Zed CLI fails silently when opening symlinked files with existing instance

[ichoosetoaccept]

Reproduction steps

Version: Zed 0.218.3+preview.104 (macOS)

1. Ensure Zed Preview is already running
2. Run zed ~/.aliases.zsh where ~/.aliases.zsh is a symlink to another file
3. Observe Zed icon briefly appears in dock then immediately closes

Current vs. Expected behavior

Expected behavior:
File should open in the existing Zed instance (symlink should be resolved automatically)

Actual behavior:

• CLI detects existing instance and logs "zed is already running"
• Instead of sending the file to the existing instance, the process exits
• Application briefly appears and disappears from dock

Workarounds:

• Use zed $(readlink -f <file>) to resolve symlink first
• Use open -a "Zed Preview" <file> instead of CLI

Note: This appears to be a combination of two issues:

1. Symlink resolution failing in the CLI
2. Single-instance communication not working properly when symlinks are involved

Zed version and system specs

Zed: 0.218.3+preview.104
OS: macOS 26.2
Memory: 96GB
Architecture: aarch64

Attach Zed log file

N/A - This is not a crash, but a silent failure when using CLI with symlinks.

Relevant Zed settings

settings.json

Relevant Keymap

keymap.json

(for AI issues) Model provider details

No response

If you are using WSL on Windows, what flavor of Linux are you using?

None

[yeskunall]

Hey @ichoosetoaccept thanks for filing this! I was not able to reproduce this on zed@nightly on my macOS. I tried quitting Zed and opening the symlinked file and having an already running instance of Zed. In this case, the file was part of the same worktree as the directory I invoked Zed in.

I also tried opening a symlinked file in a worktree that does not include it, and it still worked just fine.

N/A - This is not a crash, but a silent failure when using CLI with symlinks.

No, not necessarily N/A. Please provide us your Zed logs.

Can you reproduce this for files not symlinked into / from the $HOME directory?

[ichoosetoaccept]

Hey @yeskunall, thanks for looking into this!

Important discovery: This is an intermittent bug, not consistent behavior.

After further testing, I found that:

1. The bug occurs sometimes when Zed is already running and I try to open a symlinked file via CLI
2. After quitting Zed completely and restarting, the bug disappeared - the symlink now opens correctly
3. The bug may be related to a specific state Zed gets into over time

When the bug occurs:

16:21:31 INFO [zed] starting zed version 0.218.3+preview.104
16:21:31 INFO [crashes] spawning crash handler process
16:21:31 INFO [zed::zed::mac_only_instance] Got instance handshake
[process exits - file doesn't open]

When it works correctly:

16:31:04 INFO [zed] starting zed version 0.218.3+preview.104
16:31:04 INFO [crashes] spawning crash handler process
16:31:04 INFO [crashes] crash handler registered
16:31:04 INFO [zed] Using git binary path: "..."
16:31:05 INFO [worktree] inserting parent git repo for this worktree: "aliases.zsh"
16:31:05 INFO [workspace] Rendered first frame
[file opens successfully]

Test configuration:
• Symlink: ~/.aliases.zsh → ~/repos/dotfiles/aliases.zsh (both in $HOME)
• Zed version: 0.218.3+preview.104
• Tested with both alias (zshalias) and direct CLI call - same behavior

Reproduction appears to require:
• Zed instance running for some time (possibly after multiple file opens, or certain operations, I have no idea..)
• Opening a symlinked file that's outside the current workspace
• The exact trigger is unclear, but it's definitely intermittent

Logs:

