mistral-common-errors

What this skill does

# Mistral AI Common Errors

## Overview

Quick reference for diagnosing and fixing Mistral AI API errors. Covers HTTP status codes, SDK-specific issues, streaming failures, and tool calling problems with real solutions.

## Prerequisites

- Mistral AI SDK installed
- `MISTRAL_API_KEY` configured
- Access to application logs

## Instructions

### Step 1: Quick Diagnostic

```bash
set -euo pipefail
# Test API connectivity and auth
curl -s -w "\nHTTP Status: %{http_code}\n" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer ${MISTRAL_API_KEY}" \
  https://api.mistral.ai/v1/models | jq '.data[].id' 2>/dev/null || echo "FAILED"

# Check env
echo "Key set: ${MISTRAL_API_KEY:+yes}"
echo "Key length: ${#MISTRAL_API_KEY}"
```

### Step 2: Error Reference

---

#### 401 Unauthorized

```
Error: Authentication failed. Invalid API key.
```

**Causes:** Key missing, expired, revoked, or wrong workspace.

**Fix:**

```typescript
const apiKey = process.env.MISTRAL_API_KEY;
if (!apiKey) throw new Error('MISTRAL_API_KEY is not set');

// Test the key
const client = new Mistral({ apiKey });
try {
  await client.models.list();
} catch (e: any) {
  if (e.status === 401) {
    console.error('API key invalid — regenerate at console.mistral.ai');
  }
}
```

**Verify manually:**

```bash
set -euo pipefail
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer ${MISTRAL_API_KEY}" https://api.mistral.ai/v1/models
```

---

#### 429 Too Many Requests

```
Error: Rate limit exceeded. Retry-After: 60
```

**Causes:** Exceeded RPM (requests/min) or TPM (tokens/min) for your tier.

**Fix:**

```typescript
async function withBackoff<T>(fn: () => Promise<T>, maxRetries = 5): Promise<T> {
  for (let i = 0; i <= maxRetries; i++) {
    try {
      return await fn();
    } catch (error: any) {
      if (error.status !== 429 || i === maxRetries) throw error;
      const wait = Math.min(2 ** i * 1000, 60_000);
      console.warn(`Rate limited, retrying in ${wait}ms...`);
      await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, wait));
    }
  }
  throw new Error('Max retries exceeded');
}
```

**Check your limits:** Visit [console.mistral.ai/limits](https://admin.mistral.ai/plateforme/limits) for workspace RPM/TPM caps.

---

#### 400 Bad Request — Invalid Model

```
{"message": "Unknown model: mistral-ultra"}
```

**Fix:** Use valid model IDs:

```typescript
const VALID_MODELS = [
  'mistral-large-latest',
  'mistral-small-latest',
  'codestral-latest',
  'pixtral-large-latest',
  'mistral-embed',
  'mistral-moderation-latest',
] as const;
```

**List available models dynamically:**

```bash
set -euo pipefail
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer ${MISTRAL_API_KEY}" \
  https://api.mistral.ai/v1/models | jq -r '.data[].id' | sort
```

---

#### 400 Bad Request — Invalid Messages

```
{"message": "messages must be a non-empty array"}
```

**Fix:** Validate message structure before sending:

```typescript
function validateMessages(messages: any[]): void {
  if (!messages?.length) throw new Error('Messages array empty');
  const validRoles = ['system', 'user', 'assistant', 'tool'];
  for (const msg of messages) {
    if (!validRoles.includes(msg.role)) {
      throw new Error(`Invalid role: "${msg.role}"`);
    }
    if (!msg.content && !msg.toolCalls) {
      throw new Error(`Message with role "${msg.role}" has no content`);
    }
  }
}
```

---

#### 400 Bad Request — Tool Call Errors

```
{"message": "tool_call_id is required for tool messages"}
```

**Fix:** Every tool result must include the matching `toolCallId`:

```typescript
// After receiving tool_calls from the model
for (const call of response.choices[0].message.toolCalls) {
  const result = await executeFunction(call.function.name, call.function.arguments);
  messages.push({
    role: 'tool',
    name: call.function.name,
    content: JSON.stringify(result),
    toolCallId: call.id,  // REQUIRED — must match call.id
  });
}
```

---

#### 413 / Context Length Exceeded

```
Error: Maximum context length exceeded
```

**Fix:** Trim conversation history, keeping system message:

```typescript
function trimToFit(messages: any[], maxChars = 100_000): any[] {
  const system = messages.find(m => m.role === 'system');
  const rest = messages.filter(m => m.role !== 'system');
  const kept: any[] = system ? [system] : [];
  let chars = system?.content?.length ?? 0;

  // Keep most recent messages that fit
  for (let i = rest.length - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
    const msgChars = JSON.stringify(rest[i]).length;
    if (chars + msgChars > maxChars) break;
    chars += msgChars;
    kept.splice(system ? 1 : 0, 0, rest[i]);
  }
  return kept;
}
```

---

#### 500/503 Server Error

```
Error: Internal server error
```

**Causes:** Mistral service issue (temporary).

**Fix:**

```typescript
class CircuitBreaker {
  private failures = 0;
  private lastFailure = 0;
  private readonly threshold = 5;
  private readonly resetMs = 60_000;

  async call<T>(fn: () => Promise<T>): Promise<T> {
    if (this.failures >= this.threshold) {
      if (Date.now() - this.lastFailure < this.resetMs) {
        throw new Error('Circuit breaker open — Mistral service unavailable');
      }
      this.failures = 0; // Reset after timeout
    }
    try {
      const result = await fn();
      this.failures = 0;
      return result;
    } catch (error: any) {
      if (error.status >= 500) {
        this.failures++;
        this.lastFailure = Date.now();
      }
      throw error;
    }
  }
}
```

---

#### ERR_REQUIRE_ESM (Node.js)

```
Error [ERR_REQUIRE_ESM]: require() of ES Module not supported
```

**Cause:** `@mistralai/mistralai` is ESM-only since v1.x.

**Fix:** Either use `import` syntax (recommended) or dynamic import:

```typescript
// Option 1: Convert to ESM
// package.json: "type": "module"
import { Mistral } from '@mistralai/mistralai';

// Option 2: Dynamic import in CJS
const { Mistral } = await import('@mistralai/mistralai');
```

---

#### Network Timeout

```
Error: Request timeout after 30000ms
```

**Fix:**

```typescript
const client = new Mistral({
  apiKey: process.env.MISTRAL_API_KEY,
  timeoutMs: 60_000, // Increase for long completions
});

// For streaming, the timeout applies to initial connection
// Individual chunks have no timeout
```

## Escalation Path

1. Collect evidence with `mistral-debug-bundle`
2. Check [status.mistral.ai](https://status.mistral.ai/)
3. Contact support via [Discord](https://discord.gg/mistralai) or console.mistral.ai

## Error Handling

| Error | Cause | Solution |
|-------|-------|----------|
| `401` | Auth failure | Regenerate key at console.mistral.ai |
| `429` | Rate limit | Backoff + check tier limits |
| `400` | Bad params | Validate model, messages, tools |
| `413` | Context overflow | Trim conversation history |
| `5xx` | Service error | Retry with circuit breaker |
| `ERR_REQUIRE_ESM` | CJS import | Use ESM `import` syntax |

## Resources

- [Mistral API Reference](https://docs.mistral.ai/api/)
- [Rate Limits & Tiers](https://docs.mistral.ai/deployment/ai-studio/tier/)
- [Status Page](https://status.mistral.ai/)
- [Discord Community](https://discord.gg/mistralai)

## Next Steps

For comprehensive debugging, see `mistral-debug-bundle`.