python runtime_error ai_generated true

RecursionError: maximum recursion depth exceeded while calling a Python object

ID: python/pytest-collection-recursion-error

Also available as: JSON · Markdown · 中文
80%Fix Rate
80%Confidence
0Evidence
2026-01-09First Seen

Version Compatibility

VersionStatusIntroducedDeprecatedNotes
7.x active — — —
8.x active — — —

Root Cause

pytest's collection traverses symlinked directories or a conftest.py imports a module that imports pytest itself, causing infinite recursion during collection.

generic

中文

pytest 的收集过程遍历符号链接目录，或 conftest.py 导入了一个反过来导入 pytest 的模块，导致收集期间无限递归。

Workarounds

  1. 90% success 
    Find and remove symlink loops:

find tests -type l -exec sh -c 'readlink -f "$1" | grep -q "$(dirname $1)" && echo $1' _ {} \;
  2. 85% success 
    Break the import cycle in conftest.py by moving shared helpers into a separate module that does not import pytest.

Dead Ends

Common approaches that don't work:

  1. 80% fail

    Delays the crash and may segfault; does not fix the underlying cycle.

  2. 70% fail

    Only fixes one specific symlink; other cycles remain.