2025-12-20T12:48:14+01:00 INFO  [zed] ========== starting zed version 0.218.3+preview.104.4adf4c6c1dc3cad2cb35273ee707812c6874ac3b, sha 4adf4c6 ==========
2025-12-20T12:48:14+01:00 INFO  [crashes] spawning crash handler process
2025-12-20T12:48:14+01:00 INFO  [zed::zed::mac_only_instance] Got instance handshake
2025-12-20T12:48:37+01:00 INFO  [zed] ========== starting zed version 0.218.3+preview.104.4adf4c6c1dc3cad2cb35273ee707812c6874ac3b, sha 4adf4c6 ==========
2025-12-20T12:48:37+01:00 INFO  [crashes] spawning crash handler process
2025-12-20T12:48:37+01:00 INFO  [zed::zed::mac_only_instance] Got instance handshake
2025-12-20T12:50:08+01:00 INFO  [zed] ========== starting zed version 0.218.3+preview.104.4adf4c6c1dc3cad2cb35273ee707812c6874ac3b, sha 4adf4c6 ==========
2025-12-20T12:50:08+01:00 INFO  [crashes] spawning crash handler process
2025-12-20T12:50:08+01:00 INFO  [zed::zed::mac_only_instance] Got instance handshake
2025-12-20T12:50:31+01:00 INFO  [zed] ========== starting zed version 0.218.3+preview.104.4adf4c6c1dc3cad2cb35273ee707812c6874ac3b, sha 4adf4c6 ==========
2025-12-20T12:50:31+01:00 INFO  [crashes] spawning crash handler process
2025-12-20T12:50:31+01:00 INFO  [zed::zed::mac_only_instance] Got instance handshake
2025-12-20T12:52:26+01:00 INFO  [worktree] inserting parent git repo for this worktree: "aliases.zsh"
2025-12-20T12:53:01+01:00 INFO  [worktree] inserting parent git repo for this worktree: "aliases.zsh"
2025-12-20T12:53:01+01:00 INFO  [worktree] inserting parent git repo for this worktree: "aliases.zsh"
2025-12-20T12:53:31+01:00 INFO  [worktree] inserting parent git repo for this worktree: "aliases.zsh"
2025-12-20T12:53:31+01:00 INFO  [worktree] inserting parent git repo for this worktree: "aliases.zsh"
2025-12-20T12:53:51+01:00 INFO  [worktree] inserting parent git repo for this worktree: "aliases.zsh"
2025-12-20T12:55:00+01:00 INFO  [zed] ========== starting zed version 0.218.3+preview.104.4adf4c6c1dc3cad2cb35273ee707812c6874ac3b, sha 4adf4c6 ==========
2025-12-20T12:55:00+01:00 INFO  [crashes] spawning crash handler process
2025-12-20T12:55:01+01:00 INFO  [zed::zed::mac_only_instance] Got instance handshake
2025-12-20T12:55:31+01:00 INFO  [auto_update] Auto Update: checking for updates
2025-12-20T13:55:31+01:00 INFO  [auto_update] Auto Update: checking for updates
2025-12-20T14:02:51+01:00 INFO  [worktree] inserting parent git repo for this worktree: "aliases.zsh"
2025-12-20T14:04:54+01:00 INFO  [worktree] inserting parent git repo for this worktree: "aliases.zsh"
2025-12-20T14:05:34+01:00 INFO  [worktree] inserting parent git repo for this worktree: "aliases.zsh"
2025-12-20T14:06:27+01:00 INFO  [worktree] inserting parent git repo for this worktree: "aliases.zsh"
2025-12-20T14:07:23+01:00 INFO  [worktree] inserting parent git repo for this worktree: "aliases.zsh"
2025-12-20T14:34:44+01:00 INFO  [worktree] inserting parent git repo for this worktree: "aliases.zsh"
2025-12-20T14:34:44+01:00 INFO  [worktree] inserting parent git repo for this worktree: "aliases.zsh"
2025-12-20T14:36:35+01:00 INFO  [worktree] inserting parent git repo for this worktree: "aliases.zsh"
2025-12-20T14:39:01+01:00 INFO  [worktree] inserting parent git repo for this worktree: "aliases.zsh"
