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ESM Linkage Error Decoration can throw errors subsuming the original #37812

Description

@bmeck
  • Version: all LTS
  • Platform: all
  • Subsystem: module, esm, policy

What steps will reproduce the bug?

Produce an error in the lines:

const childFileURL =
await this.loader.resolve(childSpecifier, parentFileUrl);
const format = await this.loader.getFormat(childFileURL);
either by ESM loader or policy.

How often does it reproduce? Is there a required condition?

Every time.

It is only possible to reproduce with a Loader or Policy.

What is the expected behavior?

See the original error with linkage, preferably decorated properly.

What do you see instead?

The error that was thrown while attempting to decorate the original error.

Additional information

This was discovered by @giltayar on https://github.com/giltayar/import-map-to-policy/tree/127d3b068dc1e984708beed3dc5eaf4b116ff68e , which when running npm run start:node produced a very confusing:

$ NODE_DEBUG=policy,esm,module node --experimental-policy ./policy.json -- src/node-main.js
POLICY 58628: Manifest contains integrity for resource ./src/node-main.js
POLICY 58628: Manifest contains integrity for resource ./src/write-answer/write-answer.js
POLICY 58628: Manifest contains integrity for scope file:
POLICY 58628: Checking integrity of file:///Users/bfarias/Documents/oss/import-map-to-policy/package.json
(node:58628) ExperimentalWarning: Policies are experimental.
(Use `node --trace-warnings ...` to show where the warning was created)
ESM 58628: Storing file:///Users/bfarias/Documents/oss/import-map-to-policy/src/node-main.js in ModuleMap
POLICY 58628: Checking integrity of file:///Users/bfarias/Documents/oss/import-map-to-policy/src/node-main.js
ESM 58628: Translating StandardModule file:///Users/bfarias/Documents/oss/import-map-to-policy/src/node-main.js
ESM 58628: Storing file:///Users/bfarias/Documents/oss/import-map-to-policy/src/write-answer/write-answer.js in ModuleMap
POLICY 58628: Checking integrity of file:///Users/bfarias/Documents/oss/import-map-to-policy/src/write-answer/write-answer.js
ESM 58628: Translating StandardModule file:///Users/bfarias/Documents/oss/import-map-to-policy/src/write-answer/write-answer.js
ESM 58628: Storing file:///Users/bfarias/Documents/oss/import-map-to-policy/src/answer/answer.js in ModuleMap
POLICY 58628: Checking integrity of file:///Users/bfarias/Documents/oss/import-map-to-policy/src/answer/answer.js
ESM 58628: Translating StandardModule file:///Users/bfarias/Documents/oss/import-map-to-policy/src/answer/answer.js
node:internal/process/esm_loader:74

Error [ERR_MANIFEST_DEPENDENCY_MISSING]: Manifest resource file:///Users/bfarias/Documents/oss/import-map-to-policy/src/node-main.js:1 does not list write-answer as a dependency specifier for conditions: node, import
    at new NodeError (node:internal/errors:329:5)
    at Loader.defaultResolve [as _resolve] (node:internal/modules/esm/resolve:821:18)
    at Loader.resolve (node:internal/modules/esm/loader:86:40)
    at ModuleJob._instantiate (node:internal/modules/esm/module_job:117:31)
    at async ModuleJob.run (node:internal/modules/esm/module_job:151:5)
    at async Loader.import (node:internal/modules/esm/loader:166:24)
    at async Object.loadESM (node:internal/process/esm_loader:68:5) {
  code: 'ERR_MANIFEST_DEPENDENCY_MISSING'
}

You can note the :1 that comes from the wrong URL being used when decorating, this caused an error in resolve to subsume the original:

file:///Users/bfarias/Documents/oss/import-map-to-policy/src/write-answer/write-answer.js:1
import {theAnswer} from 'answer'
        ^^^^^^^^^
SyntaxError: The requested module 'answer' does not provide an export named 'theAnswer'
    at ModuleJob._instantiate (node:internal/modules/esm/module_job:105:21)
    at async ModuleJob.run (node:internal/modules/esm/module_job:151:5)
    at async Loader.import (node:internal/modules/esm/loader:166:24)
    at async Object.loadESM (node:internal/process/esm_loader:68:5)

Activity

  1. github-actions commented on Jun 27, 2026

    @github-actions
    Contributor

    This issue has been marked as stale due to 210 days of inactivity.
    It will be automatically closed in 30 days if no further activity occurs. If this is still relevant, please leave a comment or update it to keep it open.

  2. added
    staleIssues and PRs marked stale due to inactivity and scheduled for automatic closure.
    on Jun 27, 2026
  3. github-actions commented on Jul 28, 2026

    @github-actions
    Contributor

    This issue has been automatically closed after 30 days of inactivity following its stale status (no activity for a total of 120 days).
    If this is still relevant, feel free to reopen it or leave a comment with additional details so we can continue the discussion.

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