18.2.0 - 18.5.0: undefined method `id' for nil:NilClass

How to Use GitLab Upgrade
1

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Problem to solve

Omnibus upgrade from 18.2.0 to 18.5.0

after install or gitlab-ctl reconfigure:

================================================================================
      Error executing action `run` on resource 'bash_hide_env[migrate gitlab-rails database]'
      ================================================================================
      
      Mixlib::ShellOut::ShellCommandFailed
      ------------------------------------
      Expected process to exit with [0], but received '1'
      ---- Begin output of "bash"  ----
      STDOUT: Skipping Topology Service health check due to the cell being disabled
      Running db:migrate rake task
      main: == [advisory_lock_connection] object_id: 68660, pg_backend_pid: 2726
      main: == 20250916232115 FinalizeHkFixNonExistingTimelogUsers: migrating =============
      main: -- transaction_open?(nil)
      main:    -> 0.0001s
      main: -- transaction_open?(nil)
      main:    -> 0.0000s
      main: == [advisory_lock_connection] object_id: 68660, pg_backend_pid: 2726
      rake aborted!
      StandardError: An error has occurred, all later migrations canceled:
      
      undefined method `id' for nil:NilClass
      /opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/gitlab/background_migration/fix_non_existing_timelog_users.rb:12:in `perform'
      /opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/gitlab/database/background_migration/batched_migration_wrapper.rb:73:in `execute_batched_migration_job'
      /opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/gitlab/database/background_migration/batched_migration_wrapper.rb:62:in `execute_job'
      /opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/gitlab/database/background_migration/batched_migration_wrapper.rb:50:in `execute_batch'
      /opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/gitlab/database/background_migration/batched_migration_wrapper.rb:25:in `perform'
      /opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/gitlab/database/background_migration/batched_migration_runner.rb:30:in `run_migration_job'
      /opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/gitlab/database/background_migration/batched_migration_runner.rb:146:in `run_migration_while'
      /opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/gitlab/database/background_migration/batched_migration_runner.rb:80:in `finalize'
      /opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/gitlab/database/background_migration/batched_migration_runner.rb:10:in `finalize'
      /opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/gitlab/database/migrations/batched_background_migration_helpers.rb:161:in `block (2 levels) in finalize_batched_background_migration'
      /opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/gitlab/database/query_analyzers/base.rb:52:in `with_suppressed'
      /opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/gitlab/database/migrations/batched_background_migration_helpers.rb:160:in `block in finalize_batched_background_migration'
     ...
      /opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/tasks/gitlab/db.rake:102:in `block (3 levels) in <top (required)>'
      /opt/gitlab/embedded/bin/bundle:25:in `<main>'
      
      Caused by:
      NoMethodError: undefined method `id' for nil:NilClass
      /opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/gitlab/background_migration/fix_non_existing_timelog_users.rb:12:in `perform'
      /opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/gitlab/database/background_migration/batched_migration_wrapper.rb:73:in `execute_batched_migration_job'
      ...
      /opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/tasks/gitlab/db.rake:158:in `configure_pg_databases'
      /opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/tasks/gitlab/db.rake:102:in `block (3 levels) in <top (required)>'
      /opt/gitlab/embedded/bin/bundle:25:in `<main>'
      Tasks: TOP => db:migrate
      (See full trace by running task with --trace)
      STDERR: 
      ---- End output of "bash"  ----
      Ran "bash"  returned 1
      
      Cookbook Trace: (most recent call first)
      ----------------------------------------
      /opt/gitlab/embedded/cookbooks/cache/cookbooks/gitlab/resources/rails_migration.rb:20:in `block in class_from_file'
      
      Resource Declaration:
      ---------------------
      # In /opt/gitlab/embedded/cookbooks/cache/cookbooks/gitlab/resources/rails_migration.rb
      