2025-12-20T14:43:39+01:00 INFO  [worktree] inserting parent git repo for this worktree: "aliases.zsh"
2025-12-20T14:50:50+01:00 ERROR [language] missing required capture(s) in TOML indents TreeSitter query: indent
2025-12-20T14:50:50+01:00 WARN  [language] unrecognized capture name 'comment' in TOML textobjects TreeSitter query
2025-12-20T14:55:32+01:00 INFO  [auto_update] Auto Update: checking for updates
2025-12-20T15:55:32+01:00 INFO  [auto_update] Auto Update: checking for updates
2025-12-20T16:21:31+01:00 INFO  [zed] ========== starting zed version 0.218.3+preview.104.4adf4c6c1dc3cad2cb35273ee707812c6874ac3b, sha 4adf4c6 ==========
2025-12-20T16:21:31+01:00 INFO  [crashes] spawning crash handler process
2025-12-20T16:21:31+01:00 INFO  [zed::zed::mac_only_instance] Got instance handshake
2025-12-20T16:25:41+01:00 INFO  [zed] ========== starting zed version 0.218.3+preview.104.4adf4c6c1dc3cad2cb35273ee707812c6874ac3b, sha 4adf4c6 ==========
2025-12-20T16:25:41+01:00 INFO  [crashes] spawning crash handler process
2025-12-20T16:25:41+01:00 INFO  [zed::zed::mac_only_instance] Got instance handshake
2025-12-20T16:27:01+01:00 INFO  [zed] ========== starting zed version 0.218.3+preview.104.4adf4c6c1dc3cad2cb35273ee707812c6874ac3b, sha 4adf4c6 ==========
2025-12-20T16:27:01+01:00 INFO  [crashes] spawning crash handler process
2025-12-20T16:27:01+01:00 INFO  [zed::zed::mac_only_instance] Got instance handshake
2025-12-20T16:29:28+01:00 INFO  [zed] ========== starting zed version 0.218.3+preview.104.4adf4c6c1dc3cad2cb35273ee707812c6874ac3b, sha 4adf4c6 ==========
2025-12-20T16:29:28+01:00 INFO  [crashes] spawning crash handler process
2025-12-20T16:29:28+01:00 INFO  [zed::zed::mac_only_instance] Got instance handshake
2025-12-20T16:30:08+01:00 INFO  [zed] ========== starting zed version 0.218.3+preview.104.4adf4c6c1dc3cad2cb35273ee707812c6874ac3b, sha 4adf4c6 ==========
2025-12-20T16:30:08+01:00 INFO  [crashes] spawning crash handler process
2025-12-20T16:30:08+01:00 INFO  [zed::zed::mac_only_instance] Got instance handshake
2025-12-20T16:31:04+01:00 INFO  [zed] ========== starting zed version 0.218.3+preview.104.4adf4c6c1dc3cad2cb35273ee707812c6874ac3b, sha 4adf4c6 ==========
2025-12-20T16:31:04+01:00 INFO  [crashes] spawning crash handler process
2025-12-20T16:31:04+01:00 INFO  [crashes] connected to crash handler process after 100ms
2025-12-20T16:31:04+01:00 INFO  [crashes] crash handler registered
2025-12-20T16:31:04+01:00 INFO  [zed] Using git binary path: "/System/Volumes/Data/Applications/Zed Preview.app/Contents/MacOS/git"
2025-12-20T16:31:04+01:00 INFO  [extension_host] extensions updated. loading 2, reloading 0, unloading 0
2025-12-20T16:31:04+01:00 INFO  [util] set environment variables from shell:/bin/zsh, path:/Users/ismar/.antigravity/antigravity/bin:/opt/homebrew/bin:/opt/homebrew/sbin:/Users/ismar/.bun/bin:/usr/local/bin:/System/Cryptexes/App/usr/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin:/var/run/com.apple.security.cryptexd/codex.system/bootstrap/usr/local/bin:/var/run/com.apple.security.cryptexd/codex.system/bootstrap/usr/bin:/var/run/com.apple.security.cryptexd/codex.system/bootstrap/usr/appleinternal/bin:/opt/pmk/env/global/bin:/Library/Apple/usr/bin:/usr/local/go/bin:/Users/ismar/.antigravity/antigravity/bin:/Users/ismar/.orbstack/bin:/Users/ismar/.local/bin:/Users/ismar/Library/Application Support/JetBrains/Toolbox/scripts:/Applications/WarpPreview.app/Contents/Resources/bin
