# NousResearch/hermes-agent · search_files blank path handling fix

## Open now

- 0 issues, 1 PR open on GitHub.
- PR #112512: fix(tools): apply search_files cwd default to blank paths

These members address a bug where passing an empty or whitespace path to \`search_files\` returns an error instead of defaulting to the current working directory as documented. The fixes normalize blank path inputs to apply the expected \`.\` default.

## TL;DR

- 4 member(s): 0 open issue(s), 1 closed issue(s), 1 open PR(s), 1 merged PR(s), 1 PR(s) closed without merging.
- A fix was merged to main in PR #113182. Verify it addresses your case.
- **Recommended:** read PR #113182 (and any competing PRs below) before filing. Confirm the merged change covers your symptom.

## Maintainer resolution verdict

- Internal-tracker verdict over this cluster's issue members: `resolved` · deciding PR(s): `pr-113182`. This is distinct from the fix status above. Weigh it yourself.

## How this cluster was grouped

- Link evidence (`STRUCTURAL_SPANNING`): every member is connected by structural evidence: shared changed files, or a closing/superseded reference.
- Pairwise link density `0.50`: the share of member pairs that carry a link, counting a structural link in full and a relevance-only link at 0.36. `1.00` means every pair is linked.

## Closed / duplicate issues

- #112424: \`search_files\` with an empty or whitespace \`path\` returns "Path not found" instead of the documented default \`.\`

## Prior & competing PRs

- **#113182: fix(tools): search_files with a blank path searches the working directory (#112424, salvage #112427)**. merged to main · fix tier `verified`
  - maintainer direction: category `merged`
  - files: `tests/tools/test_search_files_engine_selection.py`, `tools/file_tools.py`
- **#112427: fix(tools): normalize blank search paths**. closed without merge
  - maintainer direction: category `silent_close`; implication `active`
- **#112512: fix(tools): apply search_files cwd default to blank paths**. open
  - maintainer direction: category `silent_close`; implication `active`
  - files: `tests/tools/test_search_files_documented_path_default.py`, `tools/file_tools.py`

## Fix status

- Merged to main in PR #113182 (cited above). No release data is tracked. Verify downstream.
- Fix last verified (merged) `2026-09-17`.
- Subsystem: `agent`