       20:   bash_hide_env "migrate #{new_resource.name} database" do
       21:     code <<-EOH
       22:     set -e
       23:     log_file="#{logging_settings[:log_directory]}/#{new_resource.logfile_prefix}-$(date +%Y-%m-%d-%H-%M-%S).log"
       24:     umask 077
       25:     /opt/gitlab/bin/gitlab-rake #{new_resource.rake_task} 2>& 1 | tee ${log_file}
       26:     STATUS=${PIPESTATUS[0]}
       27:     chown #{account_helper.gitlab_user}:#{account_helper.gitlab_group} ${log_file}
       28:     echo $STATUS > #{new_resource.helper.db_migrate_status_file}
       29:     exit $STATUS
       30:     EOH
       31: 
       32:     environment new_resource.environment if new_resource.property_is_set?(:environment)
       33:     new_resource.dependent_services.each do |svc|
       34:       notifies :restart, svc, :immediately
       35:     end
       36: 
       37:     not_if { new_resource.helper.migrated? }
       38:     sensitive false
       39:   end
       40: end
      
      Compiled Resource:
      ------------------
      # Declared in /opt/gitlab/embedded/cookbooks/cache/cookbooks/gitlab/resources/rails_migration.rb:20:in `block in class_from_file'
      
      bash_hide_env("migrate gitlab-rails database") do
        action [:run]
        default_guard_interpreter :default
        interpreter "bash"
        declared_type :bash_hide_env
        cookbook_name "gitlab"
        recipe_name "database_migrations"
        code "    set -e\n    log_file=\"/var/log/gitlab/gitlab-rails/gitlab-rails-db-migrate-$(date +%Y-%m-%d-%H-%M-%S).log\"\n    umask 077\n    /opt/gitlab/bin/gitlab-rake gitlab:db:configure 2>& 1 | tee ${log_file}\n    STATUS=${PIPESTATUS[0]}\n    chown git:git ${log_file}\n    echo $STATUS > /var/opt/gitlab/gitlab-rails/upgrade-status/db-migrate-c6697a9cd49e1cfa45cc31b1ecdb90ae-a2f69d15eba\n    exit $STATUS\n"
        environment "*sensitive value suppressed*"
        not_if { #code block }
      end
      
      System Info:
      ------------
      chef_version=18.3.0
      platform=ubuntu
      platform_version=24.04
      ruby=ruby 3.2.8 (2025-03-26 revision 13f495dc2c) [x86_64-linux]
      program_name=/opt/gitlab/embedded/bin/cinc-client
      executable=/opt/gitlab/embedded/bin/cinc-client
      
    
    ================================================================================
    Error executing action `run` on resource 'rails_migration[gitlab-rails]'
    ================================================================================
    
    Mixlib::ShellOut::ShellCommandFailed
    ------------------------------------
    bash_hide_env[migrate gitlab-rails database] (gitlab::database_migrations line 20) had an error: Mixlib::ShellOut::ShellCommandFailed: Expected process to exit with [0], but received '1'
    ---- Begin output of "bash"  ----
    STDOUT: Skipping Topology Service health check due to the cell being disabled
    Running db:migrate rake task
    main: == [advisory_lock_connection] object_id: 68660, pg_backend_pid: 2726
    main: == 20250916232115 FinalizeHkFixNonExistingTimelogUsers: migrating =============
    main: -- transaction_open?(nil)
    main:    -> 0.0001s
    main: -- transaction_open?(nil)
    main:    -> 0.0000s
    main: == [advisory_lock_connection] object_id: 68660, pg_backend_pid: 2726
    rake aborted!
    StandardError: An error has occurred, all later migrations canceled:
    
    undefined method `id' for nil:NilClass
    /opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/gitlab/background_migration/fix_non_existing_timelog_users.rb:12:in `perform'
    /opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/gitlab/database/background_migration/batched_migration_wrapper.rb:73:in `execute_batched_migration_job'
    ...
    /opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/tasks/gitlab/db.rake:102:in `block (3 levels) in <top (required)>'
    /opt/gitlab/embedded/bin/bundle:25:in `<main>'
    