2025-12-20T16:31:05+01:00 INFO  [auto_update] Auto Update: checking for updates
2025-12-20T16:31:05+01:00 INFO  [client] set status on client 0: Authenticating
2025-12-20T16:31:05+01:00 INFO  [worktree] inserting parent git repo for this worktree: "aliases.zsh"
2025-12-20T16:31:05+01:00 INFO  [workspace] Rendered first frame
2025-12-20T16:31:05+01:00 ERROR [theme] icon theme not found: Catppuccin Frappé
2025-12-20T16:31:05+01:00 INFO  [worktree] inserting parent git repo for this worktree: "aliases.zsh"
2025-12-20T16:31:05+01:00 INFO  [worktree] inserting parent git repo for this worktree: "aliases.zsh"
2025-12-20T16:31:05+01:00 INFO  [client] set status on client 99028: Authenticated
2025-12-20T16:31:28+01:00 INFO  [zed] ========== starting zed version 0.218.3+preview.104.4adf4c6c1dc3cad2cb35273ee707812c6874ac3b, sha 4adf4c6 ==========
2025-12-20T16:31:28+01:00 INFO  [crashes] spawning crash handler process
2025-12-20T16:31:28+01:00 INFO  [crashes] connected to crash handler process after 100ms
2025-12-20T16:31:28+01:00 INFO  [crashes] crash handler registered
2025-12-20T16:31:28+01:00 INFO  [zed] Using git binary path: "/System/Volumes/Data/Applications/Zed Preview.app/Contents/MacOS/git"
2025-12-20T16:31:28+01:00 INFO  [extension_host] extensions updated. loading 2, reloading 0, unloading 0
2025-12-20T16:31:28+01:00 INFO  [auto_update] Auto Update: checking for updates
2025-12-20T16:31:28+01:00 INFO  [util] set environment variables from shell:/bin/zsh, path:/Users/ismar/.antigravity/antigravity/bin:/opt/homebrew/bin:/opt/homebrew/sbin:/Users/ismar/.bun/bin:/usr/local/bin:/System/Cryptexes/App/usr/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin:/var/run/com.apple.security.cryptexd/codex.system/bootstrap/usr/local/bin:/var/run/com.apple.security.cryptexd/codex.system/bootstrap/usr/bin:/var/run/com.apple.security.cryptexd/codex.system/bootstrap/usr/appleinternal/bin:/opt/pmk/env/global/bin:/Library/Apple/usr/bin:/usr/local/go/bin:/Users/ismar/.antigravity/antigravity/bin:/Users/ismar/.orbstack/bin:/Users/ismar/.local/bin:/Users/ismar/Library/Application Support/JetBrains/Toolbox/scripts:/Applications/WarpPreview.app/Contents/Resources/bin
2025-12-20T16:31:28+01:00 INFO  [worktree] inserting parent git repo for this worktree: "aliases.zsh"
2025-12-20T16:31:28+01:00 INFO  [workspace] Rendered first frame
2025-12-20T16:31:28+01:00 INFO  [client] set status on client 0: Authenticating
2025-12-20T16:31:28+01:00 INFO  [worktree] inserting parent git repo for this worktree: "aliases.zsh"
2025-12-20T16:31:28+01:00 ERROR [theme] icon theme not found: Catppuccin Frappé
2025-12-20T16:31:28+01:00 INFO  [worktree] inserting parent git repo for this worktree: "aliases.zsh"
2025-12-20T16:31:29+01:00 INFO  [client] set status on client 99028: Authenticated
2025-12-20T16:32:29+01:00 ERROR [context_server::client] cancelled csp request task for "initialize" id 0 which took over 60s
2025-12-20T16:32:29+01:00 ERROR [project::context_server_store] posthog context server failed to start: Context server request timeout