[BUG] Node.js error when `ps` is unavailable
Resolved 💬 5 comments Opened Jun 18, 2025 by Keno Closed Dec 10, 2025
Environment
- Platform (select one):
- [x] Anthropic API
- [ ] AWS Bedrock
- [ ] Google Vertex AI
- [ ] Other: <!-- specify -->
- Claude CLI version: 1.0.28 (Claude Code)
- Operating System: Debian minimal
- Terminal: iTerm2
Bug Description
Claude code does not handle ps being unavailable gracefully and throws an internal node.js error:
node:events:496
throw er; // Unhandled 'error' event
^
Error: spawn ps ENOENT
at ChildProcess._handle.onexit (node:internal/child_process:285:19)
at onErrorNT (node:internal/child_process:483:16)
at process.processTicksAndRejections (node:internal/process/task_queues:90:21)
Emitted 'error' event on ChildProcess instance at:
at ChildProcess._handle.onexit (node:internal/child_process:291:12)
at onErrorNT (node:internal/child_process:483:16)
at process.processTicksAndRejections (node:internal/process/task_queues:90:21) {
errno: -2,
code: 'ENOENT',
syscall: 'spawn ps',
path: 'ps',
spawnargs: [ '-o', 'pid', '--no-headers', '--ppid', 124 ]
}
Node.js v22.15.0
Steps to Reproduce
- Run claude in a sandbox that does not have
psavailable
Expected Behavior
- I'd have expected this to be handle either using the builtin node.js process monitoring features or alternatively given me a nice error message to install
ps.
Actual Behavior
See above error
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