    Caused by:
    NoMethodError: undefined method `id' for nil:NilClass
    /opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/gitlab/background_migration/fix_non_existing_timelog_users.rb:12:in `perform'
    /opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/gitlab/database/background_migration/batched_migration_wrapper.rb:73:in `execute_batched_migration_job'
    ...
    /opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/tasks/gitlab/db.rake:158:in `configure_pg_databases'
    /opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/tasks/gitlab/db.rake:102:in `block (3 levels) in <top (required)>'
    /opt/gitlab/embedded/bin/bundle:25:in `<main>'
    Tasks: TOP => db:migrate
    (See full trace by running task with --trace)
    STDERR: 
    ---- End output of "bash"  ----
    Ran "bash"  returned 1
    
    Cookbook Trace: (most recent call first)
    ----------------------------------------
    /opt/gitlab/embedded/cookbooks/cache/cookbooks/gitlab/resources/rails_migration.rb:20:in `block in class_from_file'
    
    Resource Declaration:
    ---------------------
    # In /opt/gitlab/embedded/cookbooks/cache/cookbooks/gitlab/recipes/database_migrations.rb
    
     51: rails_migration "gitlab-rails" do
     52:   rake_task 'gitlab:db:configure'
     53:   logfile_prefix 'gitlab-rails-db-migrate'
     54:   helper migration_helper
     55: 
     56:   environment env_variables
     57:   dependent_services dependent_services
     58:   notifies :run, "execute[clear the gitlab-rails cache]", :immediately
     59:   notifies :run, "ruby_block[check remote PG version]", :immediately
     60: 
     61:   only_if { migration_helper.attributes_node['auto_migrate'] }
     62: end
    
    Compiled Resource:
    ------------------
    # Declared in /opt/gitlab/embedded/cookbooks/cache/cookbooks/gitlab/recipes/database_migrations.rb:51:in `from_file'
    
    rails_migration("gitlab-rails") do
      action [:run]
      default_guard_interpreter :default
      declared_type :rails_migration
      cookbook_name "gitlab"
      recipe_name "database_migrations"
      rake_task "gitlab:db:configure"
      logfile_prefix "gitlab-rails-db-migrate"
      helper "*sensitive value suppressed*"
      environment "*sensitive value suppressed*"
      dependent_services ["runit_service[puma]", "sidekiq_service[sidekiq]"]
      only_if { #code block }
    end
    
    System Info:
    ------------
    chef_version=18.3.0
    platform=ubuntu
    platform_version=24.04
    ruby=ruby 3.2.8 (2025-03-26 revision 13f495dc2c) [x86_64-linux]
    program_name=/opt/gitlab/embedded/bin/cinc-client
    executable=/opt/gitlab/embedded/bin/cinc-client
    
[2025-11-03T17:42:47+00:00] INFO: Running queued delayed notifications before re-raising exception

Running handlers:
[2025-11-03T17:42:47+00:00] ERROR: Running exception handlers
There was an error running gitlab-ctl reconfigure:

rails_migration[gitlab-rails] (gitlab::database_migrations line 51) had an error: Mixlib::ShellOut::ShellCommandFailed: bash_hide_env[migrate gitlab-rails database] (gitlab::database_migrations line 20) had an error: Mixlib::ShellOut::ShellCommandFailed: Expected process to exit with [0], but received '1'
---- Begin output of "bash"  ----
STDOUT: Skipping Topology Service health check due to the cell being disabled
Running db:migrate rake task
main: == [advisory_lock_connection] object_id: 68660, pg_backend_pid: 2726
main: == 20250916232115 FinalizeHkFixNonExistingTimelogUsers: migrating =============
main: -- transaction_open?(nil)
main:    -> 0.0001s
main: -- transaction_open?(nil)
main:    -> 0.0000s
main: == [advisory_lock_connection] object_id: 68660, pg_backend_pid: 2726
rake aborted!
StandardError: An error has occurred, all later migrations canceled:

undefined method `id' for nil:NilClass
/opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/gitlab/background_migration/fix_non_existing_timelog_users.rb:12:in `perform'
/opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/gitlab/database/background_migration/batched_migration_wrapper.rb:73:in `execute_batched_migration_job'
/opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/gitlab/database/background_migration/batched_migration_wrapper.rb:62:in `execute_job'
/opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/gitlab/database/background_migration/batched_migration_wrapper.rb:50:in `execute_batch'
/opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/gitlab/database/background_migration/batched_migration_wrapper.rb:25:in `perform'
...
/opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/tasks/gitlab/db.rake:102:in `block (3 levels) in <top (required)>'
/opt/gitlab/embedded/bin/bundle:25:in `<main>'

