GitHub App Installation Blocked: Unexpected ANTHROPIC_API_KEY Secret Conflict
Status Fixed / completed
Maintainer reply ✓ Yes — ashwin-ant
Activity 9 comments · opened Jun 30, 2025 · closed Jul 17, 2025
💡 Likely answer: A maintainer (ashwin-ant, collaborator)
responded on this thread — see the highlighted reply below.
Bug Description
I have successfully installed Claude Code in one of my Github repositories using /install-github-app. Except when I go to install it to my second repository using the same /install-github-app it unexpectedly informs me that -
_"ANTHROPIC_API_KEY already exists in repository secrets!"_ and automatically skips to _"Create a new secret with a different name"_
There main issue here is -
- I don't have an
ANTHROPIC_API_KEYsecret in my repository (Confirmed viagh secret list --repo username/repo | grep ANTHROPIC_API_KEY) - Even if it thinks so, it doesn't even allow me to select the option _"Use the existing API key"_ (Probably skips this option because of 1)
I am not sure how to resolve this. I am stuck in a loop. And I can access the value of my ANTHROPIC_API_KEY or create a new API Key from API Console since the "Claude Code" Workspace doesn't allow it.
Environment Info
- Platform: darwin
- Terminal: cursor
- Version: 1.0.35
- Feedback ID: 3402973b-2fc3-45b0-94c7-b91b0685ae9a
Errors
[{"error":"Error: Command failed: security find-generic-password -a $USER -w -s \"Claude Code\"\nsecurity: SecKeychainSearchCopyNext: The specified item could not be found in the keychain.\n\n at genericNodeError (node:internal/errors:983:15)\n at wrappedFn (node:internal/errors:537:14)\n at checkExecSyncError (node:child_process:882:11)\n at execSync (node:child_process:954:15)\n at TZ (file:///Users/work/.nvm/versions/node/v23.9.0/lib/node_modules/@anthropic-ai/claude-code/cli.js:700:3921)\n at file:///Users/work/.nvm/versions/node/v23.9.0/lib/node_modules/@anthropic-ai/claude-code/cli.js:622:9014\n at Q (file:///Users/work/.nvm/versions/node/v23.9.0/lib/node_modules/@anthropic-ai/claude-code/cli.js:526:17199)\n at VX (file:///Users/work/.nvm/versions/node/v23.9.0/lib/node_modules/@anthropic-ai/claude-code/cli.js:622:8160)\n at nS (file:///Users/work/.nvm/versions/node/v23.9.0/lib/node_modules/@anthropic-ai/claude-code/cli.js:622:7241)\n at f9 (file:///Users/work/.nvm/versions/node/v23.9.0/lib/node_modules/@anthropic-ai/claude-code/cli.js:622:11408)","timestamp":"2025-06-30T19:35:51.756Z"},{"error":"Error: 1: ENOENT \n at ux6 (file:///Users/work/.nvm/versions/node/v23.9.0/lib/node_modules/@anthropic-ai/claude-code/cli.js:1325:4797)\n at process.processTicksAndRejections (node:internal/process/task_queues:105:5)\n at async mx6 (file:///Users/work/.nvm/versions/node/v23.9.0/lib/node_modules/@anthropic-ai/claude-code/cli.js:1325:2578)","timestamp":"2025-06-30T19:35:54.024Z"}]Claude CLI Diagnostic
Currently running: npm-global (1.0.35)
Path: /Users/work/.nvm/versions/node/v23.9.0/bin/node
Invoked: /Users/work/.nvm/versions/node/v23.9.0/bin/claude
Auto-updates: No
Config install method: unknown
Config auto-updates: true
Update permissions: Yes
Recommendation: Run '/migrate-installer' to enable auto-updates
This migrates to a local installation in ~/.claude/local
9 Comments
Some investigation later -
On performing
security find-generic-password -s "Claude Code" -a $USERI get nothing.But it seems like the API key is stored under "Claude Code-credentials" (not just "Claude Code").
@5hirish that's pretty odd. The way we check for existing secrets is by running
gh secret list --app actions --repo ${userNameOrOrgName}/${repoName}and search forANTHROPIC_API_KEY.Just to help with debugging, when you do
/install-github-appare you typing in a repo name manually or using the default suggested one?Yes, I found it odd too. And I am able to reproduce it each time. I am using the default suggested one. As in the git repo that Claude Code finds in the current director.
@5hirish just as a sanity check, you mentioned running
gh secret list --repo username/repo. Can you try manually runninggh secret list --app actions --repo username/repoand seeing if it errors? I think I may have found the issue here, but would like to confirm a theory.I ran the command and it doesn't error and shows me the secrets in my repo and
ANTHROPIC_API_KEYis not one of it.Hey @ashwin-ant , let me know if you need any more information.
This was resolved for me by updating to the latest version of CC
Yes seems like it is working for me too. I am closing down this issue for now then. If anyone faces similar issue, please feel free to reopen it.
This issue has been automatically locked since it was closed and has not had any activity for 7 days. If you're experiencing a similar issue, please file a new issue and reference this one if it's relevant.