[GH-ISSUE #24716] issue: /api/chat/completions fails when chat_id is omitted #91126

New Issue

GiteaMirror · 2026-05-15T16:24:23-05:00

GiteaMirror commented

2026-05-15 16:24:23 -05:00

Originally created by @Sechma on GitHub (May 14, 2026).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/issues/24716

Check Existing Issues

I have searched for any existing and/or related issues.
I have searched for any existing and/or related discussions.
I have also searched in the CLOSED issues AND CLOSED discussions and found no related items (your issue might already be addressed on the development branch!).
I am using the latest version of Open WebUI.

Installation Method

Git Clone

Open WebUI Version

0.9.5

Ollama Version (if applicable)

No response

Operating System

Windows 10

Browser (if applicable)

Firefox

Confirmation

I have read and followed all instructions in README.md.
I am using the latest version of both Open WebUI and Ollama.
I have included the browser console logs.
I have included the Docker container logs.
I have provided every relevant configuration, setting, and environment variable used in my setup.
I have clearly listed every relevant configuration, custom setting, environment variable, and command-line option that influences my setup (such as Docker Compose overrides, .env values, browser settings, authentication configurations, etc).
I have documented step-by-step reproduction instructions that are precise, sequential, and leave nothing to interpretation. My steps:
Start with the initial platform/version/OS and dependencies used,
Specify exact install/launch/configure commands,
List URLs visited, user input (incl. example values/emails/passwords if needed),
Describe all options and toggles enabled or changed,
Include any files or environmental changes,
Identify the expected and actual result at each stage,
Ensure any reasonably skilled user can follow and hit the same issue.

Expected Behavior

/api/chat/completions should accept a standard OpenAI-style payload without chat_id.
A request like this should work

{ "model": "example-model", "messages": [ { "role": "user", "content": "hello world" } ] }

chat_id should be optional, not required.

Actual Behavior

If chat_id is omitted, the request fails with:
{"detail":"'NoneType' object has no attribute 'startswith'"}

Server log
ERROR | open_webui.main:process_chat - Error processing chat payload: 'NoneType' object has no attribute 'startswith'

Steps to Reproduce

Run (before please rename your base url and api key

BASE_URL="http://example.com"
API_KEY="api_key"
ENDPOINT="/api/chat/completions"
PROMPT="hello world"

curl -sS "${BASE_URL}${ENDPOINT}" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer ${API_KEY}" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d @- <<EOF
{
  "model": "gpt-5.4",
  "chat_id": "123456",
  "messages": [
    {
      "role": "user",
      "content": "${PROMPT}"
    }
  ]
}
EOF

Logs & Screenshots

Response
{"detail":"'NoneType' object has no attribute 'startswith'"}

Docker log
ERROR | open_webui.main:process_chat - Error processing chat payload: 'NoneType' object has no attribute 'startswith'

Additional Information

No response

Originally created by @Sechma on GitHub (May 14, 2026). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/issues/24716 ### Check Existing Issues - [x] I have searched for any existing and/or related issues. - [x] I have searched for any existing and/or related discussions. - [x] I have also searched in the CLOSED issues AND CLOSED discussions and found no related items (your issue might already be addressed on the development branch!). - [x] I am using the latest version of Open WebUI. ### Installation Method Git Clone ### Open WebUI Version 0.9.5 ### Ollama Version (if applicable) _No response_ ### Operating System Windows 10 ### Browser (if applicable) Firefox ### Confirmation - [x] I have read and followed all instructions in `README.md`. - [x] I am using the latest version of **both** Open WebUI and Ollama. - [x] I have included the browser console logs. - [x] I have included the Docker container logs. - [x] I have **provided every relevant configuration, setting, and environment variable used in my setup.** - [x] I have clearly **listed every relevant configuration, custom setting, environment variable, and command-line option that influences my setup** (such as Docker Compose overrides, .env values, browser settings, authentication configurations, etc). - [x] I have documented **step-by-step reproduction instructions that are precise, sequential, and leave nothing to interpretation**. My steps: - Start with the initial platform/version/OS and dependencies used, - Specify exact install/launch/configure commands, - List URLs visited, user input (incl. example values/emails/passwords if needed), - Describe all options and toggles enabled or changed, - Include any files or environmental changes, - Identify the expected and actual result at each stage, - Ensure any reasonably skilled user can follow and hit the same issue. ### Expected Behavior /api/chat/completions should accept a standard OpenAI-style payload without chat_id. A request like this should work `{ "model": "example-model", "messages": [ { "role": "user", "content": "hello world" } ] }` chat_id should be optional, not required. ### Actual Behavior If chat_id is omitted, the request fails with: `{"detail":"'NoneType' object has no attribute 'startswith'"}` Server log `ERROR | open_webui.main:process_chat - Error processing chat payload: 'NoneType' object has no attribute 'startswith'` ### Steps to Reproduce Run (before please rename your base url and api key ``` BASE_URL="http://example.com" API_KEY="api_key" ENDPOINT="/api/chat/completions" PROMPT="hello world" curl -sS "${BASE_URL}${ENDPOINT}" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer ${API_KEY}" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d @- <<EOF { "model": "gpt-5.4", "chat_id": "123456", "messages": [ { "role": "user", "content": "${PROMPT}" } ] } EOF ``` ### Logs & Screenshots Response `{"detail":"'NoneType' object has no attribute 'startswith'"}` Docker log `ERROR | open_webui.main:process_chat - Error processing chat payload: 'NoneType' object has no attribute 'startswith'` ### Additional Information _No response_