Caused by:
NoMethodError: undefined method `id' for nil:NilClass
/opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/gitlab/background_migration/fix_non_existing_timelog_users.rb:12:in `perform'
/opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/gitlab/database/background_migration/batched_migration_wrapper.rb:73:in `execute_batched_migration_job'
/opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/gitlab/database/background_migration/batched_migration_wrapper.rb:62:in `execute_job'
/opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/gitlab/database/background_migration/batched_migration_wrapper.rb:50:in `execute_batch'
/opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/gitlab/database/background_migration/batched_migration_wrapper.rb:25:in `perform'
...
/opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/tasks/gitlab/db.rake:191:in `configure_database'
/opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/tasks/gitlab/db.rake:158:in `configure_pg_databases'
/opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/tasks/gitlab/db.rake:102:in `block (3 levels) in <top (required)>'
/opt/gitlab/embedded/bin/bundle:25:in `<main>'
Tasks: TOP => db:migrate
(See full trace by running task with --trace)
STDERR: 
---- End output of "bash"  ----
Ran "bash"  returned 1

Running handlers complete
[2025-11-03T17:42:47+00:00] ERROR: Exception handlers complete
Infra Phase failed. 3 resources updated in 01 minutes 20 seconds
[2025-11-03T17:42:47+00:00] FATAL: Stacktrace dumped to /opt/gitlab/embedded/cookbooks/cache/cinc-stacktrace.out
[2025-11-03T17:42:47+00:00] FATAL: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[2025-11-03T17:42:47+00:00] FATAL: PLEASE PROVIDE THE CONTENTS OF THE stacktrace.out FILE (above) IF YOU FILE A BUG REPORT
[2025-11-03T17:42:47+00:00] FATAL: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[2025-11-03T17:42:47+00:00] FATAL: Mixlib::ShellOut::ShellCommandFailed: rails_migration[gitlab-rails] (gitlab::database_migrations line 51) had an error: Mixlib::ShellOut::ShellCommandFailed: bash_hide_env[migrate gitlab-rails database] (gitlab::database_migrations line 20) had an error: Mixlib::ShellOut::ShellCommandFailed: Expected process to exit with [0], but received '1'
---- Begin output of "bash"  ----
STDOUT: Skipping Topology Service health check due to the cell being disabled
Running db:migrate rake task
main: == [advisory_lock_connection] object_id: 68660, pg_backend_pid: 2726
main: == 20250916232115 FinalizeHkFixNonExistingTimelogUsers: migrating =============
main: -- transaction_open?(nil)
main:    -> 0.0001s
main: -- transaction_open?(nil)
main:    -> 0.0000s
main: == [advisory_lock_connection] object_id: 68660, pg_backend_pid: 2726
rake aborted!
StandardError: An error has occurred, all later migrations canceled:

undefined method `id' for nil:NilClass
/opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/gitlab/background_migration/fix_non_existing_timelog_users.rb:12:in `perform'
/opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/gitlab/database/background_migration/batched_migration_wrapper.rb:73:in `execute_batched_migration_job'
/opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/gitlab/database/background_migration/batched_migration_wrapper.rb:62:in `execute_job'
/opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/gitlab/database/background_migration/batched_migration_wrapper.rb:50:in `execute_batch'
/opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/gitlab/database/background_migration/batched_migration_wrapper.rb:25:in `perform'
/opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/gitlab/database/background_migration/batched_migration_runner.rb:30:in `run_migration_job'
/opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/gitlab/database/background_migration/batched_migration_runner.rb:146:in `run_migration_while'
/opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/gitlab/database/background_migration/batched_migration_runner.rb:80:in `finalize'
/opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/gitlab/database/background_migration/batched_migration_runner.rb:10:in `finalize'
/opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/gitlab/database/migrations/batched_background_migration_helpers.rb:161:in `block (2 levels) in finalize_batched_background_migration'
/opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/gitlab/database/query_analyzers/base.rb:52:in `with_suppressed'
/opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/gitlab/database/migrations/batched_background_migration_helpers.rb:160:in `block in finalize_batched_background_migration'
/opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/gitlab/database/migrations/reestablished_connection_stack.rb:21:in `with_restored_connection_stack'
/opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/gitlab/database/migrations/batched_background_migration_helpers.rb:159:in `finalize_batched_background_migration'
/opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/gitlab/database/migrations/batched_background_migration_helpers.rb:252:in `ensure_batched_background_migration_is_finished'
...
/opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/tasks/gitlab/db.rake:102:in `block (3 levels) in <top (required)>'
/opt/gitlab/embedded/bin/bundle:25:in `<main>'

Caused by:
NoMethodError: undefined method `id' for nil:NilClass
/opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/gitlab/background_migration/fix_non_existing_timelog_users.rb:12:in `perform'
/opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/gitlab/database/background_migration/batched_migration_wrapper.rb:73:in `execute_batched_migration_job'
...
/opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/tasks/gitlab/db.rake:191:in `configure_database'
/opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/tasks/gitlab/db.rake:158:in `configure_pg_databases'
/opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/lib/tasks/gitlab/db.rake:102:in `block (3 levels) in <top (required)>'
/opt/gitlab/embedded/bin/bundle:25:in `<main>'
Tasks: TOP => db:migrate
(See full trace by running task with --trace)
STDERR: 
---- End output of "bash"  ----
Ran "bash"  returned 1

Steps to reproduce

apt install gitlab-ce=18.5.0-ce.0

Configuration

It’s down, so I can’t

Versions

Please add an x whether options apply, and add the version information.

  • x Self-managed
  • GitLab.com SaaS
  • Dedicated

Versions

  • System information
    System: Ubuntu 24.04
    Current User: git
    Using RVM: no
    Ruby Version: 3.2.8
    Gem Version: 3.7.1
    Bundler Version:2.7.1
    Rake Version: 13.0.6
    Redis Version: 7.2.10
    Sidekiq Version:7.3.9
    Go Version: unknown

    GitLab information
    Version: 18.5.0
    Revision: a2f69d15eba
    Directory: /opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails
    DB Adapter: PostgreSQL
    DB Version: 16.10
    URL: https://gitlab.terion.pro
    HTTP Clone URL: Sign in · GitLab
    SSH Clone URL: git@gitlab.terion.pro:some-group/some-project.git
    Using LDAP: no
    Using Omniauth: yes
    Omniauth Providers:

    GitLab Shell
    Version: 14.45.3
    Repository storages:

    • default: unix:/var/opt/gitlab/gitaly/gitaly.socket
      GitLab Shell path: /opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-shell

    Gitaly

    • default Address: unix:/var/opt/gitlab/gitaly/gitaly.socket
    • default Version: 18.5.0
    • default Git Version: 2.50.1

2

chatgpt helped

Yep — this is a known-bad post-deployment migration in 18.5 where the background job FixNonExistingTimelogUsersblindly does:

ghost_id = User.find_by(user_type: 5).id

If your instance does not have a Ghost user yet, find_by(...) returns nil and .id explodes, which is exactly the undefined method \id’ for nil:NilClassyou’re seeing while finalizingFinalizeHkFixNonExistingTimelogUsers`. ([rubydoc.info](RubyDoc.info: Class: Gitlab::BackgroundMigration::FixNonExistingTimelogUsers – Documentation for gitlabhq/gitlabhq (master) – RubyDoc.info "RubyDoc.info:

Class: Gitlab::BackgroundMigration::FixNonExistingTimelogUsers

– Documentation for gitlabhq/gitlabhq (master)

– RubyDoc.info
"))

The clean fix: make sure the Ghost user exists, then rerun the migration.

