spring-projects/spring-framework · error · AopConfigException

Can only use global advisors or interceptors with a Listable

Error message

Can only use global advisors or interceptors with a ListableBeanFactory

What it means

Global advisors/interceptors (entries in interceptorNames ending with '*') are resolved by enumerating beans of type Advisor/Interceptor in the BeanFactory via BeanFactoryUtils.beanNamesForTypeIncludingAncestors, which requires ListableBeanFactory. If the injected beanFactory is not listable, addGlobalAdvisors cannot run and AopConfigException is thrown.

Source

Thrown at spring-aop/src/main/java/org/springframework/aop/framework/ProxyFactoryBean.java:425

	 */
	private synchronized void initializeAdvisorChain() throws AopConfigException, BeansException {
		if (!this.advisorChainInitialized && !ObjectUtils.isEmpty(this.interceptorNames)) {
			if (this.beanFactory == null) {
				throw new IllegalStateException("No BeanFactory available anymore (probably due to serialization) " +
						"- cannot resolve interceptor names " + Arrays.toString(this.interceptorNames));
			}

			// Globals can't be last unless we specified a targetSource using the property...
			if (this.interceptorNames[this.interceptorNames.length - 1].endsWith(GLOBAL_SUFFIX) &&
					this.targetName == null && this.targetSource == EMPTY_TARGET_SOURCE) {
				throw new AopConfigException("Target required after globals");
			}

			// Materialize interceptor chain from bean names.
			for (String name : this.interceptorNames) {
				if (name.endsWith(GLOBAL_SUFFIX)) {
					if (!(this.beanFactory instanceof ListableBeanFactory lbf)) {
						throw new AopConfigException(
								"Can only use global advisors or interceptors with a ListableBeanFactory");
					}
					addGlobalAdvisors(lbf, name.substring(0, name.length() - GLOBAL_SUFFIX.length()));
				}

				else {
					// If we get here, we need to add a named interceptor.
					// We must check if it's a singleton or prototype.
					Object advice;
					if (this.singleton || this.beanFactory.isSingleton(name)) {
						// Add the real Advisor/Advice to the chain.
						advice = this.beanFactory.getBean(name);
					}
					else {
						// It's a prototype Advice or Advisor: replace with a prototype.
						// Avoid unnecessary creation of prototype bean just for advisor chain initialization.
						advice = new PrototypePlaceholderAdvisor(name);
					}

View on GitHub (pinned to e8729d0438)

Solutions

Run the ProxyFactoryBean inside a Spring ApplicationContext so it receives a ListableBeanFactory (DefaultListableBeanFactory).
Remove the '*' global entries from interceptorNames and name advisors explicitly.
If providing a custom BeanFactory programmatically, ensure it implements ListableBeanFactory.

Example fix

// before
proxyFactoryBean.setBeanFactory(simpleBeanFactory); // not listable
proxyFactoryBean.setInterceptorNames(new String[]{"global*"});

// after
proxyFactoryBean.setBeanFactory(applicationContext); // ListableBeanFactory
// or name explicitly
proxyFactoryBean.setInterceptorNames(new String[]{"txAdvice","secAdvice"});

Defensive patterns

Strategy: validation

Validate before calling

boolean usesGlobals = java.util.Arrays.stream(pfb.getInterceptorNames() == null ? new String[0] : pfb.getInterceptorNames())
    .anyMatch(n -> n.endsWith("*"));
if (usesGlobals && !(beanFactory instanceof org.springframework.beans.factory.ListableBeanFactory)) {
    throw new IllegalStateException("Global advisors require a ListableBeanFactory");
}

Prevention

Run ProxyFactoryBean inside an ApplicationContext so it gets a ListableBeanFactory.
Avoid global '*' entries; name advisors explicitly.
When providing a custom BeanFactory, make sure it implements ListableBeanFactory.

When it happens

Trigger: ProxyFactoryBean is wired with a BeanFactory that is only org.springframework.beans.factory.BeanFactory (or a minimal custom impl) rather than ListableBeanFactory, while interceptorNames contains a global '*' entry.

Common situations: Custom integration where ProxyFactoryBean.setBeanFactory receives a non-listable factory; embedding an AOP proxy in a non-standard container; misusing ProxyFactoryBean outside an ApplicationContext (which always provides a listable factory).

Related errors

AI-assisted analysis of spring-projects/spring-framework@e8729d0438 (2026-08-04). Data as JSON: /data/errors/f5577b2a69fd0e87.json. Report an issue: GitHub.