GiteaMirror added the bug label 2026-05-15 16:24:23 -05:00

GiteaMirror closed this issue

2026-05-15 16:24:25 -05:00

GiteaMirror commented

2026-05-15 16:24:26 -05:00

@owui-terminator[bot] commented on GitHub (May 14, 2026):

🔍 Related Issues Found

I found some existing issues that might be related. Please check if any of these are duplicates or contain helpful solutions:

🟣 #24564 bug: API calls to /api/chat/completions fail: "'NoneType' object has no attribute 'startswith'"
This is the closest duplicate: it reports the same '/api/chat/completions' failure with the exact 'NoneType' object has no attribute 'startswith' error. Although its reproduction differs, the underlying endpoint bug appears the same.
by da-astro · bug
🟣 #24575 bug: 'NoneType' object has no attribute 'startswith' on /api/chat/completions when external client omits parent_id
This issue narrows the same error to external clients omitting parent_id on '/api/chat/completions', which is very similar to the current report about the endpoint failing when an optional request field is absent.
by Ghosterme-dev · bug
🟣 #24639 issue: Error processing chat payload: 'NoneType' object has no attribute 'startswith'
This is another direct report of the identical 'Error processing chat payload'/'NoneType' object has no attribute 'startswith' stack at v0.9.5, so it likely tracks the same backend bug.
by Arondight · bug
🟣 #24553 Issue #24553
This issue is about '/api/chat/completions' running into an error in the same version range and is likely part of the same regression family, even though the exact request shape differs.
by unknown

💡 If your issue is a duplicate, please close it and add any additional details to the existing issue instead.

This comment was generated automatically. React with 👍 if helpful, 👎 if not.

@owui-terminator[bot] commented on GitHub (May 14, 2026):  🔍 **Related Issues Found** I found some existing issues that might be related. Please check if any of these are duplicates or contain helpful solutions: 1. 🟣 [#24564](https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/issues/24564) **bug: API calls to /api/chat/completions fail: "'NoneType' object has no attribute 'startswith'"** *This is the closest duplicate: it reports the same '/api/chat/completions' failure with the exact 'NoneType' object has no attribute 'startswith' error. Although its reproduction differs, the underlying endpoint bug appears the same.* *by da-astro · `bug`* 2. 🟣 [#24575](https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/issues/24575) **bug: 'NoneType' object has no attribute 'startswith' on /api/chat/completions when external client omits parent_id** *This issue narrows the same error to external clients omitting parent_id on '/api/chat/completions', which is very similar to the current report about the endpoint failing when an optional request field is absent.* *by Ghosterme-dev · `bug`* 3. 🟣 [#24639](https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/issues/24639) **issue: Error processing chat payload: 'NoneType' object has no attribute 'startswith'** *This is another direct report of the identical 'Error processing chat payload'/'NoneType' object has no attribute 'startswith' stack at v0.9.5, so it likely tracks the same backend bug.* *by Arondight · `bug`* 4. 🟣 [#24553](https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/issues/24553) **Issue #24553** *This issue is about '/api/chat/completions' running into an error in the same version range and is likely part of the same regression family, even though the exact request shape differs.* *by unknown* --- 💡 If your issue is a duplicate, please close it and add any additional details to the existing issue instead. *This comment was generated automatically.* React with 👍 if helpful, 👎 if not.

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Reference: github-starred/open-webui#91126