Do this (Omnibus / apt install)

  1. Open the Rails console and check if the Ghost user exists
sudo gitlab-rails console


User.find_by(user_type: 5) || User.find_by(username: 'ghost')
  1. If it returns nil, create it (safe for self-managed; it won’t consume a license seat):
u = User.find_or_initialize_by(username: 'ghost')
u.name         = 'Ghost User'
u.email        = "ghost-#{SecureRandom.hex(6)}@example.invalid"
u.user_type    = 5             # Ghost
u.password     = SecureRandom.hex(32)
u.confirmed_at = Time.zone.now
u.projects_limit = 0
u.save!
  1. (Optional sanity) Verify it’s there:
User.find_by(user_type: 5)&.id
exit
  1. Retry the upgrade finalization:
sudo gitlab-rake db:migrate
sudo gitlab-ctl reconfigure

Why this works: that background job simply rewrites any timelog rows whose user_id points to a deleted/missing user so they reference the Ghost user. If the Ghost user exists, the job finishes and FinalizeHkFixNonExistingTimelogUsers no longer fails. You can see the job’s exact SQL update in the public docs build of the code. ([rubydoc.info](RubyDoc.info: Class: Gitlab::BackgroundMigration::FixNonExistingTimelogUsers – Documentation for gitlabhq/gitlabhq (master) – RubyDoc.info "RubyDoc.info:

Class: Gitlab::BackgroundMigration::FixNonExistingTimelogUsers

– Documentation for gitlabhq/gitlabhq (master)

– RubyDoc.info
"))

If you still can’t get past the migration

You can force-finish just this batched background migration (not my first choice, but sometimes necessary), then re-run migrations:

  1. See its state:
sudo gitlab-psql -d gitlabhq_production -c \
"SELECT id, job_class_name, status FROM batched_background_migrations WHERE job_class_name='FixNonExistingTimelogUsers';"
  1. Try the supported finalize Rake (will succeed once Ghost exists; otherwise fails again):
sudo gitlab-rake "gitlab:background_migrations:finalize[FixNonExistingTimelogUsers,timelogs,id,'[]']"

Docs on checking/finalizing batched background migrations: (docs.gitlab.com)

  1. As a last resort (you accept skipping this cleanup), mark it finished and proceed:
sudo gitlab-rails runner \
"Gitlab::Database::BackgroundMigration::BatchedMigration.where(job_class_name: 'FixNonExistingTimelogUsers').update_all(status: 3, finished_at: Time.current)"
sudo gitlab-rake db:migrate
sudo gitlab-ctl reconfigure

(Here, status = 3 is a finished state per GitLab’s background-migration status semantics). (docs.gitlab.com)

Notes / heads-up

  • This migration exists in 18.5 and its “finalize” migration 20250916232115_finalize_hk_fix_non_existing_timelog_users simply asserts the job is finished; it won’t run if the job fails. Ensuring the Ghost user exists unblocks it. (Fossies)

  • If you skipped versions and have other background migrations pending, it’s worth scanning the Background Migrations page and finishing any stragglers before upgrades — GitLab’s docs outline the exact checks/queries. (docs.gitlab.com)

  • GitLab’s public docs for 18.x upgrade notes also track misc upgrade gotchas; keep an eye on patch releases (e.g., 18.5.1) and upcoming 18.6.x if you hit unrelated issues. (docs.gitlab.com)

If you run the console bit above and it still fails, paste the result of:

sudo gitlab-psql -d gitlabhq_production -c \
"SELECT id, status, progress FROM batched_background_migrations WHERE job_class_name='FixNonExistingTimelogUsers';"

and I’ll map the next step precisely.

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3

Hello,

Your post help me solve the exact same issue i was having.
So thank you kindly.

Regards.

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