quarkusio/quarkus · error · IllegalArgumentException

Directive 'skip' was not found in the query (on the server…

Error message

Directive 'skip' was not found in the query (on the server side).

What it means

This GraphQL server-side query resolver requires the @skip directive to be present on the field being fetched. It reads QueryDirectives from the DataFetchingEnvironment; when getImmediateAppliedDirective("skip") returns empty the resolver throws IllegalArgumentException, meaning the client sent a query without the expected @skip directive.

Solutions

1. Include @skip in the query sent to the server, e.g. `piNumber @skip(if: false)`
2. Use the SmallRye GraphQL client query/document builder to add the directive instead of hand-writing the query
3. Relax the server check if the directive is optional in your API contract

Example fix

// before
String query = "{ piNumber }";
// after
String query = "{ piNumber @skip(if: false) }";

String query = "{ piNumber @skip(if: false) }";
// verify directive presence in tests before asserting on the result

try {
    String pi = client.piNumber();
} catch (GraphQLClientException e) {
    if (e.getMessage().contains("Directive 'skip' was not found")) {
        // fix the query document to include @skip
    }
}

When it happens

Trigger: Querying piNumber without an inline @skip directive on the field, e.g. `{ piNumber }` instead of `{ piNumber @skip(if: false) }`.

Common situations: SmallRye GraphQL client integration tests where the client template must include @skip; mismatches after changing the client query and forgetting the directive; older servers not supporting directive introspection.

Related errors

• Can not load class []
• GraphQL client with config key
• graphql/graphql-client.d.ts not found on classpath
• graphql/graphql-client.js not found on classpath
• ${joinedGraphQLErrorMessages}

AI-assisted analysis of quarkusio/quarkus@e1c734241f (2026-09-05). Data as JSON: /api/errors/5844abd3796c135b. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at integration-tests/smallrye-graphql-client/src/main/java/io/quarkus/io/smallrye/graphql/client/LuckyNumbersResource.java:59

    public Multi<Integer> primeNumbers() {
        return Multi.createFrom().items(2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13);
    }

    @Query(value = "echoList")
    public List<Integer> echoList(@NonNull List<Integer> list) {
        return list;
    }

    @Query
    public String returnHeader(String key) {
        return request.getCurrent().request().getHeader(key);
    }

    @Query
    public String piNumber() {
        QueryDirectives directives = context.getDataFetchingEnvironment().getQueryDirectives();
        if (directives.getImmediateAppliedDirective("skip").isEmpty()) {
            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Directive 'skip' was not found in the query (on the server side).");
        }

        return "3.14159";
    }

}

View on GitHub (pinned to e1c734241f)