pytest-dev/pytest · error · TypeError

{self.inipath}: config option '{name}' expects an int, got {

Error message

{self.inipath}: config option '{name}' expects an int, got {value_type}: {value!r}

What it means

Raised by Config._getini_toml (config/__init__.py:2001-2007) for an 'int'-typed option in TOML mode when the value is not an int — and explicitly rejects bool, because bool is a subclass of int in Python (`isinstance(True, int)` is True), so the guard uses `not isinstance(value, int) or isinstance(value, bool)`.

Source

Thrown at src/_pytest/config/__init__.py:2004

                if not isinstance(item, str):
                    item_type = builtins.type(item).__name__
                    raise TypeError(
                        f"{self.inipath}: config option '{name}' expects a list of strings, "
                        f"but item at index {i} is {item_type}: {item!r}"
                    )
            return list(value)
        elif type == "bool":
            # Expect a boolean.
            if not isinstance(value, bool):
                raise TypeError(
                    f"{self.inipath}: config option '{name}' expects a bool, "
                    f"got {value_type}: {value!r}"
                )
            return value
        elif type == "int":
            # Expect an integer (but not bool, which is a subclass of int).
            if not isinstance(value, int) or isinstance(value, bool):
                raise TypeError(
                    f"{self.inipath}: config option '{name}' expects an int, "
                    f"got {value_type}: {value!r}"
                )
            return value
        elif type == "float":
            # Expect a float or integer only.
            if not isinstance(value, (float, int)) or isinstance(value, bool):
                raise TypeError(
                    f"{self.inipath}: config option '{name}' expects a float, "
                    f"got {value_type}: {value!r}"
                )
            return value
        elif type == "string":
            # Expect a string.
            if not isinstance(value, str):
                raise TypeError(
                    f"{self.inipath}: config option '{name}' expects a string, "
                    f"got {value_type}: {value!r}"

View on GitHub (pinned to 98b357f69e)

Solutions

Use a bare TOML integer: x = 2 (no quotes).
If a bool was intended, change the option's registered type to 'bool'.
Ensure floats are not used where ints are required (truncate/convert at the source).

Example fix

# before (pyproject.toml)
verbosity_test_cases = "2"

# after
verbosity_test_cases = 2

Defensive patterns

Strategy: validation

Validate before calling

def ensure_toml_int(value):
    if not isinstance(value, int) or isinstance(value, bool):
        raise TypeError('int option in TOML must be a bare integer')
    return value

Type guard

def is_native_int(value) -> bool:
    return isinstance(value, int) and not isinstance(value, bool)

Try / catch

try:
    config.getini(name)
except Exception:
    # convert to a bare TOML integer and reload

Prevention

Use bare unquoted integers in TOML.
Never substitute true/false for an int option.
Remember bool is an int subclass — the guard explicitly excludes it.

When it happens

Trigger: Setting an int option in pyproject.toml to a string ("2"), a float (2.0), or a bool (true). A native TOML integer is required.

Common situations: Quoting ints in TOML; passing a float where an int is expected; accidentally using true/false for an int flag; INI->TOML migration leaving values as strings.

Related errors

AI-assisted analysis of pytest-dev/pytest@98b357f69e (2026-08-04). Data as JSON: /data/errors/c78ca14ac0917c00.json. Report an issue: GitHub.