prestodb/presto · error · PrestoException

HIVE_PATH_ALREADY_EXISTS

HIVE_PATH_ALREADY_EXISTS

Error message

Target directory for table '%s.%s' already exists: %s

What it means

forNewTable resolves the table's default location via getTableDefaultLocation and fails when that target directory already exists on HDFS, preventing accidental reuse/overwrite of an existing table directory.

Source

Thrown at presto-hive/src/main/java/com/facebook/presto/hive/HiveLocationService.java:64

        implements LocationService
{
    private final HdfsEnvironment hdfsEnvironment;

    @Inject
    public HiveLocationService(HdfsEnvironment hdfsEnvironment)
    {
        this.hdfsEnvironment = requireNonNull(hdfsEnvironment, "hdfsEnvironment is null");
    }

    @Override
    public LocationHandle forNewTable(SemiTransactionalHiveMetastore metastore, ConnectorSession session, String schemaName, String tableName, boolean tempPathRequired)
    {
        Path targetPath = getTableDefaultLocation(session, metastore, hdfsEnvironment, schemaName, tableName);

        HdfsContext context = new HdfsContext(session, schemaName, tableName, targetPath.toString(), true);
        // verify the target directory for the table
        if (pathExists(context, hdfsEnvironment, targetPath)) {
            throw new PrestoException(HIVE_PATH_ALREADY_EXISTS, format("Target directory for table '%s.%s' already exists: %s", schemaName, tableName, targetPath));
        }
        return createLocationHandle(context, session, targetPath, NEW, tempPathRequired);
    }

    @Override
    public LocationHandle forExistingTable(SemiTransactionalHiveMetastore metastore, ConnectorSession session, Table table, boolean tempPathRequired)
    {
        String tablePath = table.getStorage().getLocation();
        HdfsContext context = new HdfsContext(session, table.getDatabaseName(), table.getTableName(), tablePath, false);
        Path targetPath = new Path(tablePath);
        return createLocationHandle(context, session, targetPath, EXISTING, tempPathRequired);
    }

    @Override
    public LocationHandle forTemporaryTable(SemiTransactionalHiveMetastore metastore, ConnectorSession session, Table table, boolean tempPathRequired)
    {
        String schemaName = table.getDatabaseName();
        String tableName = table.getTableName();

View on GitHub (pinned to 55bb57d202)

Solutions

1. Choose a different table name or location
2. Remove/rename the stale directory if it is truly orphaned

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at presto-hive/src/main/java/com/facebook/presto/hive/HiveLocationService.java:64 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of prestodb/presto@55bb57d202 (2026-09-04). Data as JSON: /api/errors/cdfe931e5542db3a. Report an issue: GitHub.