be a valid date.
• ${flag} requires a value.
• --target requires a path value (use --target <path> or --tar

AI-assisted analysis of pbakaus/impeccable@d14711ae3d (2026-08-13). Data as JSON: /api/errors/7f1c869bd79937f2. Report an issue: GitHub.