Common Errors and Fixes
As you start building RAG applications, you will encounter common errors. Knowing how to fix them saves hours of frustration.
1. AuthenticationError / Invalid API Key
Cause: API key missing, incorrect, or expired.
Fix: Check your
.env file, verify key is active, reload environment variables.2. RateLimitError
Cause: Too many requests per minute or exhausted free credits.
Fix: Add delays (
time.sleep()), upgrade plan, or switch to a different model.3. ConnectionError / Timeout
Cause: Network issues, proxy, or server downtime.
Fix: Check internet connection, retry with backoff.
4. ModuleNotFoundError
Cause: Library not installed or wrong environment.
Fix: Activate the correct virtual environment and run
pip install missing‑library.5. InvalidRequestError (Context Length Exceeded)
Cause: Retrieved chunks + prompt exceed the model's context window.
Fix: Reduce chunk size, retrieve fewer chunks, or use a model with longer context.
6. Empty Retrieval Results
Cause: No relevant documents found.
Fix: Try different chunking, use hybrid search, or lower similarity threshold.
Two Minute Drill
- Authentication errors → check API key and .env.
- Rate limit errors → slow down requests or upgrade.
- Context length exceeded → reduce chunk size or retrieve fewer chunks.
- Empty retrieval → improve chunking or use hybrid search.
Need more clarification?
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